too soft - DPChallenge Forums

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

06/21/2005 07:40:51 PM · #1

I need help. Please visit my portfolio and tell me what I am doing wrong. It seems no matter what settings I have used, I get the saem comment that the focus was too soft. The majority of my portfolio images contain the EXIF data if that helps. Also, the lens used. I only have a Canon 300D - or the old G1, so it is not like I can compare images from another DSLR of a different brand. I have no doubt it is probably the photographer and not the equipment as I am so new to this and stil learning - or at least trying to learn.

faidoi

Pentax K10D

06/21/2005 07:43:51 PM · #2

Do you do any type of post processing other then the resize? Resizing can be a possible cause. Which software do your have or use?

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

06/21/2005 07:56:12 PM · #3

I had been using PhotoImpact by Ulead - but for the past month now have only used Photoshop 7.0
When I was using PhotoImpact, I often had to use the focusing tool. With PhotoImpact, I have been using the USM and levels mostly in PS. Recently I learned a bit about layers and have played with that just a little.
As for resizing - I have my camera set at the highest level, so any resizing done is to decrease size.

Message edited by author 2005-06-21 19:57:26.

tcrock41

Sony DSC-F707

06/21/2005 07:58:24 PM · #4

Have you thought about depth of field? Some of the ones I looked at. I saw just a spot that looked in focus but nothing else.

faidoi

Pentax K10D

06/21/2005 07:59:53 PM · #5

Originally posted by ShutterPug:

As for resizing - I have my camera set at the highest level, so any resizing done is to decrease size.

Using the highest setting on the Save for Web? Sometimes folks will go back in and USM a tiny bit more.

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

06/21/2005 08:17:15 PM · #6

faidoi - perhaps I misunderstood what you were getting at about resizing, or you did not understand my reply. I have my camera - the setting in menus - set for saving images at High.
When I save them on my computer - after downloading - I save them for web if that is what I will be doing with them. If I am saving for print, I save them at the original size, and change my dpi to 300. This is getting away from my problem though. I seem to be ahaing trouble getting my images sharply focused during the shooting of - straight out of the camera.

tcrock: I have tried different aperture values and still find myself not getting real sharp focus. The one thing I was wondering is if this is due to my not using a flash in most cases. I only use a flash when absolutely necessary.

tcrock41

Sony DSC-F707

06/21/2005 08:20:46 PM · #7

Thats how I shoot. Really not the best way. I have vowed to learn how to use the flash better. Low light could be causing a slow shutter. Hard to hold still at slow speeds.

dahkota

Canon EOS-7D

06/21/2005 08:24:40 PM · #8

Your moose was shot at 1/40 with a 70-300 Macro.
Learning to light was shot at 1/25 with a 28-105.

Maybe your shutter speeds are too slow. Try going outside on a really sunny day and shooting at speeds like 1/560. If its still there, your camera may be the problem.

Good luck!
d

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

06/21/2005 08:27:42 PM · #9

thanks dahkota, tomorrow is supposed to be sunny so I will try that. The sun is just getting low enough tonight that there is more shade than bright spots right now.

strangeghost

Canon EOS-7D

06/21/2005 08:30:55 PM · #10

It may also be an issue of how the rebel is focusing. My 10D allows me to select an AF point - which I prefer - so that I can focus on my subject and then recompose the shot if I wish to. Not sure how the Rebel handles this, but it would bear some reading in the manual to make sure you understand how your camera achieves focus.

For instance, in your shot of the donkey in the water, you got some comments that the tree was in focus but the donkey was not. That's a hallmark symptom of the camera trying to out-think the photographer, and something you'll master as you learn your camera.

Olympus 50mm f/1.8 MF Normal Zuiko

06/21/2005 08:30:56 PM · #11

Most consumer lenses can be very soft at the extremes. i.e. @ 300mm and f5.6 (or whatever the largest opening is at that focal length). Also, trying to focus at infinity can be a problem as well.

The focus usually is at it's best around f11.

