What AM I Doing Wrong?

gazcatninjaboy

gazcatninjaboy

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Name
gary
Edit My Images
Yes
6 months ago i started photography as a hobby and i bought a canon 400D and recently bought a conon 70-200 f2.8L is usm lens and think its great but i never manage to get really pin sharp pictures like some of you guys photos in the forums. Fast shutter speed, slow shutter speed, is on and off. tried them all but still not that stunning sharpness.

Please help. ;)
 
Lets have a look at some sample pictures and we all might shed some light on your problems.
 
Are you saying this based on the image quality of the gallery shots you've uploaded here? They are quite small and heavily compressed so it's hard to compare them against other shots that are larger and have much lower compression.

Properly preparing shots for web can make a big difference in how they are judged, good resizing and sharpening along with minimal compression are the key.
 
do you get soft results even when shooting at f8-11? I asked the same question a while back and turns out I was shooting my landscapes at f22 thinking it would help clarity..........doh
 
If you click on my gallery you'll find all the photos i've up loaded.
Thanks for taking the time.
 
it could possibly be my cropping and re sizing that i'm getting wrong. but even the originals on my computer aren't that sharp.
 
Ted said:
do you get soft results even when shooting at f8-11? I asked the same question a while back and turns out I was shooting my landscapes at f22 thinking it would help clarity..........doh
Click to expand...

Yeah still get them with f8 and lower.
 
From a quick look at the shots in your gallery I'd say they are suffering from over compression. They are also very small which makes it hard to really see what is going on.

Any chance you could link to a full size image that you're unhappy with? That way we could download it and have a "proper" look :shrug:
 
Grendel said:
From a quick look at the shots in your gallery I'd say they are suffering from over compression. They are also very small which makes it hard to really see what is going on.

Any chance you could link to a full size image that you're unhappy with? That way we could download it and have a "proper" look :shrug:
Click to expand...

How do i do that? sorry guys i'm really new to all this.:)
 
or a 100% crop ( 800 pixel crop from the middle of the image)
 
Upload it to some webspace if you have it and then post a link. But I really do think you've just made them too small and compressed in the first place.

What software are you using for processing the images that you uploaded here?
 
I found the 400D + 70-200 f/2.8 takes a bit of getting used to
when I bought the lens as a replacement for the 70-300 is f/4-5.6
I too thought all my problems were over, but to be honest, the first few dozen
( who am I kidding? thats dozens) or so that I took with it were, quite frankly crap.

I really can't say what I specifically did to improve IQ but just practiced with it.
Its almost as if the lens needed running in, sounds crazy I know
The other thing is are you sharpening after you save for web?
I always find that once "compressed" it does ( Usually) help a little to sharpen after as well as before
hope that helps :shrug:
 
Here's the EXIF data from one of your shots...

# Exposure Time (1 / Shutter Speed) = 1/125 second = 0.008 second
# Lens F-Number/F-Stop = 50/10 = F5
# Exposure Program = manual control (1)
# ISO Speed Ratings = 100
# Exif Version = 0221
# Original Date/Time = 2008:03:09 20:13:44
# Digitization Date/Time = 2008:03:09 20:13:44
# Components Configuration = 0x01,0x02,0x03,0x00 / YCbCr
# Shutter Speed Value (APEX) = 456510/65536
Shutter Speed (Exposure Time) = 1/125 second
# Aperture Value (APEX) = 304340/65536
Aperture = F5
# Exposure Bias (EV) = 0/3 = 0
# Metering Mode = average (1)
# Flash = Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode
# Focal Length = 238/1 mm = 238 mm

One of the very first things I learned on here was the golden rule of shutter speed and focal length... (Thanks CT ;))

Your shutter speed should always be higher than your focal length...

So with a focal length of 238mm, you should be using at least 1/300 sec. If you can't get that speed, adjust your ISO setting accordingly.

Also, when shooting animals, set focus to single centre spot, half press the shutter to focus, keep your finger there, then recompose and shoot.

Very basic stuff but you'll be surprised what a difference it makes.

HTH

Steve
 
Check the images in camera and press the info button, and have a look at the focus points. This will tell what part of the picture the camera locked onto.
 
The lens has a bit of a learning curve to it, have a look for a lens focus chart on the net.
Download it and do some test, but I think your lens will be fine. It's more like what your doing wrong, but you can rule out the lens being a problem with the chart.
 
Jelster said:
Here's the EXIF data from one of your shots...

# Exposure Time (1 / Shutter Speed) = 1/125 second = 0.008 second
# Lens F-Number/F-Stop = 50/10 = F5
# Exposure Program = manual control (1)
# ISO Speed Ratings = 100
# Exif Version = 0221
# Original Date/Time = 2008:03:09 20:13:44
# Digitization Date/Time = 2008:03:09 20:13:44
# Components Configuration = 0x01,0x02,0x03,0x00 / YCbCr
# Shutter Speed Value (APEX) = 456510/65536
Shutter Speed (Exposure Time) = 1/125 second
# Aperture Value (APEX) = 304340/65536
Aperture = F5
# Exposure Bias (EV) = 0/3 = 0
# Metering Mode = average (1)
# Flash = Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode
# Focal Length = 238/1 mm = 238 mm


Steve
Click to expand...

How do you get a focal length of 238mm with a 70-200mm lens?
 
How do you get a focal length of 238mm with a 70-200mm lens?
The 400D has a croped of 1.6.
 
