Soft and sharp images

[WelshNoob]

Basic question but if using auto focus how come some shots come out pin sharp whereas others are soft? Is it all down to shutter speed?

 

[Phil V]

There are many reasons for 'soft' photo's and many degrees of softness, if youwant specific answers you'll have to post more specific questions.

 

[RichardTaylor]

In line with Phil's post, "softness" can be caused by (at least)

#1 Unwanted subject motion (a high shutter speed will help with this)
and/or
#2 Unwanted camera motion (a high shutter speed will help with this or make sure your camera is stable)
and/or
#3 Miss focus due to operator error or the camera/lens being inadequate for the subject.
and/or
#4 "junk" on the front of the lens - could be anything from a filter to rain on the lens
and/or
#5 Flare - unwanted light hitting the front of the lens (a lens hood may help or shading the front of the lens)
and/or
#6 atmospherics, including heat haze when shootintg across a hot surface.
and/or
#7 Shooting at very high ISO (noise will tend to make an image soft)
and/or
#8 Failing to sharpen (if needed) when post processing.

 

[Bebop]

It could be down to movement of the camera or the subject (shutter speed might make a difference here ) or it might be down to not focussing on the right part of the scene.... Or could be down to the lens... Or using image stabilisation when using a tripod... Or... Like Phil said

 

[ecoleman]

Could also be the aperture. Depending on the lens most are not as sharp wide open. Stopping down a stop or two usually resolves this.

 

[Flightphoto]

I was going to say, at F/2.8 and below the DOF might be out and the op may not notice where the point of focus is (i.e. an eye or hair)

 

[Phil V]

I was going to say, at F/2.8 and below the DOF might be out and the op may not notice where the point of focus is (i.e. an eye or hair)

Or at f22 diffraction has kicked in and softened the image.

Like I said, there's a lot of variables and the OP needs to give specific examples for a useful answer.

 

[WelshNoob]

Cheers for the input, I'll find some of my shots which are of the same subject but sharp and soft and see if I can take it from there.