DPChallenge: A Digital Photography Contest You are not logged in. (log in or register) 
 

DPChallenge Forums >> Hardware and Software >> Blurry Images on Rebel XT
Pages:  
Showing posts 1 - 25 of 38, (reverse)
AuthorThread
 12/05/2007 07:57:26 PM · #1
So, over the last little bit, I have noticed that my images have been a little on the soft side, regardless of what lens I use or what aperature, even with the nifty fifty at its known sharper aperatures. I get like 1 out 100 really solid focused shots; I never had this problem before. I haven't cleaned the sensor since I have owned it for 2 years now. Could that be it, or is there something else I should look at, both physical or software? Thanks!
 12/05/2007 08:04:33 PM · #2
Can you post examples?
 12/05/2007 08:08:00 PM · #3
Do you shoot RAW or JPG? If JPGare you sure the sharpen settings haven't changed. Have you dropped or banged the camera?

And yes, 100% crop examples would help.
 12/05/2007 09:07:16 PM · #4
Yes, I'll post some as soon as I get back from an errand. Thanks guys.
 12/05/2007 09:16:01 PM · #5
Sounds like you may want to do some focus testing to see if you haven't developed a front- or back-focus problem.
 12/05/2007 11:09:15 PM · #6
Okay, here's a few 100% crops:

[thumb]620078[/thumb] [thumb]620076[/thumb] [thumb]620079[/thumb] [thumb]620077[/thumb]

Original:

[thumb]617587[/thumb] [thumb]620080[/thumb] [thumb]620082[/thumb]

Let me know if that helps, it just seems like they're off by a hair every time. Thanks
 12/05/2007 11:16:16 PM · #7
It seems like you've got some front-focussed, and some back-focussed. The last is very clearly focussed just behind where you'd like. The earring is very sharp.
It's hard to say definitively without looking at full-size original files with EXIF information, including lens used, but I'd start looking at focus, including how you have your camera set up. Try making sure you're set to one-shot and center point only, and see if you can get reliable focus.
 12/05/2007 11:19:20 PM · #8
I agree w/ kirbic, looks like focus issues. What focus points are you using? I would suggest the center focus point to prevent the camera from picking something other than the eyes.
 12/05/2007 11:27:18 PM · #9
Originally posted by trevytrev:
I agree w/ kirbic, looks like focus issues. What focus points are you using? I would suggest the center focus point to prevent the camera from picking something other than the eyes.


I always focus with the center focus point and all these were in one-shot.

They were all shot with the 50 f1.8 II.

The first was F2.0 at 1/200
The second was F2.2 at 1/200
The third was F2.8 at 1/200
The fourth was F2.2 at 1/125
 12/05/2007 11:29:19 PM · #10
I noticed it around mid-summer or so and it hasn't always been doing it. I have just been getting frustrated because it seems like I can never get them in focus spot on. I'm not the best photographer in the world, but I thought I could at least focus better than that. I have to crank the sharpness in RAW to even remotely resemble sharpness the way I'd like.
 12/06/2007 12:13:23 AM · #11
bump
 12/06/2007 09:19:10 AM · #12
Originally posted by goinskiing:
Originally posted by trevytrev:
I agree w/ kirbic, looks like focus issues. What focus points are you using? I would suggest the center focus point to prevent the camera from picking something other than the eyes.


I always focus with the center focus point and all these were in one-shot.

They were all shot with the 50 f1.8 II.

The first was F2.0 at 1/200
The second was F2.2 at 1/200
The third was F2.8 at 1/200
The fourth was F2.2 at 1/125


Lets look at something here. You are using center focus point right? So that means you are likely focusing locking focus, and recomposing? With such Aperture settings its very likely that is your concern. You have a very small plane of focus to deal with under 2.8 and recomposing with focus locked will cause that.

MattO
 12/06/2007 09:30:44 AM · #13
I would check the setting of focus point. One time I accidentally changed mine (trying to do something else) and ended up with the same issues.
 12/06/2007 09:43:09 AM · #14
Originally posted by mad_brewer:
I would check the setting of focus point. One time I accidentally changed mine (trying to do something else) and ended up with the same issues.


What do you mean? Is there a menu option somewhere?

I am locking the focus and recomposing.

I have shot at large aperatures the same way before and didn't have any issues until just recently.

Let me double check to see if it is indeed that I have been shooting at too large an aperature, and if it isn't I'll post some more 100 % crops, thanks for your help.
 12/06/2007 09:56:29 AM · #15
Originally posted by goinskiing:

I am locking the focus and recomposing.



This may be the problem??? If you are locking focus and recomposing you may not be getting the camera properly positioned to retain the focus. Why do this with focus on portraits?
 12/06/2007 10:03:01 AM · #16
Originally posted by CEJ:
Originally posted by goinskiing:

I am locking the focus and recomposing.