Just checked, it was a 70-300mm lens. :bang:

:lol:
 
Hi, I had over 12months of problems with my 70-200 2.8 IS, & yes everyones very helpful with suggestions, which makes us think it's us at fault.
My lens went back to canon 3 times, once with camera body for calibration, still not happy with images, lacked sharpness.
Recently phoned canon again, they said send it back, they'd have another look, lucky for me the shop where I purchased it exchanged it for another one, wow, what a difference, now happy with lens, it's got the wow factor.
Just goes to show there are duds out there, wasn't impressed with canon, how many times does it have to be returned before they exchange it?, it was getting to the stage where I was about to sell it at a loss of £500 because I was fed up with it, nearly lost confidence in canon, even considered changing to Nikon.
Good luck with yours, hope you get it sorted,
Regards Kevin :)
 
How do you get a focal length of 238mm with a 70-200mm lens?
The 400D has a croped of 1.6.
Click to expand...

I'm 99.9% sure that the focal length is not actually multiplied in exif data.....so you would never get over 200mm displayed......sorry I know thats a bit OT..
 
Jelster said:
One of the very first things I learned on here was the golden rule of shutter speed and focal length... (Thanks CT ;))

Your shutter speed should always be higher than your focal length...

So with a focal length of 238mm, you should be using at least 1/300 sec. If you can't get that speed, adjust your ISO setting accordingly.
Click to expand...

Interesting, but what about landscapes (when on the wide end of the lens and a bright day)?
 
This is all a bit confusing. gazcatninjaboy, I think you need to explain a few things if you want some meaningful help.

Firstly, what lens are you using? Your first post said a 70-200 f/2.8 IS, but several of your gallery shots were taken with longer focal lengths - up to 300mm. (For example this one was at 300mm.) That's too long even if you've got a 1.4x Extender mounted. So what is going on? What lens is it, really?

Secondly, you need to tell us how you're focussing the camera. This one looks like the focus is in the wrong place, which suggests to me that you might be allowing the camera to decide what it thinks should be in focus, rather than you deciding. Can you enlighten us here?

Thirdly, as other people have commented, these photos are far too small and far too heavily compressed to be able to examine critically. You really need to show us some larger examples. You obviously know how to upload pictures to the TP forums. So are you saying you don't know how to resize them? Tell us what software you use, and we can help you.
 
Good post Stewart there certainly appear to be a few anomalies from the OP it wil be interesting to see their reply
 
....and if you're shooting RAW, you're going to need to sharpen up in PP for it to be as sharp as some of the pics you'll see on here....but I'm curious about the actual lens you're using too....
 
At the risk of repeating myself here is a post I made a while ago to someone with the same focus problem as yours.
"In the past I have met a number of people who have changed from a 35mm MF camera such as a Canon AE-1 or Pentax ME Super to an AF camera (digital or film) only to feel that there new £XXX camera is not as sharp as there old one.
In every case I have seen the lens has changed from a 50mm f1.8 or similar to a basic zoom such as the Canon 18-55mm.
A Canon 50mm f1.8 EF sells for around the £100 mark and offers only one focal length, the 18-55mm sell for around £100 and offer a 3:1 range of focal lengths. Pick one, a sharp fixed prime lens or a less sharp more flexible zoom. The other choice is to buy a good quality zoom and pay the extra, this could be a mid range or even L series Canon or one of the better Sigma/Tamrom/Tokina lens.
As for David's original problem, if you can borrow a prime lens from somewhere I think your problem will go away."
 
JumboBeef said:
Interesting, but what about landscapes (when on the wide end of the lens and a bright day)?
Click to expand...

Have you seen his gallery ?

It's almost all wildlife and sports shots, not one landscape. And I can only go with the material offered to review.

.
 
My fault. I do appologise. One or two of the photos in my gallery were taken with mt 70-300 f5 tamron lens. doh. the animal and hockey shots were taken with my new canon Lseries 70-200 f2.8 IS. and this is the lens i feel isnt doing justice. Ive taken the lens and camera into one the shops canon told me to and there going to look at it and if needed then calibrate it. so fingers crossed it just needs a tweek and it's not going to give me months of headaches. Cheers
 
My fault. I do appologise. One or two of the photos in my gallery were taken with mt 70-300 f5 tamron lens. doh. the animal and hockey shots were taken with my new canon Lseries 70-200 f2.8 IS. and this is the lens i feel isnt doing justice. Ive taken the lens and camera into one the shops canon told me to and there going to look at it and if needed then calibrate it. so fingers crossed it just needs a tweek and it's not going to give me months of headaches. Cheers
 
Been there, done that, still didn't work properly, take it back to the shop & exchange it for another one.
I've been out again with my replacement tonight, every one spot on focus as it should be.
 
Kevin H said:
Been there, done that, still didn't work properly, take it back to the shop & exchange it for another one.
I've been out again with my replacement tonight, every one spot on focus as it should be.
Click to expand...

i would kevin but i bought it on holiday in florida. dot it over there for £400 cheaper but wish i'd just have spent the difference over here now.
:bonk:
 
Are you using a tripod or monopod? It's a heavy lens.
 
gazcatninjaboy said:
i'm using i sturdy monopod. Yeah it's an arm breaking lens.
Click to expand...

I wonder if a tripod and remote shutter would help?

Are you damping the lens with a hand to help with mirror induced shake?

There's a thread on here somewhere with a link to a web site giving some great advice on using longer focal lengths...
 
You should be able to hand hold that lens ive got the 70-200 f2.8 and always use it handheld and get sharp shots (or what i think are sharp shots) this is a shot using the 70-200

 
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