Zoom Lens help - Poor Quality Images

Caravanwalks

Caravanwalks

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Name
Ian
Edit My Images
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Hi would welcome some words of wisdom on the attached pictures that I am not happy :shake: with the quality. I hope it is me, but these are taken with a flea bay purchase so I am a little concerned it may be the lens.

But the ISO has been pushed high so this may be the problem, hopefully EXIF will be intact on upload.

Just in case
Shutter speed 1/800 Spot focusing, don't think it is camera shake but..
Focal Length 300m

Lens is an old Pentax smc P-FA J 75-300mm F4.5-5.8 AL Lens 35mm Zoom

Should I be saving for a newer type lens? Any pointers welcome - thanks

8321752952_43b854b8eb_b.jpg


8320689053_11e8d5e29f_b.jpg
 
As an old Pentax film user, I know that generally the old SMC lenses are good quality, but I have no personal experience of the 75-300. Camera shake is not in evidence, at least on my laptop screen, but do I detect a back focus issue in the second image? The leaves top left appear to be quite sharp.
 
Hi Ian,

I hope you don't mind but I took the liberty of saving your first image to my computer so I could look at in in PS. By opening at into ACR I was able to lower the exposure and make adjustments to the contrast, clarity, highlights and shadows which (on my laptop screen) improves the image. A bit of USM in PS also improved things, I think. Here's the result of about 30 seconds playing.

bear3.jpg


There was obviously strong light coming from camera left which has blown the details in the white area of the animal's nose and created deep shadows on the right. With a bit more time tinkering I'm pretty sure it could be improved again.

Let me know if you're not happy that I did this and I'll delete it.

Hope that helps :D
 
Bristolian said:
Hi Ian,

Here's the result of about 30 seconds playing.



There was obviously strong light coming from camera left which has blown the details in the white area of the animal's nose and created deep shadows on the right.

Let me know if you're not happy that I did this and I'll delete it.
Click to expand...

Thanks very much, agreed it is much improved (and quite happy for the processing). You are quite right about the strong light from the left, and with no lens hood that can't have helped.

Thanks for the the support :)
 
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