The BEST SETTINGS for the SHARPEST PHOTOS

I explain how I ensure I get the best quality images every time.
The Drone Masterclass ($100 off for Pre-Orders) - jvn.photo/dron...
My new ND Microfibre Cloth - cameraklean.co...
LAST FEW 2025 Calendar - www.nigeldanso...
NEW Woodland Presets - www.nigeldanso...
Use offer code PADLEY20 for £20 off
Seascapes Book (currently free shipping) - geni.us/seascapes
KZbin viewers get $100 off Mastering the Art of Landscape Photography - www.nigeldanso...
Where I get my AWESOME MUSIC - geni.us/amazin...
Kase Filters (my fav filters) - geni.us/Kase | And use code NIGEL for 5% off
Instagram (follow my daily stories) - / nigel.danson
NIKON GEAR (Main STILLS camera)
Current landscape camera - Nikon Z8 - geni.us/nikonz8
Awesome telephoto lens - Nikon 70-200m f/2.8 - geni.us/nikon70200
Great ultra-wide angle lens - Nikon 14-30mm f/4 - geni.us/1430mm
Hiking mid lens - Nikon 24-70mm Z f4 - geni.us/nikon2470
Sharpest mid lens - Nikon 24-70mm Z f2.8 geni.us/2470mm28
Very long lens - Nikon 500mm F5.6 - geni.us/nikon5...
FILM GEAR
AWESOME DRONE - geni.us/dji_ma...
Nikon Z6 - geni.us/z6nikon
Nikon 20mm Z F1.8 - geni.us/nikon2...
Nikon 24mm Z F1.8 - geni.us/nikon24mm
Nikon 50mm Z F1.8 - geni.us/nikon5...
Nikon 85mm Z F1.8 - geni.us/nikon8...
OTHER PHOTO GEAR
Clever camera strap (peak design) - geni.us/PDstrap
Microfibre Cloths - geni.us/microf...
Rab Downpour Pants - geni.us/rainpants
Awesome sensor brush - geni.us/brush4...
GorillaPod - geni.us/Kb9mV
The great printer I use Canon P1000 - geni.us/cIIc
Great bag for hiking - Tenba 24L - geni.us/orPwh
Great bag for travel (carry on) - Tenba 32L - geni.us/tenba32l
Super light Benro Travel Tripod UK - geni.us/Benrot...
A must have for tripod (L bracket) - geni.us/myLbra...
Lightweight tripod - Benro Mach3 Carbon Fiber Tripod - geni.us/benrom...

[@Pete-r5j]

Another great tutorial video, love these type of videos you make I learn so much from you. It's always a bit of a challenge for knowing where to focus, but now the way you explain it makes it so much more easier. Thanks Nigel I really appreciate this post

[@gnarzee4336]

6:00 😂So relatable. Going to your favorite shot location only to find it isn't there anymore (or so you think).

[@danthegeetarman]

Very cool video. As a beginner, I love when photographers actually describe _why_ they choose certain settings. I’m learning to be more intentional with my settings (including ISO). Videos like this are an incredible help

[@NigelDanson]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@randyschwager84]

Your videos are so helpful! No one on the Internet teaches like you do! Thanks for all you’ve taught me over the years! And thanks for taking me along. I have my fingers crossed to win that Z8 when you hit 500,000!!!

[@JeffreyTadlockPhotography]

Great video - I loved that you talked about the various factors of selecting your aperture and not just always setting it to f/11 or something like that.

[@cinavik]

Jeroen is fantastic, learned a lot from him as well as your channel

[@andrewknowles6731]

Still laughing about you losing the boathouse and then finding it again, I do that kind of thing all the time! Great video and I learned lots as usual, Thanks Nigel.

[@glennn.3464]

Some very good tips to getting sharp shots. I also, especially with anything astro, put my camera in full manual and manual focus and then lightly touch the rear screen with a 2-3 second delay. That way I’m in control of critical focus and the only thing that happens when I touch the rear monitor is that the shot gets taken with nothing able to change.

