 Brandon Currey |
Help! Sharpness Problems I know this question has been asked a thousand times, but I'm pretty sure I've tried everything I've read. I have a Rebel XT. I can't get a sharp picture for anything. My pics just come away very soft. Here's the list of things I've tried: I've set the AF mode to "One Shot" My lens is a Sigma 28-80. I've also tried some Canon lenses and have the same problem. It's not a super expensive lens, but I was always able to get sharp pics with I used it on my film Reb. Is there another setting "hidden" in the menus that I've missed or something? Anyone else had this problem? My gallery has some of the pics that came out soft. Several have been changed in PS, but if you look at the pics with the blocks, you will see how unsharp they are. Typically, what settings do you put your parameters at? I appreciate any help you can offer.
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David Earls |
The easiest place to start is with the file size and format you have your camera set to. Camera RAW is the "best" way to shoot if you have image editing software to support RAW; this format gives you all the data captured by your image sensor. Generally, having your camera sharpen images for you is not as effective as doing it in an image editor. Try setting your camera to shoot the largest available file size, restore your default settings on color, saturation and sharpness, and set your AF point to all seven. Then do your sharpening in your image editing software.
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Sharon Day |
If you don't mind reading a long and rather technical explanation about digital cameras this site will explain why images aren't sharp straight out of a DSLR. You need to sharpen them in Photoshop. You should be able to set the camera to sharpen in the camera's menu. I've tried that myself but always end up doing it in Photoshope anyway. http://www.normankoren.com/Tutorials/MTF7.html
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Pete H |
Brandon, Can you post a shot so we can see what you are referencing?
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Brandon Currey |
Pete, Take a look at my gallery. The pics with the blocks that spell "Baby" are the best examples that I have. I appreciate everyone's help!!
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Sharon Day |
Brandon, they do look very soft. Do they look soft on your monitor full size or just at BP? If it's just a BP thing try resizing them to 480 on the short side. How do they print out? I was never too happy with my D70 because all the images seemed soft to me too. I had the camera for a year and never had a print made. When I finally got around to having a print made I discovered my images were sharp. It's just my monitor displays them a little soft.
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Nicole Kessel |
You didn't mention what aperature setting you are using. It appears to me that the blocks are out of focus but the jeans seem to be a little sharper. Have you tried using a smaller aperature for a deeper DOF?
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BetterPhoto Member |
Brendon, I would do what I believe some others mentioned. First, get used to shooting in RAW. This allows you to interpret your image exactly how you want without having the camera try and do any of it for you. All images when shot in RAW may need some color boost(bump up the saturation slider in hue/sat), a little curves/levels adjustment for your contrast, etc., and finally when done with your image and resized to where you want it and at 100% magnification only apply some sharpening. My and most sharpening tool of choice in unsharp mask with smart sharpen with CS2 in a close second.
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Pete H |
Thanks Brandon... I wasn't sure what photo you meant..and yes..I see what you mean. 1) Take the camera OFF auto-focus! 2) Not sure what focal length you are using, but try this if you are using a zoom tele. As I've stated in a few other posts..I don't like auto ANYTHING LOL Serious; you have a good camera, but YOU are a better and smarter photographer..why let the camera make a decision; right? ;) ..and I agree with the other posters here, use as small an aperture as is possible..sharper image and greater DOF will result. All the best, Pete
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Brandon Currey |
Sharon...No, I have not printed any yet. I've had the same thoughts are you did. My shots look so bad, that I didn't think they were worth printing. I have viewed them on 2 or 3 computers and they are blurry on all of them. So, I don't think it is just a BP or monitor problem. I don't recall what apenture I was using on these shots. If I had to guess, I would say a F8 or so. Though I'm just guessing. I know that I never went above and F11, so maybe that is part of my problem. I will definately start shooting in RAW. That will be good because it will force me to work with PS more. I really appreciate everyone's help. I was worried my camera or lens was screwed up. Though I'm not 100%, I think it might be the apenture and not shooting in RAW format. Thanks again to everyone who responded. I've really learned alot. Ya'll have given me new hope! Now I've just got to come up with a way to convince my poor 37 week pregnant wife to model for me some more over the next couple of days. Thanks again. I'll let you know if they changes help.
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Pete H |
Make her a deal if you want her to model for you. Tell her you will dust and vacuum the house for the next 37 weeks. LOL
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David Earls |
Brandon, Your camera records a wealth of information about every shot you take when you press the shutter: efverything from time and date to exposure settings, film-speed equivalent, etc. Read your camera manual to learn how to view all this information. BTW, all the shots in your gallery look a little blue - like they were shot at too cool a color temperature. You didn't have to deal with white balance when you shot film - now you do.
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anonymous A. |
I am not sure you DO have a sharpness problem, Brandon: having looked through your gallery I suspect you have a contrast problem: I see what you mean about the B A B Y pictures, but they seem to be backlit, introducing higher contrast ratios than your camera can handle and this has robbed your images of saturation and snap. The same is true of other pictures you have poosted; glare and flare play a part in reducing the sparkle in a number of your photos. That's pity becoause you have some nice wotk on the site. Even so, I wouldn't make any judgement about the camera or lenses until you get the lighhting right. There are hundreds of other photographers on the site using the same gear, and their work ranges from the incredibly sharp to the soft and furry. Unless you have been very unlucky and got a dud camera, I'd say it's technique, and that the problem is with your lighting and exposure. I would agree with those who suggest returning the camera to its default settings (and sticking with autofocus initially); I would NOT shoot RAW until the problem is sorted out, not because of any quibble with RAW but because you will not know whether you have solved the problem or just found a work-around in the computer. Sort out what's wrong forst, then choose your shooting/workflow method. I am sure that some combination of the approaches offered by so many members will solve this; but I wouldn't try them all at the same time!!!
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