Sharp Shooting

J

jankmarshall

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218
Name
Jan
Edit My Images
Yes
Hi all.

I'd like some general advice on how to make my photo's sharper. I'm new to photography and am currently using a Canon EOS 450 D with my main lens being a 70-300mm IS. I fully intend to upgrade, but wanted to start with this kit to see how I go, and master be basics.

I dont currently use any computer software to alter my images so all are straight from the camera.

I've been amazed and very impressed by the sharpness of some of the other members' shots and although some of their kit is far superior to mine, I was wondering if you could offer any tips to help and keep me on the route forward.

Thanks.

Jan.
 
Hi Jan.
There's an interesting topic in this section titled 'soft'.
May well be worth you having a look at it.

You don't need to upgrade your kit just yet. That lens has a VERY good reputation, and I'm sure the camera, and you are very capable of getting some great shots.
 
I think that you should be prepared to use some software to enhance your image.

If you are looking at uploading to the net then you will need to sharpen, otherwise the images will not look sharp. I am sure that there is somone who can tell you the technical reason for this.

I would say that most of the pics posted on here that make you take notice have been enhanced in some way. To my mind it is not altering the image, just enhancing the pic that you've already got.
 
If your shooting jpeg try ajusting the sharpness setting in picture styles (see handbook) it will make a difference. Wayne
 
I presume that you are shooting in jpeg at the moment. You should be able to go into your menu, choose picture style, then you can alter the sharpening in there. It's very easy to do. But I would strongly recommend you start to use some software just to give them a little lift. Try gimp or even picasa3, they are both free, and you should enjoy playing with them. Make sure you only work on a copy of the image, otherwise you could lose your original shot.
 
I took this using the same lens but the older 350D Canon body; I think that's adequately "sharp".

Hard to know if you have a problem without seeing examples or if you're just asking a very general & unspecific "how do I take better photographs?".

It's worth remembering the hand-holding rule. You can get away with slower using IS, but know the rule before you break it! I have also skimmed some articles in the past about how to hold the camera when taking photos, but I'm not sure I've learned from them - I try my hands in different places to try & keep the camera steady as I activate the shutter.
 
It really is worth all of us taking some time once in a while to make sure we are still keeping to the simple rules of good practice.

Make sure at the moment of shutter press you are holding the camera still. It's so easy to turn the actions of pressing the button and lowering the camera from your eye into one movement. Keep them apart and make sure your finger is off the button before you move your hands.

If you have time, take a good stance before shooting. In the ideal situation (which of course almost never happens) get into position, take a wide stance, lift the camera to your eye, holding it firmly but not too tightly, take a breath in, quickly run your eye round the edge of the frame (amazing how often there is something there you've not noticed), gently squeeze the button, let go and lower the camera.
 
I might come back to this later, but here are some guidelines:

Don't shoot at the extreme ends of the focal length range.

Stop down 2 stops from open, don't stop down below f/11. f/5.6-f/8 will be the ideal.

Use a tripod, with mirror up, with a remote shutter release to get the absolute sharpest results.

Hold the camera in a steady, wide stance, right hand holding the camera firmly, left hand UNDERNEATH the lens, cradling it. Hold the camera against your face. Relax, breathe in, out, in, part way out, catch your breath and after half a second roll your finger over the shutter, don't jerk it. Practice this, you'll get more reproducible results. Wait until after you hear the mirror flap back before you move.

Post processing is also very important, search for sharpening tutorials to find some good information.

You don't need super-expensive lenses to get sharp photos, most primes will give very sharp photos when stopped down a bit.
 
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