Nikon 50mm 1.8 lens and manual focus?

My husband bought me the 50mm 1.8 lens for my Nikon D3000.It's manual lens but very sensitive. One little move and pictures are blurry. I tried to take it out and shoot some pics of my kids and it extremely difficult unless the are still. Any tips would be wonderful or should I take it back? It's a very sharp lens and provides brights photos. Any tips or suggestions. Thank you.

Added (1). Yes, I do watch for the focus dot and use the range finder.

Added (2). I have the VR 18-55mm and 55-200mm lens.

They say a fast 50mm lens is sharpest at f/4, try that aperture setting.

If it's an old manual lens on a digital body, the digital body may be metering the light wrong.

Go all manual. On a bright, sunny day… What is now? F/16 ISO100 1/125sec. Has to be a sunny day and using f/16 pretty much defeats the purpose of having a fast (f/1.8) lens. But good practise and tests the lens out.

I guestimate, from previous attempts, my manual settings and then bracket and use trial and error.

f/1.8 is a shallow depth of field, a shallow band of focus… So it's probably that.

Even using manual focusing, the electronic rangefinder still works. If you don't trust yourself, watch for the "in focus" spot to light up in the viewfinder. See page 49 in your manual.

If you are using f/1.8, you will find that the closer your subject is, the harder it is to maintain sharp focus. Of course, this is one reason people BUY this lens. If you stick to the middle range apertures, like f/5.6 or smaller (bigger numbers), you will have a much easier time keeping things in focus. It takes practice is all. Eventually, you will be more comfortable using the larger apertures and really controlling the focus.

Well, it's the very shallow depth of field of the wider apertures that's probably giving you fits. Either back up from your subject, use a smaller aperture, or both.

You can replace your viewfinder screen with something that's more suited for manually focusing lenses: http://www.katzeyeoptics.com/item--Nikon-D3000-D5000-Focusing-Screen--prod_D5000.html

However, it costs more than $100, almost the same price the lens itself costs. So it's up to you whether it's worth it or not. Just keep in mind that the only 50mm lens that has autofocus with the D3000 is the AFS Nikkor 50mm f/1.4G, which will cost you $450.

Your profile name (Mommy 2 Nicholas and Lucas) IS your answer. The 50mm 1.8 is an absolutely wonderful lens (your husband has good tastes in lenses). BUT for all the fast-action family pictures you're going to take, I would recommend the "kit lens" (18-55 VR) that normally sells with your camera. With such high-tech automated features your D3000 has (like automatic ISO adjustment) you certainly don't "need" the faster-manual-lens. You will be a far happier photographer (especially at first), and produce far more wonderful life-shots every day, if you go with the extremely useable and super-sharp automatic lens that comes with the D3000. Then… Say goodby to the blurries.

Additioinal: I just read your added info ("I have the VR 18-55mm and 55-200mm lens.") You're all set for great AND enjoyable photography. Use THESE for your daily shoots and they may be all you'll ever use! You'll love 'em!

I'ts perfectly normal. Focussing a fast prime, especially when the aperture is wide open, takes some skill and time.

With your kids you probably don't have that. I'd say take it back and take a good look at your lens collection. If you hardly ever use that 55-200 sell it as well and put the money towards a 50mm f1.4. Or sell the lot and look at sigma's 18-50 f2.8