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

DPChallenge Forums >> Photography Discussion >> Pictures not looking sharp.
Pages:  
Showing posts 1 - 18 of 18, (reverse)
AuthorThread
 01/05/2007 01:36:46 PM · #1
Hi I have a Canon 30d with the kit lens. But i mostly use a Tamron 75-300mm F4-5.6 lens. I'm fairly new so i've been happy with my pictures but I wish i could get them sharper. I use a tripod even at higher speeds and i shoot in RAW mode. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what might be at fault here? Also please briefly outline the steps i should take from RAW pics to jpg. I have CS2 and also the software that came with the camera. Thanks.
 01/05/2007 01:52:20 PM · #2
Not sharp compared to what?
You ruled out camera shake by using the tripod and the higher speeds. So I blame those lenses. They are not that good.

Can't help with the ACR raw conversion because I don't use ACR.


01/05/2007 01:52:29 PM · #3
This group likes to see pictures. Not that I'm speaking for the whole group but this is what I suggest:

1) Load a photograph that you want like to talk about to your portfolio. I would use a photograph that has not been edited other than image size and saved as jpeg.

2) Post a thumbnail to that photograph in this thread.

3) Include information: iso, aperture, shutter speed, your camera's distance from subject, rough idea of light situation (light, dark), focus mode (autofocus or manual), your sign and anything else you can think of.

You may get some comments possibly even useful ones.
 01/05/2007 01:57:00 PM · #4
Do you take these pictures usig the extremes of you lense? I.e 75mm, 300mm, f/4, or f/22? This will affect your sharpness. Since I'm not familiar with the lense itself, it's possible that that lense isn't a sharp model. Primes while almost always be sharper than Zoom lenses for example.
 01/05/2007 01:59:29 PM · #5
Originally posted by _eug:
Do you take these pictures usig the extremes of you lense? I.e 75mm, 300mm, f/4, or f/22? This will affect your sharpness. Since I'm not familiar with the lense itself, it's possible that that lense isn't a sharp model. Primes while almost always be sharper than Zoom lenses for example.


I just call those pictures abstract.
 01/05/2007 01:59:54 PM · #6
You can use in camera settings to sharpen.
 01/05/2007 02:15:51 PM · #7
It may not be the lenses at all. When you shoot RAW the camera doesn't apply any settings to the image so it will be soft. During the conversion, do you apply sharpening? If you don't, this may be where the problem lies. I had the same problem when I started shooting RAW until I started sharpening during the RAW to jpg conversion. Hope that helps.

June
 01/05/2007 02:18:06 PM · #8
Be sure to read: tutorial.
 01/05/2007 02:24:16 PM · #9
I think I might agree with blaming the lense. Unless you're shooting in tons of light and have a good focus with your lenses - they won't be as sharp as something else (like a crips 50mm) or something else that's good (that I don't have).

But like the people said - post some examples.
If all else fails use a little USM in CS2.
 01/05/2007 02:45:24 PM · #10
Originally posted by Azrifel:
Not sharp compared to what?
You ruled out camera shake by using the tripod and the higher speeds. So I blame those lenses. They are not that good.

I disagree! That Tamron lens can produce tack-sharp images. Here are some of mine (all are handheld, except for the moon):

. . .
01/05/2007 02:52:53 PM · #11
Originally posted by lesgainous:
Originally posted by Azrifel:
Not sharp compared to what?
You ruled out camera shake by using the tripod and the higher speeds. So I blame those lenses. They are not that good.

I disagree! That Tamron lens can produce tack-sharp images. Here are some of mine (all are handheld, except for the moon):

. . .

Any of these taken at the extremes? Just trying to rule out my hypothesis.
 01/05/2007 02:55:23 PM · #12
?

Message edited by author 2007-01-05 15:12:24.
 01/05/2007 03:08:28 PM · #13
Originally posted by _eug:
Originally posted by lesgainous:
Originally posted by Azrifel:
Not sharp compared to what?
You ruled out camera shake by using the tripod and the higher speeds. So I blame those lenses. They are not that good.

I disagree! That Tamron lens can produce tack-sharp images. Here are some of mine (all are handheld, except for the moon):

. . .

Any of these taken at the extremes? Just trying to rule out my hypothesis.


Focal length:

The first three were taken at 300mm (or 450mm on my camera), and the pier was at 148mm (or 222mm).

Aperture:

All but the moon were at f/5.6. The moon was at f/8. Just so you know, at maximum focal length (300mm), the largest aperture is f/5.6.

Message edited by author 2007-01-05 15:10:54.
 01/05/2007 03:12:00 PM · #14
Originally posted by lesgainous:
Originally posted by Azrifel:
Not sharp compared to what?
You ruled out camera shake by using the tripod and the higher speeds. So I blame those lenses. They are not that good.

I disagree! That Tamron lens can produce tack-sharp images. Here are some of mine (all are handheld, except for the moon): (Thumbs removed)


That's ok, but nothing special.
The first bird pic shows signs of oversharpening at the tail, lacks detail in the feathers and has a hint of chromatic abberation.
The 2nd one also lacks fine detail.
The beach profile has jpeg artifacts along the edges of the details, cannot judge that one.
The moon just lacks detail and looks pretty soft.

All in my spoiled humble opinion of course. And I must say that at this size level it is impossible to fairly judge a lens, altough I expect more detail / fine contrast nuances in the birds feathers for example.


01/05/2007 03:13:51 PM · #15
It's really OK - some of us should be on drugs.
 01/05/2007 03:16:38 PM · #16
Originally posted by quiet_observation:
It's really OK - some of us should be on drugs.


What is really ok?
Who should be on drugs?

Or

What?
 01/05/2007 03:17:07 PM · #17
I agree, Azrifel. I did not muck with the lens CA on the seagull. Also, JPG artifacts are why I hate to produce JPGs. Most of my prints are from TIFF files converted from RAW. Since DPC only accepts JPGs, I have to conform--which is unrelated to the lens. :-(

Message edited by author 2007-01-05 15:19:07.
 01/05/2007 03:45:37 PM · #18
Osiris the original poster has left the building anyway.
Pages:  
Current Server Time: 08/02/2025 05:10:54 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: 08/02/2025 05:10:55 PM EDT.