Sharp images

I have a NikonD5500 and it's a good camera. When using the sigma 17-70 lens I'm finding that to get really sharp shots I have to use the macro mode which is infuriating! For example when out shooting the kids at a party or whatnot I've used A mode with f4 or so, ISO around 100-200 and a flash gun but the image comes out a touch soft. Shoot the same in macro mode and the image is crystal clear.
Is this a quirk or what. I feel I must be missing a setting but for the life of me I can't think what

 

Oh, shutter speed was around 1/60 for the macro mode but used a variety including 1/60 and faster in A mode. It's not motion blur, or smudged glass, simply when using the macro mode the image is sharper

 

Good afternoon @Loofah only just seen this post,all macro mode does is change the settings like aperture, shutter speed and iso, nothing more. I would assume that it would set the aperture quite narrow in order to maximise the depth of field, therefore the conclusion is that particular lens isn’t very sharp at f4, or you are confusing shallow depth of field blur with not being sharp. Try using Aperture priority but set a narrower aperture like f8 and see if it replicates what you are seeing by using macro mode.

 

Nothing so complex my friend! The Nikon 'macro' mode must in fact alter othr behind the scene settings. I joined a photography forum and they sorted straight away; there's a sharpness setting buried in the menu structure that I had not managed to unearth. This was set to default (zero) and goes up to 9. Theory from Nikon's website is to have a range available for every occasion and be able to produce natural looking shots.

Shots now are much improved and my exasperation much reduced!

 

Oh, I also got told off for using aperture priority for shooting inside with flash when I should be using shutter priority lol

 

Hi @Loofah my friend I use both depending on the circumstances especially with childrens portraits and weddings,there's no hard and fast rules with photography much the same as gardening

 

That's what I thought! It's something about when the flash is actually triggered. We're talking milliseconds of difference but it apparently can create quite different effects

 

With today's digial cameras 95% of getting a satisfactory sharp, good contrast, etc image is down to the very intricate and complex software. If it's not set up right then you've got problems not matter what aperture/shutter speeds you manually set. I bought a Pentax K5, which I bought in 2010, and it has a 60/40 balance between software taking a good image and manual control.
Today's cameras have software that, if set correctly, will take the great sharp images that the manufacturers think that the user wants even if the user has little experience.

 

Absolutely but you still need good glass!

 

Always, Loofah! Hence my collection of 22 Pentax lens of different sizes and some Tamron and Sigma macro and telephoto lens. In my opinion the old glass are much better as they were made to such a standard and didn't have complex software to cover any shortcomings in them.

 

Would have to agree with that