View Full Version : Need help - sfot!
Getting this from quite a few images at the mo, they are not as sharp as I would like or expect!!
Where Am I going wrong.
This one is a good example, not too bad, but not spot on!!!
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/gallery/data/500/Soft.jpg
The original Metadata is: -
ISO 200
F8
1/500
28mm
I had swithced off IS as I'm not sold on it just yet! However pictures before switching off are no better, but I was shooting at about f3.5 so I increased the depth of field..
HELP....
Well, for an outdoor shot like that you could use a faster shutter, say 1/2500 or something? you are getting movement on Dermot's head because he's turning it basically. Could it be as simple as that?
I would agree that he's turning his head and thats prob why theirs a bit of movement. Watch you focus point aswell try to use only one so that gives you full control with the point of focus and so on. Possibly be a bit adventurous and use a longer focal length to try and blur out the background? will make the image look a bit nicer? and possibly a tad of fill in flash? the image is a nice shot just some we things that you can do to it :)
dougdarter
12-05-2007, 17:26
Hi,
I don't think that the movement of the head is the reason it is OOF.... it was shot at 1/500th, with a wide angle lens. The shutter speed would have ensured that the head was sharp.
I think that the problem is that the shot is OOF due to the very narrow DOF afforded by the lens at 28mm, even at f16. I would be tempted to do the shot again, as an experiment, and use servo focus, thus ensuring that if the subject moved, it would still, hopefully be in focus. You could also try changing the AF pattern on the 30D, and use just the central focus dot.
I'm guessing it's a corporate publicity shot, so you wanted the Focus sign to be (no pun intended) in focus. However, at a lower f-number like 4.5, you'd probably still get away with it and get a faster shutter time therefore have a sharper picture.
Cheers Guys,
I generally always use single point focus. I concentrated on the chap in the middle.
Mr Gavins head was indeed still - no movement - I hae 2 successive shots, both with the same result...he is OOF
The intention was always to have the sign in the shot as much as poss so limiting the DOF.
The only thing I can think of is Shake? I thought 1/500th would have been enough at 28mm or is it DOF?
The general lack of sharpness in my images is starting to become annoying, I need to find a cure!! :)
There's a few questions arising out of this really, but mainly, have you applied any sharpening to the image in processing. If you're shooting in RAW then no sharpening is applied in camera at all and you shouldn't expect pin sharp images straight out of the camera... some degree of sharpening in processing is the norm. This image looks pretty much how I'd expect to see an image straight out of the camera. The other thing is that regardless of whether you've sharpened the full size image or not, when you reduce an image in size as you have here for web viewing it loses quite a bit of definition and will need sharpening anyway.
If you shoot jpegs, then sharpness out of the camera is very dependent on the sharpness settings you have set in the camera. Even so the conventional wisdom, is that even with jpegs you're still better off disabling sharpening in camera and dealing with it in processing for the best results.
Anyway I gave your pic a quick sharpen. :)
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/gallery/data/500/Soft1.jpg
1/500th should have been plenty fast enough with a 28mm lens and these lenses have good inherent DOF so you should have no problems at all at f8.
Use of the Single Shot AF mode is an interesting one. Once you have achieved focus in this mode and get the green confirmation light and beep (if it's enabled) focus is actually locked as long you keep that shutter button in the half pressed position. I wouldn't expect this to cause major probs with a wide angle lens, but with longer lenses, particularly at large apertures, the longer you hold that position while composing the shot, the more likelihood there is of your own, and or the subjects slight movements, being enough to throw you slightly out of focus. For that reason I'm tending to use Servo focus more and more these days.
I'd have to disagree strongly with the idea of using servo focus for portrait style shots. The problem with servo, at least on my 30D, is it's SO sensitive that any shake from you will lead to the focus on the subject jittering about all over the place. It's something I tend to find a problem as at times I have to switch rapidly between static and moving subjects without the time to change modes.
I'd do some test shots as a first step to check if it is you or the equipment.
