Fuzzy Photos - I'm sick of this!

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

04/29/2007 06:39:24 PM · #1

I have been dealing with "fuzzy" photos for over a year now! My D70 will produce "fuzzy" photos if I am shooting outdoors. If I shoot in the studio, it isn't as bad.... but now, this fuzziness is just getting worse and worse!

I did an outdoor shoot today, and I don't think I can use any of the photos! They are all terrible and fuzzy!

Here is one of the photos and the EXIF data for that photo is below.

I'm done! I can't deal with this anymore!!! I now have to call this woman and figure out an excuse as to why I will have to do a reshoot. And the thing that sucks, is that all of her family is not from around here. I'm terrified to look at the wedding from yesterday! :(

I'm so effed! *argh*

I don't know what to do!?!?

Message edited by author 2007-04-29 18:40:11.

Simonjw

Canon EOS-30D

04/29/2007 06:41:25 PM · #2

Editting post... didn't wait til the image loaded properly.

Doesn't look to bad to me... If you are shooting RAW then you will need to add some sharpening to the final image to achieve decent results, but if thats straight off camera, clarity looks ok to me.

Message edited by author 2007-04-29 18:46:10.

hanneke

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

04/29/2007 06:59:41 PM · #3

that is one big photo! ;)

the first thing I thought was: noise. But the ISO was set on 200, lowest on the D70, so that can't be it.

It can also look like the photo was under-exposed and braught back in the RAW-converter..

using curves in PS can work, not a lot of contrast.. and then the photo is much better (I tried it)

But your problem.. I don't know. But I'm sure there's a good explanation for this. And, of course, a solution to that ;)

good luck!

LanceW

Nikon Z9

Nikon AF Nikkor 20mm f/2.8D

04/29/2007 07:01:21 PM · #4

I don't see the lens used, but looks ok here. Have you sharpened it in PS or equivalent?

Azrifel

Nikon Coolpix P340

04/29/2007 07:01:32 PM · #5

Was this converted with ACR?

MelonMusketeer

Nikon D7000

Nikon MF 50mm f/1.4

04/29/2007 07:06:30 PM · #6

Don't panic yet. Look thru the lens and see if there are any smudges or such inside it or esp on the rear element. A lens shade would help some with contrast.
Unless you process the raw images, they will look a little washed out and not too sharp, about like the one that you posted. There are a lot of threads and good tutorials about that on DPC. Post one that can be downloaded easily, and ask the DPC'ers to have a go at making it look good.
This is a common topic with DSLR owners shooting RAW format after having P&S digital cameras which do default sharpening and processing in camera on JPG files. The RAW images are just that, raw, allowing the photog to control everything about the post processing.

Simms

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

04/29/2007 07:07:12 PM · #7

To set your mind at ease. The photo quality isnt bad, is this for prints? If so you should be able to print at 8x10 with no fuzziness noticable. Remeber on a screen zoomed in to 100% you will notice all the little problems. Also, remeber you are a photographer and you will notice things like a slight graininess, slight fuziness etc. To the average Joe they wont worry about stuff like that, they are looking at the image and the memory it captures.. try to step out of a 'togs shoes once in a while and see it as Joe. I mentioned in a thread earlier this month I was having the odd day where I took out my 300D & Kit lens, stuck it on P&S mode and just took snapshots, its very liberating and VERY enjoyable not worrying about DOF, ISO grain, rule of thirds etc.. Photos can be fun as well as art, I think we all need to remember that from time to time..

Dont worry, you;ll be fine, if you dont tell her, she will NEVER notice.

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

04/29/2007 07:07:40 PM · #8

This is basically SOOC. I just converted it to JPG.

I use a Sigma 28-80 2.8 lens. I tried fixing it in CS2, but it just looks crappy! It wouldn't be bad if they just wanted some 8x10's. I have been lucky and have done ok passing some off in 8x10 size. BUT, they want an 11x14 or 16x20! I can't fix it enough to pass it for that size.

I just don't know what to do anymore. If I am in the studio and have alot of light... it isn't as bad. But as soon as I step outside, they all get like this. And it's not just this lens... it does it with all lenses!

Simms

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

04/29/2007 07:10:39 PM · #9

Originally posted by nsoroma79:

A good quality 16x20 with the D70 is asking a bit much IMHO. Another pointer, if you was planning on printing this size, I would of filled a LOT more of the frame with the subjects. Doesnt help you now I know, but just for future reference.

NstiG8tr

Canon EOS-5D Mark IV

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM

04/29/2007 07:17:30 PM · #10

Originally posted by nsoroma79:

I use a Sigma 28-80 2.8 lens.

The exif says you used a 28-70mm F2.8-F4.0

Message edited by author 2007-04-29 19:17:59.

pineapple

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

04/29/2007 07:20:31 PM · #11

So the common factor is not the lens, it is either the body, the memory card, or the conversion software. Why not send the body to Nikon for recalibration? If it was my camera, I would also try another memory card.

Message edited by author 2007-04-29 19:30:16.

Canon EF 28-135mm F/3.5-5.6 IS USM

04/29/2007 07:30:40 PM · #12

You are right... it is 28-70. *duh!* ;)

And I have used Lexar cards and SanDisk... and I get the same thing.

This is a shot from the wedding I shot yesterday. See... it works fine with flash. (again, shot sooc)

I don't get it!?!?

