Canon Rebel shots not as clear as cheaper Olympus

07/17/2005 10:58:34 PM · #3

Oh yeah..and I forgot to add that I do have a monopod. Used it for the first time with the "big lens" at a horse show a couple of weeks ago.

Here is a link to my photos from that show:

June Horse Show with 4H Kids

The monopod is GREAT... now the photographer just has to get better. I can't wait to get the new CANON lenses.

~G

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM II

07/17/2005 10:50:59 PM · #4

Again...thanks everyone. I was a high bidder on ebay for a used Canon - 28-200 f/3.5 - 5.6 USM EF Lens. PLUS... my brother in law has some fantastic FD Canon lens. Just found that out today. He uses them with his telescope (has a 21 inch mirror telescope) activities. He has a 135mm that seemed just right. I found an adaptor for the FD to EOS at Adorama. I'll be doing manual focus, but that's OK.

So, I have a couple of new lenses with which to try.

I can't believe how much I have learned in this thread this weekend. What an awesome bunch of folks you all are.

Thanks again.

~G

petrakka

07/17/2005 06:01:00 PM · #5

if sharpness is your main concern dont bother with a zoom lens unless its like the "L" series which are a lot of money. you are better off with prime (fixed focal length lenses) such as a 50 mm 1.8 or 85 mm 1.8 etc.

lynnesite

Canon EOS-1D X

07/17/2005 05:33:12 PM · #6

Originally posted by Galimages:

Thanks everyone for the advice... I got busy for a few days and couldn't get back to the forum. The "low quality" lens makes real sense. As you read, I already have the Canon EF 75-300mm f/4.0-5.6 IS USM. It's a pretty heavy lens to carry around all day. Although with no tripod... the IS might be great.

However... if I was to buy this lens: Canon - 28-200 f/3.5 - 5.6 USM EF Lens... do you think my images would be noticably sharper than with the Quanterey lens that I have already?

Thanks for the input.

~G

For jumping, buy a monopod and use that long lens!

Even at around TV 1000 you oughta be fine. I'm LMAO at the concept of the 75-300 as a heavy lens though. In low light you'll be a little screwed with that lens but it's better thn your alternatives, bump that ISO up if you need to, but keep the shutter speed up to above 800.

Lynne & the 70-200 2.8 IS

yido

Canon EOS-5D

Sigma 20mm f/1.8 EX Aspherical DG DF RF for Canon

07/17/2005 03:54:06 PM · #7

I don't think the Canon 75-300 IS nor the Canon 28-200 lens are any better than the kit lens in optical quality. Check out Bob Atkins review of the IS lens, at 300mm, even the center was soft. The 28-200mm by Canon get not so hot reviews from Popular Photography as well. Maybe ok from 28-100 or so, but definately soft around 200.

I'd recommned considering selling the IS and the kit lens and getting a Tamron 28-75XR Di and a Canon 70-200 f4L. Both are probably the best lens in their category for the buck and will most likely make noticable differnce in the quality of the shots.

awpollard

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

07/16/2005 09:31:41 PM · #8

Originally posted by Galimages:

I had a Quantaray 75-300mm that lasted me about 2 days before I returned it for Canon Glass...I returned it for (another budget lens) Canon 55-200mm which kicked the snot out of the Quantaray for sharpness. The Quantaray was like shooting through the bottom of a coke bottle...I took it out put it on a tripod and tried big arps f/11 and such and still couldn't pull a sharp shot out of it...worse than that detail was lost on the Quantaray it was soft because there was detail missing on the long end.

To answer your question yes...you will notice results upon unloading that baggage.

Andy

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

Canon RF 24-70 f2.8 L IS

07/16/2005 09:29:49 PM · #9

Originally posted by Galimages:

I used to own the Canon 28-200, and I will say that it can produce some excellent shots. It is pretty soft wide open, and at the long end of the zoom range. All in all, I think you are better served with the 75-300. Avois shoting wide open and you should see better results.

Message edited by author 2005-07-16 22:58:15.

Sigma 20mm f/1.8 EX Aspherical DG DF RF for Canon

07/16/2005 07:08:23 PM · #10

yido

Canon EOS-5D

07/14/2005 02:04:58 AM · #11

Originally posted by kyebosh:

Originally posted by yido:
I think it may be mainly due to your lenses. I have the kit lens and have tried the 75-300 lens a few times. They are not very good lens. Before I got better lenses, I was constantly sharpening in PS to compensate for the lens and it never looked right. Now that I shoot mainly with better lenses, I rarely need to sharpen b/c there really isn't much if at all to sharpen.

I'd recommend considering the following lenses if you's a massive wallet: Canon 16-35L/17-40L/24-70L/70-200 f4or2.8L.

If you want cheaper but optically comparable, I'd recommend considering.
Tamron 17-35 Di/28-75XR Di, Tokina 12-24, Sigma 24-60/70-200/120-300.

I'm sure others can chirp in with other lens suggestions, but with any of the above, I'd bet you'd notice immediate improvement in your picture sharpness, contrast, color.
Good luck

since when is the 120-300 2.8 cheap XD!!!

Yup, the Sigma 120-300 EX f2.8 is about $1800 or so, but I wanted to keep Canon and non Canon lenses seperate.

Prof_Fate

07/14/2005 01:52:01 AM · #12

Originally posted by kyebosh:

I believe you can buy focusing screens for any DSLR. I don't know where though.

