The Fuzzies are taking over.... - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

12/11/2007 10:16:55 AM · #1

Okay, was wondering if anyone can help me..
Every time I take photos for someone I end up with kind of a grainy effect to them. Not too bad but enough that they aren't cystal clear. Any advice on what I'm doing wrong or what I need to change to get clear quality photos??? Posted below are a couple examples of my problem

Message edited by author 2007-12-11 10:20:17.

smilebig4me1x

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

12/11/2007 10:20:10 AM · #2

what is the ISO set on? might be time to clean the sensor

Message edited by author 2007-12-11 10:22:24.

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

12/11/2007 10:20:46 AM · #3

Originally posted by smilebig4me1x:

psst...take out " ID="

sorry thanks

smilebig4me1x

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

12/11/2007 10:23:14 AM · #4

also look to see what your sharpness setting is..might need a boost

pcody

Canon PowerShot G6

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8

12/11/2007 10:33:11 AM · #5

Your wb seems to be off in both. Are you using tungsten? If so, do a custom wb.
They both seem to be underexposed. Underexposure will make the picture grainy. I did a black/white point in both and that brought up the exposure by about a full stop plus made the whites white instead of yellowish.
edit to add picture.
[thumb]621470[/thumb] just chose a spot on his sleeve for the white point.
[thumb]621471[/thumb]black/white point selected then hue/sat to move the yellow over more to red.
about 2 seconds for each.

Message edited by author 2007-12-11 10:38:54.

12/11/2007 10:49:14 AM · #6

Originally posted by smilebig4me1x:

also look to see what your sharpness setting is..might need a boost

how do I check that? and thanks for the christmas card I just got it in the mail:)

12/11/2007 10:49:42 AM · #7

Originally posted by smilebig4me1x:

what is the ISO set on? might be time to clean the sensor

I think ISO is set on 600

12/11/2007 10:50:05 AM · #8

Originally posted by Nowaytotell:

Originally posted by smilebig4me1x:
what is the ISO set on? might be time to clean the sensor

I think ISO is set on 600

not sure how to clean the sensor

12/11/2007 10:51:03 AM · #9

Originally posted by pcody:

If I do a custom wb what do I want it to be
SOrry for being such a pain guys...but i can't learn if i don't ask

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

12/11/2007 10:52:59 AM · #10

how do you change underexposure and over exposure for that matter

smilebig4me1x

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

12/11/2007 11:00:28 AM · #11

Originally posted by Nowaytotell:

how do you change underexposure and over exposure for that matter

are you asking about while your taking the photo or in processing?

Ann

Olympus OM-D E-M1

Olympus 12-40mm f/2.8 Pro

12/11/2007 11:05:20 AM · #12

Let's take a step back and ask some questions....I assume you're using your Rebel XT and the Sigma 28-70 for the shots. What kind of lighting? Raw or jpeg? What are your shutter speed and aperture? What focal length was the lens zoomed to? What white balance setting did you use? Straight out of the camera, were the images under or overexposed? What post processing did you do?

With the girls, it looks like the girl in the center is pretty sharp, but the ones on the sides are a bit fuzzy. I don't know anything about this lens, so somebody else will have to help me, but I'm wondering if this is a lens issue. Could it have been a long exposure, and a couple of the girls moved?

The baby looks kind of equally fuzzy all over. Did you do any sharpening in post processing?

scalvert

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

12/11/2007 11:12:24 AM · #13

Also, what software are you using?

jschro

Canon EOS-30D

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

12/11/2007 11:16:19 AM · #14

Hmmm... cleaning the sensor... get a blower (not canned air) and look in your manual for instructions for cleaning the sensor. If there is still dust I would send it to Canon which has done it free for me 2 times. Do not touch the sensor, it could very easily be damaged.

ISO at 600 ....higher ISO's introduce more noise. Try shooting at ISO 100 or 200, 400 at the highest. Use flash (bounced/diffused). It will also help to get faster shutter speeds and reduce blurriness from subject movement. If it is after the fact, programs like Noise ninja might be the answer.

Aperature...for single portraits I like to go more wide open like 2.8 if using a zoom or even 1.8 or so with a prime. For groups though, depending on how the people are arranged and your distance away from them you may need to go with something more like f/8 or f/11.