Am I being thick??

I have recently bought the Nikon D40 (with the kit 18-55 lens) and find that I have two problems.

1) I prefer to use manual focusing, but every photo I take, I have to sharpen with editing programmes, as they are all just a tiny bit out of focus.

2) Exposure - I always use the manual modes, very rarely auto and often find my photos are either slighty underexposed, or overexposed, though I do use my meter to judge whether the photo will be exposed correctly. I also often use the exposure compensation button too, but I'm not sure how far I should either underexpose or overexpose with it? I think that exposure is one of the main aspects of photography that I find a little confusing.

Are you shoting in RAW?

Yes, I am shooting in RAW.

How long have you had the camera Sally?

I would try to get used to the camera first, use Auto to begin with, and then the P mode. Only when you have good experience of the camera and photography in general start using the manual mode... it's a bit of work using manual

I have only had the camera about a month, but before that was used a Canon 300d on manual and also (I know it's not an SLR) a Panasonic FZ18 in manual modes. I don't really want to use auto modes, as after reading Bryan Peterson's very brilliant 'Understanding Exposure' book, he says you should always shoot in manual modes, for quality photographs and I do agree with this. The camera doesn't always see creatively enough for what you may want to portray with your photography.

I definitely do agree that it is a bit of work using manual though!

That is the problem Sally, if you shoot in RAW very little processing is done in the camera, it is left to you to do to suit yourself afterwards. Most shots will need a little sharpening before printing although most will be ok for the internet.

If your camera allows I would shoot in Jpeg and RAW at the same time at least for a while and you will then have the camera tweaked example in the Jpeg and the RAW will give you the 'negative' for you to finish in the 'darkroom' as you wish.

Hope I have made sense, basically Jpeg is finished in the camera and RAW is not.

Yes, I know that RAW is not processed in the camera, I didn't think that the focus would be affected though i.e. the picture would not come out sharp. I remember when I shot in RAW before, with the other cameras, my photos were quite sharp (unless I've forgotten) and it's only something I've really noticed with this Nikon. I think maybe I'll try the Jpeg & RAW for a while, to see if there's any difference though.

Thanks all so much for your advice!

Why not use AF? See if it's you or the camera?

Hi Sally, I can understand that you do not wish to use AF and it should make no difference however I think that for testing purposes you should give it a try and also give Jpeg a go, after all it is possible you have a naff lens or camera so do some tests to try and establish if the problem is with the equipment or with your becoming used to digital as opposed to film. Don't use the lens at it's full extent as most glass is not at its best when pushed to the limits.

I am not a user of either Nikon or Canon so I can't say if this lens is a good example or not but the D40 seems to perform ok.

No offence intended, but you will probably find using the cameras own jpg setting and fine quality better than RAW until you are competent enough to post process your pictures to a standard that can beat that of the Nikon engineers! A D40 is theoretically capable of excellent images. It shouldn't perform lesser than a 300D.

There is a slight chance you could have a duff camera or lens. Have they ever been dropped or knocked? You may have a focussing issue but it's unlikely. Are you sure it's not just a soft image? RAW files will need sharpening, jpgs, maybe need sharpening depending on camera settings.

Regarding exposure, if you had constant over exposed or constant under exposed images it could be a meter fault but it sounds more like possibly getting used to Nikon metering. They used to have a tendancy to generally underexpose.

I can't agree with all this manual malarky just for the hell of it. Most of the time it will involve focussing exactly the same as the camera would do, except it will likely be a little more slowly. Exposure will be whatever the camera tells you and would set on it's own, and then just setting it + or - a little. The benefit is maybe learning about what is going on in camera but much of it is just following the camera anyway. I was brought up with manual cameras at home and work, Zenith, Praktica, Nikon, Yashica, etc. and I would rather have the auto abilities of my D300. If you do enjoy the manual aspect, can I recommend getting a good light meter that takes incident light readings. I always used a Weston Euro Master 5 which I always found to be accurate enough to be use with slide film but the new electronic meters should be ideal.

PS. just looked at your album pics, look good to me!