This may be the problem??? If you are locking focus and recomposing you may not be getting the camera properly positioned to retain the focus. Why do this with focus on portraits?


I guess I didn't think of any other way of doing it, how do others focus with portraits? Have the camera choose , or just choose the closest one without having to recompose much?
 12/06/2007 10:11:40 AM · #17
I'm sure most cameras let you do this, but I have mine set to letting me pick the point. I can move the focus point using the arrows on my camera to any of its focusing points. So instead of focusing and re-framing, I just move the focus point to wherever their eyes are. When I first got my camera I had it set to just pick a point by itself, that was a nightmare, don't ever use that one.
12/06/2007 10:14:06 AM · #18
This morning I was trying to take pictures of my wife at aperatures of 4.5 or so with bouncing the flash (her face almost filled the frame, so no need to recompose) with center focus. I tried several right in a row and NONE of them were clearly focused (I already deleted them off of my camera). It's just weird because it didn't do this about a few months ago and it gotten progressively worse. Can I send it in to Canon for a focus recalibration, or is there something else?
 12/06/2007 10:15:26 AM · #19
Good idea Travis. This is what I would recommend instead of center point focus and recompose. For portraits, I have seen a lot of issues, especially at shallow DOF with the focus/recompose approach. Use the camera focus set points to pick the place you want to focus and see if this fixes the problem.

Originally posted by travis_cooper:
I'm sure most cameras let you do this, but I have mine set to letting me pick the point. I can move the focus point using the arrows on my camera to any of its focusing points. So instead of focusing and re-framing, I just move the focus point to wherever their eyes are. When I first got my camera I had it set to just pick a point by itself, that was a nightmare, don't ever use that one.
12/06/2007 10:16:30 AM · #20
I used have to same problem with my Rebel XT, but I focus manually now because I think that all the focus settings are junk. I do a lot of low light work and the whole system is useless in low light as far as I'm concerned.
 12/06/2007 10:24:44 AM · #21
Originally posted by goinskiing:
This morning I was trying to take pictures of my wife at aperatures of 4.5 or so with bouncing the flash (her face almost filled the frame, so no need to recompose) with center focus. I tried several right in a row and NONE of them were clearly focused (I already deleted them off of my camera). It's just weird because it didn't do this about a few months ago and it gotten progressively worse. Can I send it in to Canon for a focus recalibration, or is there something else?


Its not out of the question that you have an issue, but before spending the money to have a recalibration done on either the lens or the camera make sure you eliminate all possibilities that it is user error. Canon can and will recalibrate your camera and/or the lens at either the NJ or CA repair facility for a fee if its out of warrenty.

MattO

Message edited by author 2007-12-06 10:35:35.
 12/06/2007 10:47:47 AM · #22
Lay a tape measure down and take a picture focused on a set number so you can see were the camera is focusing. USE a tripod. Test before sending it for repeair.
 12/06/2007 10:50:10 AM · #23
Originally posted by kellian:
I used have to same problem with my Rebel XT, but I focus manually now because I think that all the focus settings are junk. I do a lot of low light work and the whole system is useless in low light as far as I'm concerned.


Well, 2 things here. The F2 lens will give you a much better autofocus in low light.... all cameras have a problem with low light. The trick is to get an AF lock from a light at the right distance from the camera, set to m and your good as long as you do not nudge the focus ring.
 12/06/2007 11:09:45 AM · #24
doesn't look like anyone told you how to pick teh focus point. Here goes... Push the button on the top far right of the camera. This should show you all the focus points. Now use the direction pad that you scroll through images with to pick which point you want autofocus to use. When do find the one you want to use, push the shutter to select it.

ANother thing to check is that when you look through the viewfinder and push autofocus, does all the light meter and aperature text look sharp. If not, there is a little wheel near the viewfinder that you can use to adjust this. My roommate wears glasses and I don't, he used my gear one day and adjusted this. It did make a difference.
 12/06/2007 11:17:14 AM · #25
Originally posted by Derf:

Well, 2 things here. The F2 lens will give you a much better autofocus in low light.... all cameras have a problem with low light. The trick is to get an AF lock from a light at the right distance from the camera, set to m and your good as long as you do not nudge the focus ring.


Flashlights help a lot with low light focussing, too. Either shine them on your subject or send out a friend to hold one and shine it at you from where your subject is. Of course, you can't always do that....
Pages:  
Current Server Time: 08/01/2025 04:38:34 PM

Please log in or register to post to the forums.


Home - Challenges - Community - League - Photos - Cameras - Lenses - Learn - Help - Terms of Use - Privacy - Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2025 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 08/01/2025 04:38:34 PM EDT.