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

DPChallenge Forums >> Tips, Tricks, and Q&A >> Out of focus photos
Pages:  
Showing posts 1 - 16 of 16, (reverse)
AuthorThread
09/16/2003 09:07:04 AM · #1
After recently buying a new digicam, 99% of my shots are slightly out of focus. I have taken nearly 200, mainly in Auto Focus mode.

I have my images recorded in SHQ jpegs, woudl it help if i saved as RAW or TIFFS? I know quality and detail are going to be higher, but will it sharpen them more?

I have cleaned the AF part of the camera, and the lense but it's still poor.

Do I have a faulty camera, or even a case for me having glasses?

09/16/2003 09:12:40 AM · #2
A couple of up front things to check. You should be able to get good, sharp images in any mode, even down to the smallest least sharp JPEG modes in the camera.

Are you taking these shots in good light (household lights in the evening at home are not good light)

Are you pointing the autofocus at contrasty, sharply defined subjects ? Autofocus in most digital cameras works on contrasts. If you put the autofocus point over a sharp contrast the focusing system locks on better. So a checkerboard would be better than a white wall.

Are you too close to your subjects ? Minimum focus distance varies from camera to camera.

Is your camera using a fast enough shutter speed (you should be able to check the shot information) If you are down around 1/60second or so camera shake might be the problem, not focus.

Can you post any examples of the problem, along with the exposure information ? People might be more able to offer suggestions on if its the camera or how its being operated.

Message edited by author 2003-09-16 09:13:11.
09/16/2003 10:19:20 AM · #3
Thanks Gordon, please see images attached.

Lighting indoors or outdoors still the same.

Even using a tripod and remote control doesn't help.

Image 1 1/60 F2.8 39mm 1.1x Zoom


Image 2 1/200 F4.0 51mm zoom 1.5x


Image 3 1/200 F4.0 51mm zoom 1.5x



09/16/2003 10:21:11 AM · #4
My camera is an Olympus E20p BTW ;)


09/16/2003 10:27:59 AM · #5
This may be a silly question, but are you pressing the button slightly and waiting for the camera to focus before pressing the rest of the way? I'm only asking because a lot of people don't do this and just press the button all the way down, not giving the camera time to focus and the results tend to look like what you were showing. I think there should be a green light in the viewfinder that'll hold steady when the camera is focused.
09/16/2003 11:09:21 AM · #6
;) Yes, I am doing that.

FWIW, if it's not in focus, I will be unable to take the shot as it won't let me, and locks the camera.


09/16/2003 11:12:09 AM · #7
i have an e-10. same camera, just lower resolution. some people found their cams would focus on something beyond the subject and that would be sharp. so look in your images for the actual focal plane and see if that's sharp.

also try the Olympus SLR talk forum on dpreview.com .. they have been through it all ..

good luck
09/16/2003 11:26:22 AM · #8
If it's not too late...RETURN IT! I wrestled with this issue with my e20 for 8 months...tried everything to get better focus. The bottom line is that the e20 needs tons of light to focus and even with that you've only a 50/50 chance of a clean shot. Consider any action shots or normal indoor candids etc. out of reach with that camera if you want a sharp image. If it's too late to return then learn to use the blur stylistically and/or lug hot lights around with you everywhere you might want to take a picture :oP

Many will say the problem is user error/poor technique. While it may be a contributing factor to the problem, it's not the entire issue with the e20. As soon as I upgraded to a 10D 90% of my shots were perfectly sharp (most of them 'action' shots of a wild little boy or wildlife at the far end of a 75-300mm lens).

Look into the new digital rebel or 10D...you'll be quite pleased with them I think. Btw, I've found by shooting RAW you can get sharper images with post processing...smaller steps with the USM yields fewer artifacts so you can sharpen the image more.

Good luck!
09/16/2003 11:31:23 AM · #9
Originally posted by magnetic9999:

i have an e-10. same camera, just lower resolution. some people found their cams would focus on something beyond the subject and that would be sharp. so look in your images for the actual focal plane and see if that's sharp.

also try the Olympus SLR talk forum on dpreview.com .. they have been through it all ..

good luck


I wanted to support the recommendation from magnetic9999. Look through the entire photo to see if any part is in focus. If it's there, but not where you expected, either you or the camera missed the subject when you locked focus. If no element of the picture is in focus it probably movement, but could be some catastrophic camera/lens problem.
09/16/2003 11:54:48 AM · #10
The sample images you posted kinda look like slight camera movement (especially the tree).
09/16/2003 12:48:22 PM · #11
Carsten has that camera; he gets fantastic shots out of it. Just to add another stupid suggestion that you've already done: have you read the owner's manual?

Otherwise, contact Carsten personally. He's a nice guy! Some day, when I go to Sweden, I will stop by his how and he will give me photography lessons!

Message edited by author 2003-09-16 12:49:16.
09/16/2003 12:54:56 PM · #12
yeah, read the manual ;)


09/16/2003 01:10:26 PM · #13
If you're looking at the image at 100%, you're not likely going to find one that's ever as pinpoint sharp as you'd like. At 100% on a 4MP camera, you're seeing quite a blown up image that's going to enhance every little imperfection.

I don't think there's any trouble with your camera -- you're going to find this with virtually any camera you buy. Try looking at it at the size you're going to print it, rather at 100% on the screen.
09/16/2003 01:19:43 PM · #14
dont use digital zoom
try using the camera at 1:1 ratio
i never use the zoom on mine
it sucks

soup


09/16/2003 01:51:36 PM · #15
It's true optical zoom, the E20 has no digital zoom on it ;)


09/16/2003 01:58:05 PM · #16
what DPI are you viewing at 100%?
72 is what comes off the camera
anything over is like enlarging it - which would give the blur

i use a 600dpi setting for printing - but viewing in the editor 100% print size is zooming down to 25% or so in the editor

if that makes sense
do they print OK?

soup
Pages:  
Current Server Time: 03/28/2024 05:18:47 PM

Please log in or register to post to the forums.


Home - Challenges - Community - League - Photos - Cameras - Lenses - Learn - Prints! - Help - Terms of Use - Privacy - Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2024 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 03/28/2024 05:18:47 PM EDT.