[@GkPhotographic]

Thank you Nigel . what always stands out to me in your content is that connection and love you have with nature . it has inspired me for years , mow its enough for me just to get out and walk and snap away . iv just pulled the trigger on an R8 with a 24 to 107 2.8 , the things we do to get that sharpness . be safe from Dublin Eire .

[@anetestuce]

Thank you, Nigel, your videos are so inspiring, makes me want to grab my camera and go out in any type of conditions!

[@peterwalsh4964]

I'm sure that you've said all these things before, but now I can say 'I know that! And I know that too! I think I'm starting to get the hang of this.' A great refresher and makes me feel more confident about what I'm doing. You can't repeat this stuff too many times. 👍

[@Jake-vt4ow]

Beautiful images! Thank you, Nigel.❤ I agree and want sharp, clear photos to post, print, and enter in contests.

[@andyd6104]

Omg Z8! What an amazing thing to do

[@hamsterneckliving]

Like a mini masterclass. So much packed in this video. Thank you!

[@davidpalmer5290]

What a great video and the drone course sounds quite tempting. One video I would love to see, if you have not already done one, is how to choose a tripod and the tripod head to go on it. They can get quite pricey and some advice would be great. Just an idea. Thanks 😀

[@alexwaterton9769]

Excellent Video Nigel, well put together and presented. Clear and easy to follow and understand. Always a pleasure to follow and watch.

[@joanl3115]

Great tutorial 👏. Really appreciate that you’re sharing the settings ‼️📸. Absolutely love drone footage 🎥💯

[@TLM823]

Excellent tutorial, as always! Figuring out where to focus is a constant challenge for me… going to try and put this advice to good use… thank you for all you do.

[@NordicNatureArt]

Another great video Nigel! I love the shot of the hut across the water 💚

[@mrtaffspoon]

Did the Loughrigg circular walk last month from Ambleside. What superb scenery. You seem to have taken some of the same shots of Rydal Water as me. Highly recommended area to photograph 👍

[@AndyBanner]

You had me for a minute, Nigel. That boatshed should be Grade 2 listed just for us.

[@lead-dog]

Thanks for showing how to use Photo Pills to determine DOF. I have that app because of you but I really don't use it very much. Very difficult to master if you ask me. If you could fit a few tips in some of your future videos about how you use the app, it would be most appreciated by me and maybe others I'm sure. Great video. Love to learn from you. I don't see a link to the other video you mention where you discuss "Photo Pills". Could you please tell me how to find the other video? Thanks Nigel.

[@richardinwood4290]

One of your best and most useful as I am struggling with the topics you discuss. Please more on this "sharpest: photos theme.

[@NigelDanson]

Glad it was helpful

[@richardinwood4290]

@@NigelDanson In your video you comment that you would put up a link to you photo pills video which I would like to follow up. I couldn't find the link please.

[@samankanzi]

Something useful 👍👍👍thanks

[@Gary-LX58UDV]

Great video and thanks for the info👍

[@davidmporterphotography]

Thanks as always for the helpful video. I was curious what backpack you are using in the video? Looks like a good, simple not too big day pack size.

[@paulcollingridge8387]

Hi Nigel, I've followed your videos for a loooong time and followed your journey. I'd love to see a video where you are accompanied by a physiotherapist or osteopath who explores the whole of a field-day with you and you discuss together subtle changes to protect the long-term health of yourback/skeleton. Boots, kit, packing distribution, walk duration,.... Full deep-dive

[@MattMurddock]

Lol wow

[@mikehart5723]

Nooooooo, it's a video about a deep dive into photography, let the fitness you tubers do the other bits 😂

[@raphaelcoelho1557]

I was noooo Nigel is using his telephoto with the camera attached to the tripod head! Then you were only showing what not to do😂

[@ThorSC88]

I think that I really might want to use this app at some point. I do have it but neved use it, but I want some sharper pictures.

[@Rhinoskin62]

Bearing in mind he's referring to sharpness in landscape. This rule changes in what ever you into. street is an example where not everything is sharp

[@retirewithjames6745]

Helpful!

