Is my Canon 30D sharper than my 40D?

markmuddimer

markmuddimer

Messages
415
Name
Mark
Edit My Images
No
I wonder if its just me but having recently bought a 30D as a second body I'm beginning to wonder which is the sharper. I will have to try and get some photos up but is difficult as I would have to swap lens to mock up a test photo (I am lazy...) The 40D never seems to achieve pin sharp results on eyes like the 30D.

Anyone else experienced this? I find myself taking lots of photos with my 30D at the moment!
 
There are two things to consider.
Is the focusing as accurate between the two. It is possible that the calibration of one of the bodies is slightly out.

The other, is are you viewing the images consistently?
The 30d is 8mp, and the 40d is 10mp. What you should be looking at, to determine sharpness between the two, is an image, which is identical. I.e., it is not fair to zoom both images to 100%
The 40d should be zoomed to ~90% whilst the 30d would be 100%, so that the framing of the image is identical. (not that I am suggesting that 100% would be a fair comparison). The zoom/framing difference should not be done by moving the camera/lens.
If you have a lens with tripod mount, this would be the fairest test.

Remember, you were happy with the 40d before getting the 30d...

edit: One other thing, is the noise on the 40d making a difference. Try getting a shot at 100ISO, with as fast a shutter speed as possible to reduce the noise, and don't allow dpp to apply noise correction. Is the picture style on the 30d set to be the same as the 40d? This can record a sharpening factor read by dpp for displaying the image
 
Last edited:
coldpenguin said:
There are two things to consider.
Is the focusing as accurate between the two. It is possible that the calibration of one of the bodies is slightly out.

The other, is are you viewing the images consistently?
The 30d is 8mp, and the 40d is 10mp. What you should be looking at, to determine sharpness between the two, is an image, which is identical. I.e., it is not fair to zoom both images to 100%
The 40d should be zoomed to ~90% whilst the 30d would be 100%, so that the framing of the image is identical. (not that I am suggesting that 100% would be a fair comparison). The zoom/framing difference should not be done by moving the camera/lens.
If you have a lens with tripod mount, this would be the fairest test.

Remember, you were happy with the 40d before getting the 30d...

edit: One other thing, is the noise on the 40d making a difference. Try getting a shot at 100ISO, with as fast a shutter speed as possible to reduce the noise, and don't allow dpp to apply noise correction. Is the picture style on the 30d set to be the same as the 40d? This can record a sharpening factor read by dpp for displaying the image
Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice I will try and set something up with my 70-200 with a tripod mount. For me its always about trying to get clarity in eyes (as most of my shots are of my own kids). I was never 100% happy with my shots with the 40D but my inexperience led me to believe it was just my skills. Now I am a little more experienced and on my second night school course I think I am setting up my shots to maximise my own potential at this present time...

After testing I might consider a calibration of the 40D if I am still unhappy. Where would I go for this?
 
Not sure where is best to get it calibrated, but my guess is that if you are definitely focusing on the eyes, (which you can now test your technique using a different camera), that the camera is front or back focusing. I don't think that the 40d has micro-adjustment, which I think will mean it will be needed to be sent away.
What you could possibly do, I think the 40d was the first with live-view, is start up the live view, focus as usual, take one shot, then turn manual focus on, and zoom manually until the eye is in better focus. If you do this a couple of times, and it is always roughly the same amount of adjustment, then it would suggest that it is a minor focusing issue (assuming you are not accidentally focusing on a nose or something)
 
Do you have the pre-sets adjusted the same, ie sharpening?
 
Thanks both, I'm in college tomorrow evening so will try to look and set up some tests to do more checks
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top