I read about the one for the Rebel 300. i think it is $125 to 150 plus installation (you can do it yourself if you are brave enough). You lose the little lights you have now that tell you if AF is acheived and where...AF still works, but you have no location dot. canondigicamhacking
is a yahoo group and they have the directions in their files section.

TooCool

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

07/14/2005 01:44:30 AM · #13

Originally posted by SDW65:

The kit lens (bad)

Better than the Quantaray. Not so bad at f/8.0 and in the middle of the zoom. Why does everyone dis the kit lens all the time. Just learn it's capability and work within it. Got myself a red ribbon that way...

kyebosh

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF 80-200 f/2.8L

07/14/2005 01:43:30 AM · #14

Originally posted by yido:

I think it may be mainly due to your lenses. I have the kit lens and have tried the 75-300 lens a few times. They are not very good lens. Before I got better lenses, I was constantly sharpening in PS to compensate for the lens and it never looked right. Now that I shoot mainly with better lenses, I rarely need to sharpen b/c there really isn't much if at all to sharpen.

I'd recommend considering the following lenses if you's a massive wallet: Canon 16-35L/17-40L/24-70L/70-200 f4or2.8L.

If you want cheaper but optically comparable, I'd recommend considering.
Tamron 17-35 Di/28-75XR Di, Tokina 12-24, Sigma 24-60/70-200/120-300.

I'm sure others can chirp in with other lens suggestions, but with any of the above, I'd bet you'd notice immediate improvement in your picture sharpness, contrast, color.
Good luck

since when is the 120-300 2.8 cheap XD!!!

TooCool

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

07/14/2005 01:41:22 AM · #15

Originally posted by Galimages:

I'll probably use the Quantaray 28 - 200 mm lens.

That's your problem... Throw the Quantaray away...

SDW

Canon EOS-60D

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

07/14/2005 01:41:04 AM · #16

I was disappointed about the sharpness and overall look when I upgraded from my Panasonic FZ20 to my Canon 350D. I soon found out it was because the dSLR does little or no processing when the picture is taken but my point and shoot camera did. I also learned the "lens factor". The kit lens (bad) so I mostly shoot with my 50mm f/1.8 and 70-200mm f/4.0 L lens. And I still have a lot of learning to do as well. All those factors play a part. But I'm getting there.

yido

Canon EOS-5D

Sigma 20mm f/1.8 EX Aspherical DG DF RF for Canon

07/14/2005 01:30:42 AM · #17

aboutimage

Canon EOS-30D

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

07/14/2005 01:10:22 AM · #18

Someone mentioned something about spending the $75 on the 50mm F/1.8. That is EXTREMELY good advice. I think the first time you bring images home using that lens, you're gonna fall out of your chair. The clarity/color difference is astounding for the price.

BrennanOB

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

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

07/14/2005 12:59:47 AM · #19

Originally posted by Galimages:

So, if I use the Rebel, I should try creating a new Setting 1 in the parameters, and increase the "sharpness" level to +2.

For this set up that sounds good. and I would bump the contrast as well in one setting, and use it when the sun is on your back, same sharpness ans no increase in contrast when the sun is in your face.

Then...for action shots in daylight.... should I use Tv setting of perhaps....2500 (or can I go lower?), an ISO of, perhaps 400. I need to catch that horse right in mid-air over the jump.

I think if you do this you risk pushing toward the wide open and there fore softer edge, pushing the ISO to 800 is preferable to opening your lens up all the way. If you are shooting jumping the servo is helpfull and that is only available in the sport mode. If you are not post processing and need the speed nothing wrong with letting the camera do some thinking, even if you are going out the sacred "creative zones".1/2500 of a second will freeze a fastball at 98mph you dont need to be anyway near that fast.

I'll probably use the Quantaray 28 - 200 mm lens. Should I leave the clear lens filter off? Is this perhaps interfering?
IMHO the Canon with the IS would be a better bet for the action. The Quantaray is pretty soft.
THANKS for the HUGE help. I truly appreciate it.

text

Message edited by author 2005-07-14 01:03:45.

macox

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO Macro Super II for Canon

07/14/2005 12:29:05 AM · #20

I just did a little searching and found that the d-20 does have a focusing screen but it's fixed I didn't even think about it until I tried to manual focus I thought slr=has ttl view+focusing screen

Message edited by author 2005-07-14 00:32:32.

kyebosh

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF 80-200 f/2.8L

07/14/2005 12:19:48 AM · #21

I believe you can buy focusing screens for any DSLR. I don't know where though.

macox

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO Macro Super II for Canon

07/14/2005 12:11:56 AM · #22

I like the softer images and better range (or lack of contrast if you want to look at it that way) what's getting me is the sensor size I've never shot much film so the aperature settings are way off from what I'm used to on my old 'pro-sumer' model

only 2 things I really would like would be a hack so I can reprogram the aperature preview to another easier-to-reach button(like say.. focus point selection that I keep hitting accidently).
and a split prism or some type of focusing screen (Is there ANY possible way to get this in a digital without springing for a eos-1d or do those even have that option?)

scalvert

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

07/13/2005 11:34:53 PM · #23

As Kirbic mentioned, none of your lenses are known for being sharp, and the Quantaray is probably the worst of the bunch. Adding a cheap UV filter to a cheap lens will further degrade the image quality. Make sure with any of these lenses that you're shooting at leat f/5.6, and ideally f/8 - f/13, to get the most out of them (assuming you're shooting outdoors).