A rule of thumb for shutterspeed is 1/focal length. So at 300mm (480 equivalent) a shutterspeed of 1/480. If you're fairly steady then you can try slightly slower speeds.

Cam

Sony DSC-F717

06/21/2005 08:44:01 PM · #12

I just hit unsharp mask a bit in PSP and came up with this.

, I dont think it looks like its oversharpened because the photo was well done and you have something to play with in PS, or what ever you use.

emorgan49

Olympus E-5

06/21/2005 08:56:04 PM · #13

Looks like camera shake on the indoor doggies. That was the most helpful comment I got on an early challenge.

06/21/2005 08:56:58 PM · #14

PUGS RULE!!!

Message edited by author 2005-06-21 20:58:55.

06/21/2005 08:59:58 PM · #15

all the indoor doggies were shot with the camera on a tripod, and with the use of the remote.

06/21/2005 09:01:04 PM · #16

Originally posted by cpanaioti:

The focus usually is at it's best around f11.

That's not true.

The focus is best when the camera has focused on something and there is no camera shake/subject movement.

The aperture (i.e. the "f11") controls the depth of field and has nothing to do with the focus.

Focus can be achieved at f1.8, 5.6, 11, 18, etc., etc. Depth of field will change, but the focus will remain the same.

Message edited by author 2005-06-21 21:06:47.

06/21/2005 09:16:03 PM · #17

Originally posted by nfessel:

Originally posted by cpanaioti:

The focus usually is at it's best around f11.

That's not true.

The focus is best when the camera has focused on something and there is no camera shake/subject movement.

The aperture (i.e. the "f11") controls the depth of field and has nothing to do with the focus.

Focus can be achieved at f1.8, 5.6, 11, 18, etc., etc. Depth of field will change, but the focus will remain the same.

Focus falls off at the extremes on cheaper lenses. The camera thinks it has focused, true, however the image will seem softer than an image taken at the 'sweet spot' of the lens.

06/21/2005 09:40:37 PM · #18

Focus falls off at the extremes on cheaper lenses. The camera thinks it has focused, true, however the image will seem softer than an image taken at the 'sweet spot' of the lens.

This does make sense - when I use my telephoto at the full 300mm, I have noticed the focus is even softer than at lesser mm's. I wish I could afford better than a consumer lens, but I am stuck with the cheaper at this time. So I guess I'll have to find that sweet spot on my lenses.

06/21/2005 09:45:03 PM · #19

Originally posted by ShutterPug:

300mm will work however you have to be fairly close to the subject.

06/21/2005 09:46:35 PM · #20

Originally posted by ShutterPug:

The longer the zoom, the more magnification given to the image, which also magnifies any camera shake.

Before assuming that it's the equipment, try taking a shot at 300mm with a tripod and a shot at 300mm without a tripod.

Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical IF for Canon

06/21/2005 09:51:31 PM · #21

nfessel has some good points as well that will help you get the best shot with what you've got.

SDW

Canon EOS-60D

06/21/2005 10:03:37 PM · #22

I am no expert, just visit my profile to see, but they look like an lighting and ISO/SS/A problem with a slower lens [not to sure about the lens, just what I have read but seem to be OK lens]. Some pictures seem to have a fair amount of noise which could make sharpening hard to do. Maybe better lighting with lower ISO, higher SS and deeper Aperture. Just a suggestion.

Could you pull some EXIF data and put in the description area to let us know what setting were used on each photo?

Olympus 50mm f/1.8 MF Normal Zuiko

06/21/2005 10:12:07 PM · #23

Originally posted by cpanaioti:

nfessel has some good points as well that will help you get the best shot with what you've got.

I think PUGS RULE!!! is the best point I made. ;)

emorgan49

Olympus E-5

06/21/2005 10:25:21 PM · #24

Originally posted by ShutterPug:

all the indoor doggies were shot with the camera on a tripod, and with the use of the remote.

So much for my theory - so I'll switch my opinion to Pugs Rule.