Focus! Focus!!! - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM

07/16/2003 08:26:32 AM · #1

Speaking of focus, why do some people post pictures that are blatantly and obviously out of focus? I'm not talking about deliberate blur, but otherwise great shots that where either resized without sharpening, or out of focus and left to whither and die..

My most common comment on entries is "Lost marks for poor focus, otherwise, great shot!"

Mavrik might be onto something.. Maybe a percentage of people have trouble with identifying focus. I guess that's why they make AF. (just joking).

Alpine99

Canon EOS-550D Rebel T2i

07/16/2003 08:31:41 AM · #2

I think you may have a something with AF cameras... in the SLR days you framed through the lens and could see if you were in focus.. You could also with many cameras stop the lens down and view the dof. Today we rely too often on the camera to sort the focus out for us.. Also many people forget the half press of the shutter and re-compose to set their focus..

I think the s40 I use is a great camera but in less than bright light the focus is not as good as it could be...

07/16/2003 08:50:29 AM · #3

I agree. I have a huge beef with Canon's low light auto focus performance. My S30 has been very adequate, but frustrating at times.

There are those that become too dependant on aperture/shutter priority and autofocus, and forget the freedom of fully manual.

I have an old Nikkor Lens (older than me!) that has a focus prism that goes smooth when the center spot is correctly in focus. I learned not to be too dependant on that and to go by feel.

But what do I know. I'm still a newbie!!

magnetic9999

Canon EOS-20D

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

07/16/2003 09:00:35 AM · #4

i'm gonna go out on a limb and say that if people can't tell if your shot is in focus, then you didn't fully do your job right.

i know for a fact that there are people who will look at a pic that i can see is soft and think that it is in focus. but i also know for a fact, as an avid photographer, i'm a lot more sensitive to it than most people for whom 'ok focus' = 'sharp'.

shallow DOF is one thing but unequivocally well-focused main subjects are another. making your focus perfect will only improve your techniques and skills.

just my opinion.........

Message edited by author 2003-07-16 09:01:51.

BobsterLobster

Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro

07/16/2003 09:12:57 AM · #5

I would say the same about 'LIGHT, LIGHT'.
I'm fed up with commenting that the light is too harsh. Midday sun and sharp shadows don't make for a good photo!

Alpine99

Canon EOS-550D Rebel T2i

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM

07/16/2003 09:36:51 AM · #6

magnetic, I think a lot of people can tell an image is a bit 'soft'when they get it uploaded on the computer. The trick is telling out in the field on a little lcd screen... and then doing something about it!

Once you've invested the effort in going out and taking a shot it's hard then to bin the picture and the effort that went into them because focus is a bit soft so they do turn up here..

07/16/2003 09:51:53 AM · #7

Originally posted by Alpine99:

Precicely why i rarely come home with less than full cards!
AEB is also a handy feature too.

magnetic9999

Canon EOS-20D

07/16/2003 10:08:46 AM · #8

you would think so, but in practice -- many is the time i've put up a shot onscreen that is soft but people around me with less practiced eye think it's 'fine'.

that said, your second point is a good one - i turned in a blurry shot for NOTT. it was the only one i had. of course, i got a 4.6 and sorta expected a low score going in but i thought maybe just maybe the other elements of the photo would outweigh the technoid nits.

i find it's a good practice, if im going for a potential challenge shot to shoot more than one. i know some people who keep their camera in drive mode and then rattle off 3 or 4 shots when it's a critical shot - hoping that the laws of probability will favor at least one crisp one. something to try, perhaps .........

roley: AEB is a good feature, as well .....

Originally posted by Alpine99:

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM

07/16/2003 10:40:55 AM · #9

Alpine, we both have very good zoom features in our Review Modes. 50% of the time, i'm checking the focus quality by zooming in to the shot i just took when viewing it in review mode.

I agree, viewing shots in our LCD screens can be misleading. Many times i've been tricked into thinking my shots came out perfectly in focus. Which is why i have the habit of zooming into my reviews.

Alpine99

Canon EOS-550D Rebel T2i

07/16/2003 10:51:40 AM · #10

roley, agreed and I do use it.. Maybe not as often as I should!

irockstars

Canon PowerShot A70

07/16/2003 08:08:48 PM · #11

Originally posted by BobsterLobster:

I would say the same about 'LIGHT, LIGHT'.
I'm fed up with commenting that the light is too harsh. Midday sun and sharp shadows don't make for a good photo!

It really depends on what you're photographing.

wewillexplore

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

07/16/2003 08:51:01 PM · #12

If you are doing a long exposure at night, will a longer exposure make the subject look more sharp?

magnetic9999

Canon EOS-20D

07/16/2003 08:53:36 PM · #13

no, mav. the exposure length alone has no effect on the sharpness of the subject. only focus, cam movement, and subject movement contribute.

jimmyn4

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

07/16/2003 09:16:29 PM · #14

I have entered photos that aren't quite in focus intentionally. Example
And I did it with this challenge. I figured people would take a picture of the same subject so I tried something different. My score reflects my experiment.

Message edited by author 2003-07-16 21:17:41.

wewillexplore

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

07/16/2003 10:50:45 PM · #15

Originally posted by magnetic9999:

no, mav. the exposure length alone has no effect on the sharpness of the subject. only focus, cam movement, and subject movement contribute.

If my subject is a building and I use a timer and tripod, how come an image is soft if I have it set to normal in my cam and "sharp" makes it way too grainy and oversharp? I mean..is there a solution other than "get a new cam"?