Stick some newspaper on a wall and camera on a tripod or firm base completely square on to the wall. Try different lenses and apertures. If that all comes out OK then it is down to settings and technique. If all lenses perform badly then the camera may need calibrating. One bad lens and it obviously that lens with the problem.
I think Doug has got it the wrong way round. A wide angle lens should give you lots of depth of field so focussing on the correct point is probably not the problem - unless you focused on the 'focus' sign behind them :)
Are you using just the centre AF point?
King_Boru
12-05-2007, 21:40
Continuous servo for kids, Single servo to adults who know how to stay still.
As for the shot, I think it goes beyond technical ability. The young lady is standing roughly in the same focal plane as dermot. Technically he should be in focus. You mentioned that this has happened on a few images? Do you think it could be an issue with the lens? IS wouldnt effect it, turned on or off. Looks like a mechanical issue.
If he was turning his head he would of had to of turned it pretty quik to get image blur at 1/500th.
EDIT: As for the DOF field comments; when using wide angles the depth of field is much bigger at lower f numbers. Even if you had taken this a f/5.6 the subjects would of been in focus with the background providing sufficient detail.
I'd have to disagree strongly with the idea of using servo focus for portrait style shots. The problem with servo, at least on my 30D, is it's SO sensitive that any shake from you will lead to the focus on the subject jittering about all over the place. It's something I tend to find a problem as at times I have to switch rapidly between static and moving subjects without the time to change modes.
Well all my small bird shots are taken on Servo AF under pretty demanding conditions? I do use a tripod to ensure that I get that AF point over some detail with enough contrast/detail for the AF system to function, and you'd have to do the same in Single AF Mode anyway. I have no probs using either the 1D or 20D in Servo Mode.
I had sharpened the image, I've got the cam set to my own defined standard where the sharpness setting is high! (because of the issues I've been having!)
Cam is set using just the centre AF point.
I will do the test as described tomorrow Robert - thanks
CT - cheers for taking the time to mess with my image - I will resolve my softness eventually...
Irritable_Rabbit
12-05-2007, 21:49
Biggest problem I see is your technique.
The subjects are all outside of Focus. :p
Biggest problem I see is your technique.
The subjects are all outside of Focus. :p
ok, ok I deserved that one.... :)
Well all my small bird shots are taken on Servo AF under pretty demanding conditions? I do use a tripod to ensure that I get that AF point over some detail with enough contrast/detail for the AF system to function, and you'd have to do the same in Single AF Mode anyway. I have no probs using either the 1D or 20D in Servo Mode.
Yes - I can believe that a tripod would make a hell of a lot of difference though CT - or maybe you've just got steadier hands than me?! I've not tried using Servo that way but I do know that the few times I've gone to do portrait shots (usually in a hurry!) at speedway and left the camera in servo by mistake I've had awful problems. My other favourite trick to make my life difficult is to have an AF point other than the centre one selected and then forget about it - only to wonder why the heck I'm having such problems getting the camera to focus where I'm pointing it! :bonk:
Yes - I can believe that a tripod would make a hell of a lot of difference though CT - or maybe you've just got steadier hands than me?! I've not tried using Servo that way but I do know that the few times I've gone to do portrait shots (usually in a hurry!) at speedway and left the camera in servo by mistake I've had awful problems. My other favourite trick to make my life difficult is to have an AF point other than the centre one selected and then forget about it - only to wonder why the heck I'm having such problems getting the camera to focus where I'm pointing it! :bonk:
LOL. I end up with the wrong AF point selected all the time. :D
Servo mode hand held particularly with longer leness is difficult particularly as the body/lesns combo gets heavier and can indeed be a problem. Thought about trying a monopod? :)
1/500th on a 28mm lens should be fast enough to stop action and counter any camera shake. The problem is one of focusing, I tend to avoid using multiple focus points for just this reason.
what lens was it andy? is it always this one that gives you softwtuff?
what lens was it andy? is it always this one that gives you softwtuff?
More or less yes, its the 28-135 IS
But I've had some really sharp pictures from it in the past!!
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