Sharpness Test!

EdinburghGary

EdinburghGary

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Gary
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I and many other in the past have all asked the question "how do you get your images so sharp", and there are sooooo many factors to consider. Shutter speed, light, steadiness, mirror up / tripod etc etc etc.

Then there is the PP aspect, smart sharpen, vs unsharp mask, etc etc...

Then you have lens to consider, quality and other factors.

What I would like to do is test all my lenses and my ability to shoot a sharp photo, but within an easy to shoot, controlled environment (as opposed to going out and randomely trying).

So, if I am to set up a test in my house, what type of objects would be a good test subject? I don't have expensive lighting (my SB600 is bust), so will that impact? Backgrounds, I have none.

I just want to be able to post some very simple shots (ie, of a die, toy car, whatever) and get some feedback and help on getting it nice and sharp.

Sorry for the long post!

Gary.
 
might be best to start right at the start, since i assume it is a comparison against another of your lenses. i would switch off the lights and close the curtains, then shoot using onboard flash, since oyur light is broke, then try handholding the camera with the desired settings without IS(if you have it) then slowly try adding everything you have(IS,tripod,faster shutter) and see what difference it makes until your happy it is the best you can get
 
An old camera?
 
A photo of a money note is a good way of testing sharpness/focus. A nice crisp new one is best. It has areas of fine print and pictures made of fine lines and dots. The amount of blurring you get with a certain lens or any mis-focussing will immediately be exposed.
Also because its a single plain you are focussing on, theres no chance of the AF locking onto something in front or behind the subject.
Always use a tripod or some other completely stable support.
If you want to compare lenses of different focal lengths for comparative sharpness, be sure to move the shooting position so that the note takes up the same amount of the frame for each shot.

I always do the money test on a new lens to make sure its not front or back focussing :)
 
Werecow said:
A photo of a money note is a good way of testing sharpness/focus. A nice crisp new one is best. It has areas of fine print and pictures made of fine lines and dots. The amount of blurring you get with a certain lens or any mis-focussing will immediately be exposed.
Also because its a single plain you are focussing on, theres no chance of the AF locking onto something in front or behind the subject.
Always use a tripod or some other completely stable support.
If you want to compare lenses of different focal lengths for comparative sharpness, be sure to move the shooting position so that the note takes up the same amount of the frame for each shot.

I always do the money test on a new lens to make sure its not front or back focussing :)
Click to expand...



Thanks for the tip!
 
Werecow said:
A photo of a money note is a good way of testing sharpness/focus. A nice crisp new one is best. It has areas of fine print and pictures made of fine lines and dots. The amount of blurring you get with a certain lens or any mis-focussing will immediately be exposed.
Also because its a single plain you are focussing on, theres no chance of the AF locking onto something in front or behind the subject.
Always use a tripod or some other completely stable support.
If you want to compare lenses of different focal lengths for comparative sharpness, be sure to move the shooting position so that the note takes up the same amount of the frame for each shot.

I always do the money test on a new lens to make sure its not front or back focussing :)
Click to expand...

That is a good tip actually, might try that too. Brings a whole new meaning to the term "money shot" :)
 
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