I need help! I just purchased a telephoto lens for a digital camera and I'm getting blurry shots for the most part. I shut off the digital zoom and use only optical zoom. To use the telephoto you zoom all the way in and then ...blur. I'm using scene mode which is auto focus to infinity. I'm stumped. I get zoom blur without a telephoto and even in auto mode.

Jerry

try a tripod. With telephoto lens the smallest movement becomes huge. Either that or get more light, so you have a faster shutter.

And remember the further you zoom in the more the movement is exaggerated.

are you using priorty or standerd auto. If so what is your iso speeds and F/ STOP setting.

The general rule of thumb for telephoto shots is to use the focal length of your lens for your shutter speed ie if you use a 100mm lens then you need 100th of a second shutter speed, use a 200mm lens and you need 200th second etc. If the subject is moving double the shutter speed. If you aren’t using a tripod double it again. These are 35mm numbers and might need adjusting for small sensor cameras.

Question: Why do you need to double your shutter speed if you are using a tripod? I think these kinds of rules apply to handheld. If you are using a tripod you can have your shutter as long as you want, because a tripod should hold it still. Im confused.

Read the post again, it says "If the subject is moving double the shutter speed. If you aren’t using a tripod double it again.". If the -subject- is moving, it won't make much difference how still -you- are staying ;-)

School ain't not was used too lol JK

If the subject is moving the ISO must be higher and the speed must be higher. You have to make up for the subject in motion not the lens in motion. Other wise a blur is a blur is a blur.
Unless you compensate for the action, the action can not be stopped. Then and only then does the lens come into play. Does the lens have the f/stop ability and speed of focus needed to capture the image. Now the other factor! Is the sensor center waited or field waited? Does the focusing properties of the sensor allow the lens to focus on the exact subject or the over all subject which can end in a blurred image.

I'm getting it figured out. I have a menu setting for accessory lens AF, I turned that on. And I stop just short of a full optical zoom (using telephoto lens with it). It is 90% better. I'm still working on the other 10%. Thanks guys for all your help. I'm still open for suggestions.

P.S. I bought a nice tripod too and plan to use it a lot.

Buying that tripod is probably the smartest thing you could have done. It is tempting to leave the tripod home sometimes but take it anyway because they can do more for your photos than any other accessory. One thing that is really cheap and does wonders is reading the manual :-)

The site that Darryl mentioned said that camera shake is the number one enemy. Did somebody invent some machine that solves dust problems world wide? :-)

Hoover?

Yah olympus, they designed and implimented a dust removal system in the camera . It's pretty cool.

Does it actually remove the dust or just shake it off the sensor?

best ways is to not get it in there in the first place but its still as annoying as hell, but camera shake is still worse, well in my opinion anyway.