Message edited by author 2007-04-29 19:33:23.

MelonMusketeer

Nikon D7000

Nikon MF 50mm f/1.4

04/29/2007 07:34:57 PM · #13

Are you cleaning the sensor with anything? There may be some residue on it from liquid cleaning. The big pic on the link looks about normal.
Like

Simms says, get closer and fill the frame with subjects would help a lot.
I have never heard of a memory card causing softness, but I can see how that could happen too.
edit; I just had a look at the wedding shot, and that looks fine. Maybe try higher shutter speed or a VR lens when outdoors if you are hand holding. Just a little movement at even 1/500 can be seen in images when you blow them up to 100% size, and the crop factor with the sensor size makes it even more critical.

Good luck with this problem.

Message edited by author 2007-04-29 19:38:52.

downtherabbithole

Canon EOS-30D

04/29/2007 07:38:17 PM · #14

Originally posted by nsoroma79:

as a former d70 owner...I'm sorry. That is about the extent of the d70, it just doesn't do well in natural light. try converting it with something else, it may help. What other lens's do you have?
the d70 is a great camera to start on, but if your are producing at a pro level (making money) you need a better camera. Rock bands don't play on bargin priced guitars (for the most part)

I don't mean to offend here either, though I'm sure I just did. I have nothing against anyone who owns or shoots on a d70. I did it for years, got me through most of collage too. it's a great camera, just dated. the tech. is better now.

Canon EF-S 15-85mm IS USM

04/29/2007 07:38:39 PM · #15

I don't clean my sensor itself. I can't even take a photo right! There is no way I would attempt that! It was just cleaned not too long ago, so it's not that.

This problem has been going on for over a year now...

HighNooner

Canon EOS-60D

04/29/2007 07:54:28 PM · #16

Originally posted by nsoroma79:

With your permission
I will delete it if you say so.
Here is the photo a bit retouched.

LanceW

Nikon Z9

Nikon AF Nikkor 20mm f/2.8D

04/29/2007 07:56:04 PM · #17

Not sure I really see a problem though. Sigma's aren't the greatest lenses and your lighting conditions in that shot were less than ideal.

RainMotorsports

Nikon D60

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR

04/29/2007 07:58:47 PM · #18

That Photo was also shot on the wrong side of the tree. You were shooting against the light. That explains some problems.

But not the fuzziness of the fence in the back.

LanceW

Nikon Z9

Nikon AF Nikkor 20mm f/2.8D

04/29/2007 08:03:14 PM · #19

Originally posted by RainMotorsports:

But not the fuzziness of the fence in the back.

I don't see that, but DOF would explain that since it was shot at F/4. I think this is just a normal shot, displaying normal characteristics for being hand held, shot against the light and using a Sigma lens nearly wide open.

RainMotorsports

Nikon D60

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR

04/29/2007 08:05:10 PM · #20

Originally posted by tooohip:

Originally posted by RainMotorsports:

But not the fuzziness of the fence in the back.

I don't see that, but DOF would explain that since it was shot at F/4. I think this is just a normal shot, displaying normal characteristics for being hand held, shot against the light and using a Sigma lens nearly wide open.

View the photo at 100%, If in Firefox click on the image after loading. IE hover over the image and click the icon that appears in the lower right after a few seconds.

The fence/playground is extremley bad, but as you said F/4 looks more like F/2.8 as far as dof goes then again ive only experimented with DOF on a 50mm lense with 35mm and then the rest on a point and shoot which is hard.

jackal9

Canon EOS-50D

Canon EF 28-135mm F/3.5-5.6 IS USM

04/29/2007 08:15:23 PM · #21

Originally posted by TIHadi:

Originally posted by nsoroma79:
I don't clean my sensor itself. I can't even take a photo right! There is no way I would attempt that! It was just cleaned not too long ago, so it's not that.

This problem has been going on for over a year now...

With your permission
I will delete it if you say so.
Here is the photo a bit retouched.

That is MUCH better, although a bit dark, maybe some fill strobe would have helped or a couple of reflectors?? In my opinian the OOF playground is a good thing, forces your attention on the people, which is what you want anyway. I also think a tighter crop would have helped with that as well, JMO.

Edited for fat fingers, lol.

Message edited by author 2007-04-29 20:16:09.

surfdabbler

Canon EOS-5D

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

04/29/2007 08:17:18 PM · #22

Lenses won't be at their sharpest when they are wide open. You could try closing it up a little to get a sharper image. Generally, most lenses are at their sharpest around f/6 to f/8.

When you have time to experiment, you could also see if you get better results manual focusing. Looking at the grass in front of the group, I would wonder whether maybe some of the grass is in better focus than the people. Front focusing is apparently a common problem with Sigma lenses, but can be fixed by sending it away for calibration to your camera. (I haven't had any experience with this - just heard stories). Another solution for front-focusing is to autofocus, and then learn how much to tweak it back to get it sharp.

Message edited by author 2007-04-29 20:25:25.

BHuseman

Nikon D750

Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM | S

04/29/2007 08:18:38 PM · #23

Looking at the full size of the wedding picture you posted I don't see a lot of fuzziness. In fact I think it has some sharp qualities to it.

So if every picture you take with your camera is fuzzy to you but not others, have you cinsidered another problem...your computer monitor???