advice on sharp landscape photography?

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chihiro

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hello,
I am new to landscape photography and i was wondering if you can give me some advices of how to achive very sharp images.
i use 5d II and canon 24-70mm F/2.8
can you advice me what metring mode will you recomend?
do you use AV? TV? etc?
iso speed which is best?
**** F stop will you recomend me for sharp images ?
any ather imformation is welcome !
thank you
 
It's not that simple, it's a matter of understanding what each of the settings (shutter speed, aperture, ISO) will do and choose the one that's right for the vision of the landscape you have.

There are tutorials on the basic settings and what they do, and on landscape photography. It would be worthwhile to have a read of these, and then practice, practice, practice.

(btw, "sharp" is a very low target to aim for, I prefer "interesting to look at" ;))
 
Hi Chihiro, welcome to the forum. Landscapes are my thing so I can tell you the modes I use. Others may disagree, but that is the purpose of the forum.

Metering: I use evaluative for 90% of the time. If shooting from a tripod, which I recommend, I use the histogram display in live view to adjust my exposures.

ISO: Use the lowest you can for quality. You are shooting a stationary subject so you don't need a fast shutter speed.

Av/Tv: I use Av as aperture is far more important than shutter speed for landscapes*, especialy using a tripod. I have saved my basic settings to one of the user positions on the top dial (C1, C2, C3).

Aperture: Lenses invariably perform at their best in the middle of their aperture range. I generally shoot at F8, but I will go a stop or two smaller if need be, for instance for greater depth of field. Any smaller and images may degrade due to diffraction.

*I am assuming that you are a newcomer to photography so I have simplified what can be a complex subject. Shutter speeds can be very important when for instance photographing waterfalls and you wish to give an impression of moving water. I suggest perfecting "still" images first.

Hope this helps.
 
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Way too much to write in this little box but to get you started. You have a great camera and lens so equipment will not be an issue.

This works for me and may not be for everyone.

Tripod is a must. Keep the iso as low 100/200 A remote trigger is always a good idea. I "usually" use F16 for landscapes and adjust the shutter speed to compensate. I prefer to shoot in manual as the camera is easily fooled in tricky lighting conditions. I "usually" focus about a third into the picture. Sometimes nearer sometimes further. You just have to be sympathetic to the scene.

As said this is a very basic guide and there are always exceptions but this should help you to get out there and make your own mind up of what works for you.
 
Great advice so far.

I am a relative newbie. I tend to shoot in Av atf11 but will go up/down a stop as required.

I try and keep at ISO 100 but will go to 200/400 if necessary.

As Mark says, I usually focus a third into the frame but hyperfocal distance is a more accurate way of ensuring maximum focus in your shot.

Whilst I will shoot handheld when n a walkabout, I will always use my tripod and remote shutter release when 'serious' shooting!

The other big consideration is then the light! For landscape, the golden hours of dawn and dusk are your friend but, this doesn't mean you can't get great shots at other times of the day!
 
I use manual exposure mode as I generally have an idea of how I want the scene to look, whether that be under or overexposed according to the inbuilt meter. I use smaller apertures usually, f13 or f16, any more and I risk defraction softening the image. As a rule I am on a tripod so use ISO100. The only time I go higher in ISO is if I need to grab a scene, rolling waves for example.
 
Just my input:

can you advice me what metring mode will you recommend?
Center weighted or evaluative, do consider HDR and exposure bracketing.

do you use AV? TV? etc?
AV and use something between F8-F11 if possible. Check reviews to see where the sharpest point is.

iso speed which is best?
Lowest you can go.

Other things to consider
1. Tripod
2. Shutter release
3. ND filter (preferably of high quality)
4. GND filter
5. HDR photography
 
Only things I add to the good advice above is

use the OS maps of an area you want to photograph, either the actual maps or on line. The detail is excellent and helps with locations, eg is there something in the way of your shot, is there an interesting building, harbour entrance, lake, etc, and

download this - http://photoephemeris.com/

it is free for PCs and Macs and will plot the direction and time of sun and moon riding and setting for any day. Also really useful for getting the sun/moon in the right place in you shot.

Dave
 
chihiro said:
hello,
I am new to landscape photography and i was wondering if you can give me some advices of how to achive very sharp images.
i use 5d II and canon 24-70mm F/2.8
can you advice me what metring mode will you recomend?
do you use AV? TV? etc?
iso speed which is best?
**** F stop will you recomend me for sharp images ?
any ather imformation is welcome !
thank you
Click to expand...

All will be answered in my 10 page feature on landscape techniques in Digital Photography Enthusiast magazine out on the 23rd :thumbs:

drew
 
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