[@emanuelbief7088]

I think the best photos come out when you're not worried about taking the best photos.

[@darcybrown7369]

thanks Nigel, did I miss where the link to the photo pils app video is?

[@callumjohnson9433]

Can you do a lens comparison please? On the 24-120 and the 28-400. Within the same focal lengths are they equal in IQ or does the 28-400 struggle?

[@UweRoclawski]

What are the best settings for unsharp photos? Asking for a friend!

[@_._Stefan_._]

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@colinreidcr]

From what Ive gathered: F8-F12 possibly F16 ISO 100-400 anything above 1/125 but depends what your doing long exp etc 2nd timer Bluetooth remote tripod

[@stuartmarsden4142]

Your EVF and lcd will give you all you need to take a sharp photo

[@jpdeardenphotography]

Fantastic video. Really enjoyed and I'm enjoying your series on your van build. I'm disabled and wheelchair bound and have just got a adapted Mercedes sprinter with lift and it's now opened so many opportunities for me to get out shooting plus cause it's drive from my wheelchair and my wheelchsir tilts back 45° u can sleep in it so got so many trips planned for next year. Scotland. Ireland, Europe etc. I would love to win the z8. Nikon send me cameras and lenses for me to review for my youtube channel and i absolutely love the Z8. Unfortunately financially I can't afford being on a di Glen income. I'm currently testing the 28-400 F4-8 paired with the Z8. If you would like to do a photography collaboration for youtube please get in touch. Would really enjoy a day out shooting somewhere accessible etc. Looking forward to the upcoming and final completion of your van build

[@JVNPhoto]

Almost? Almost all the eruptions? 😂

[@NigelDanson]

Of course you took the bait 😂

[@JVNPhoto]

@ Of course I did!

[@giganicrik]

Ive been taking photos for quite a few years now...but whats iso 22? Is that a secret setting in specific camera's?😂😂

[@lynwoodjordan]

That’s way faster than iso 2.8! 🤓

[@NigelDanson]

Ha ha

[@TimvanderLeeuw]

Yes I caught that too. ISO 22. My camera's lowest native ISO is 160 but I don't get any diffraction at that setting. 😝

[@timrosenburgh8597]

Hi Nigel. I heard ISO 22 as well lol. I enjoyed the video as usual and as always good tips. Great image's as usual. Look forward to the next one.

[@colinreidcr]

does my r10 have iso 64?

[@MattMurddock]

Aww, a little R10. I think its base iso is 1000.

[@colinreidcr]

@ damn that sucks

[@Mr.Monta77]

Why is sharpness such a big deal? As long as a photo is ordinary sharp, most viewers just don’t care. They care much more about the story you tell, what point you try to convey. Forget about your sharpness ‘addiction’. It’s a waste of time.

[@suzieq7000]

For prints, sharpness makes a huge difference. I get compliments all the time on my sharp images as I’m sure Nigel does too. For social media or KZbin no one would notice the difference.

[@andihartstein]

As a professional photographer, my thought has always been that I want to learn *how to do it* so that when I need to do it, I can. My first photography teacher once told our class that she wanted us to learn the “rules” so that we could intelligently break the rules. That’s something that’s always stuck with me and rung true for me as I learn a new skill. I hope that’s helpful!

[@jremi]

Sure, this is correct but between 2 great compositions that tell a story, people will prefer the sharpest one every time, especially on printed photos. For those who only want to post on social media, I agree it does not matter.

[@tomheim9516]

A soft image can't be rescued in LR or PS the way exposure and even composition (via cropping can). You blow focus and the image is a no-go. And speaking for myself, I expect the elements of an image that should be in focus to be sharp. If they aren't, the image is less than it should be.

[@mrlau630]

For me, clarity is important.😅

[@Ricardo-SW]

"...anybody that's siubscribed, I am going to give that [Z8] away to." Wow, 500k Z8s!😃 I suspect you meant to say it would go to ONE of the subscribers. Not that I'd complain if I were to receive one!