Help please - DPChallenge Forums

Sony 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 E-mount

10/26/2003 09:58:41 AM · #1

Well, my macro shots are turning out well, but now that I try to take some pictures of my work, they look horrible. I took this shot in auto, landscape and portrate mode, and this is the best I can do. Even playing in Photoshop didn't help. What can I do with my Canon G3 to make this type of picture clear?

Thanks much!!

//www.pbase.com/image/22666983

Message edited by author 2003-10-26 10:03:44.

jmsetzler

Sony Alpha a6000

10/26/2003 10:01:16 AM · #2

Looks pretty clear and sharp to me... what do you see wrong with it?

10/26/2003 10:03:57 AM · #3

I can't see how it could be more clear, and any more sharp would be excessive. Nice wall, too:)

10/26/2003 10:04:39 AM · #4

It seems so coarse.

10/26/2003 10:05:20 AM · #5

did you sharpen it a lot in PS?

10/26/2003 10:06:10 AM · #6

Originally posted by ewall53:

I can't see how it could be more clear, and any more sharp would be excessive. Nice wall, too:)

Thanks, those bricks are heavy, and it took eight men to get the big rock in the dry creek up there. But it doesn't look as soft and realistic as many of the photos I see on this site.

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8

10/26/2003 10:06:52 AM · #7

Originally posted by ewall53:

did you sharpen it a lot in PS?

Just a little, as the original was grainy in all the modes.

pcody

Canon PowerShot G6

10/26/2003 10:08:12 AM · #8

I noticed the wall looked weird. That's not from ps? I don't know your camera, but if you have a control for sharpness, maybe back off a bit.

Sigma 50-500mm f/4.0-6.3 EX APO RF HSM for Olympus

10/26/2003 10:11:45 AM · #9

Originally posted by pcody:

I noticed the wall looked weird. That's not from ps? I don't know your camera, but if you have a control for sharpness, maybe back off a bit.

I used to use a g3 and the sharpness control was tempting for me to use, and I'd usually get too much. It looks the same as over sharpening with PS. Have you tried softening it a bit? Maybe I will...it's either that or pay bills.

inspzil

Olympus E-510

10/26/2003 10:12:32 AM · #10

What it looks like to me is that is it is way oversharpened. That may just be the result of a lot of little white or light colored things in the composition. What ISO did you set this at? If it is at 400 or something higher than it needs to be it will make the image a little grainier. First glance though looks to me like its oversharpened though.

Bob

10/26/2003 10:12:47 AM · #11

Originally posted by pcody:

I noticed the wall looked weird. That's not from ps? I don't know your camera, but if you have a control for sharpness, maybe back off a bit.

I'm still learning the G3, perhaps that's it, thanks. Does anyone know if there is such an adjustment on the G3?

10/26/2003 10:13:13 AM · #12

there is.

Canon PowerShot Pro 90 IS

10/26/2003 10:14:51 AM · #13

Originally posted by inspzil:

ISO is something I don't understand yet, and have never messed with. What setting would you suggest for these type of pictures? I'm anxious to update my website, and appreciate all the help I'm getting now.

Annida

Olympus C-4000Z

10/26/2003 10:18:21 AM · #14

Personally, I like the picture and the lines, but I think what you're talking about is the harsh light. That happens to me as well when I go out to take pictures in the middle of the day.. especially somewhere like here, AZ. Try taking the picture in the early morning or the late afternon when the light is softer. I think you may see a nice surprising difference.

coolhar

10/26/2003 10:20:13 AM · #15

For an outdoor daylight shot use a lower numbered ISO setting, like 50 or 100.

10/26/2003 10:21:42 AM · #16

Originally posted by coolhar:

For an outdoor daylight shot use a lower numbered ISO setting, like 50 or 100.

Thanks to you and Annida, this could be it.

glimpses

Sony DSC-F707

10/26/2003 11:42:53 AM · #17

I have the impression that the picture is just a bit over-exposed.

If you were using some automatic or semi-automatic stop, yoou could have considered to correct the exposure of one or two stops (-1, -2 somewhere in the commands of your camera).

If you were in fully manual, you could have chosen a faster shutter speed or a narrower aperture from the ones suggested by the exposimeter (depending on the DOF you wished to achieve).

Alternatively you could have used a neutral filter on the lenses.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

10/26/2003 11:44:07 AM · #18

It a neutral filter similar to those UV filters I see advertized?

glimpses

Sony DSC-F707

10/26/2003 11:47:46 AM · #19

Originally posted by JimB:

It a neutral filter similar to those UV filters I see advertized?

No, the neutral filter "just" reduces the quantity of brightness in the picture.

A short but significant explanation can be found here with some examples.

zeuszen

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II

10/26/2003 01:41:11 PM · #20

Originally posted by JimB:

I've had quite similar effects every now and then and was as baffled as you are. I'm inclined to believe that they are due to certain atmospheric conditions like haze on bright days, which the lens picks up differently (it seems to add minute reflections to the pixels) than the eye. I've been successful at improving the quality of shots under these conditions by adjusting the white balance (using a sheet of white paper) and adding an ND filter. Have you tried this?

Message edited by author 2003-10-26 13:41:51.

10/26/2003 02:14:26 PM · #21

No, I've just started to learn about filters and haven't bought any yet. I think you and the lady from Arizona are probably right; I live in California and we've been having a heat wave.

Thanks much