Focusing Question

[DVC Jen]

When I was processing Kylie's photos last night I noticed that none of the pictures were super sharp when I viewed them at actual pixel size. So I had to do quite a bit of sharpening - which didn't make me happy.

I used my 50mm f/1.8 lens. I was VERY careful to ALWAYS focus on her eyes. Since we were outside my shutter speed was also really pretty fast. I am so confused about why the photos were not sharp and or crisp.

Is it the lens? Am I still doing something wrong? Am I just a shaky mess of movement?

Some of the photos are sharper than others, but there wasn't one that I didn't have to sharpen to some degree. And there were some that would have been my favorites - but they were so out of focus there was no way I could photo shop sharpen them enough to make them work.

Today I am going to take along the 50mm f/1.8 lens, my sigma 28 - 70 mm f2.8-4 lens and my canon 28-135 IS lens and see if I can get that sharp crispness with another that I am wanting and expecting from my 50mm and not getting.

Any ideas from anyone?

 

[ukcatfan]

What aperture did you use. If it was f/1.8, then that explains it. Most lenses are sharpest around two stops from the widest.

Kevin

 

[DVC Jen]

It seemed to vary between f/1.8 and f/4.5. And come to think of it the ones that were the worst were the ones with Kylie and our dog Lily - which were f/1.8.

I had her in our yard with our brick house as the background. I took everyones advice and pulled her away from the background a bit and set the aperature at 1.8 hoping to blur the bricks more. Well - it did do that - but made it very difficult to focus sharply.

I am going to go look at some of the others that I wanted to use but couldn't because of the fuzziness and see what aperature I had set in those.

Thanks.

 

[DVC Jen]

OK I just went back and double checked the photos and yuppers. You hit the nail on the head. The ones that were the most out of focus were shot at aperature f/1.8

I won't be making that same mistake today. So maybe that was part of it and part of it was just me.

I noticed in some of the photos I had THOUGHT I focuses on Kylie's eyes and that was my intention. But when I looked at the photo - there was very clearly another part of the photo super sharp. I notice that more with the 50mm lens than I do with any other I have. For some reason it just doesn't always focus where I intend or think it is. Any ideas on why that is?


One thing I can honestly see that is really exciting me is improvement - and a lot of that has to do with all of the help, suggestions and constructive (not mean spirited) criticism I have gotten from all of you.

So ... thanks.

 

[Groucho]

Your camera should have different settings for how to focus - usually one where it looks at the whole image, one where it's center-weighted, and a spot focus, where it attempts to focus right on the center of the image (or where you choose, if you can choose the focus spot.) You may want to try spot focus, that should make it easier to focus exactly on something small like the eyes - it's probably trying to focus on the eyebrows or hair or nose, which are different enough to make a difference at F1.8.

 

[DVC Jen]

Your camera should have different settings for how to focus - usually one where it looks at the whole image, one where it's center-weighted, and a spot focus, where it attempts to focus right on the center of the image (or where you choose, if you can choose the focus spot.) You may want to try spot focus, that should make it easier to focus exactly on something small like the eyes - it's probably trying to focus on the eyebrows or hair or nose, which are different enough to make a difference at F1.8.

Groucho that is evaluative metering? Correct? I will test that out today as well. Thanks.

 

[Groucho]

Not metering - that just controls the exposure. There should be similar settings for focus.

 

[0bli0]

you can either set the camera to use *any* focus spot - or set it to use a *single* focus spot. it's best if you have it set to a single spot and then move that spot with the dial so you are using the one that will let you focus on her eyes according to orientation. on the nifty fifty, i'd recommend trying F/2.2 or slower - especially if you are hand-holding. it will give you sharp eyes and still render the face nicely. the reason i mention hand-holding is it can be easy for you to move the camera forward or backward without realising and F/1.8 has a very shallow depth of field.

 

[jann1033]

OK I just went back and double checked the photos and yuppers. You hit the nail on the head. The ones that were the most out of focus were shot at aperature f/1.8

I won't be making that same mistake today. So maybe that was part of it and part of it was just me.

I noticed in some of the photos I had THOUGHT I focuses on Kylie's eyes and that was my intention. But when I looked at the photo - there was very clearly another part of the photo super sharp. I notice that more with the 50mm lens than I do with any other I have. For some reason it just doesn't always focus where I intend or think it is. Any ideas on why that is?


One thing I can honestly see that is really exciting me is improvement - and a lot of that has to do with all of the help, suggestions and constructive (not mean spirited) criticism I have gotten from all of you.

So ... thanks.

i have that same problem with that lens...i asked about it a few days ago and some one put a focus test in a link...maybe check it out...i still haven't checked mine but i am going to

don't you have a rebel ? if so i don't think it has spot focus...( at least the xt doesn't) so you can set the middle focus point ( the back top right button under the mode dial on the xt, you push that and turn the black thumbdial) or which ever you want and use that to focus what ever you want to focus on as far as i can tell that is the closest you can get to spot focusing.
that thread is http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1379996

 

[DVC Jen]

Jann yes I have a rebel the XTi. I checked and rechecked my manual and it doesn't say a thing about spot focusing. It has those lil AF points, but that is all. I changed the aperature so I wasn't so wide open. Gonna go check out the photos now. I hope it helped.

I have a feeling I totally blew most of these photos out however. When I was looking at them in the car there was a LOT of flashing white.

I also got so darn frustrated because I had to change batteries half way through - which I knew I was going to have to do. But then after only about 45 minutes or an hour into the new battery the red text saying change battery pack came on and the camera switched off. So we left.

We were almost home and my youngest DD picked up the camera - switched it on and it worked fine and showed a fully charged battery.

I really just do NOT think it was my day.

 

[jann1033]

i have 2 cheap batteries( like as in 2 for $11 off ebay ) and the one that came with the camera and i can shoot all day without having to change( i mean 1-2 gb cards) is you charger maybe not charging them fully ( unless you are using flash)?

if you shoot raw it helps with the blown out highlights since you can get rid of them in processing although sometimes photoshop 5 converter shows them to be blown and the digital pro says they aren't so

yeah no spot focusing for us lowly rebelites..i've just been trying to make sure the red dot is in the eye area and that seems to help..except with my 50 mm...if i ever get my 28-135 back( they claim they are still "testing it", i on the other hand picture it sitting around gathering dust & getting coffee and donut juice spilled on it in the canon factory breakroom) i might send the 50mm in if the focus tests show it isn't just me focusing on the wrong thing ( which is probably most likely)

 

[AndrewWG]

I also got so darn frustrated because I had to change batteries half way through - which I knew I was going to have to do. But then after only about 45 minutes or an hour into the new battery the red text saying change battery pack came on and the camera switched off. So we left.

We were almost home and my youngest DD picked up the camera - switched it on and it worked fine and showed a fully charged battery.

Jen,

I see that you live in TX, so it probably isn't the particular problem that I have, but when I am shooting on a cold day here in Mass, I have that problem with my batteries in my S2 IS. They say they are dead and the camera shuts off. When I get home (if I haven't changed out the "dead" batteries) I can turn it on and shoot away again.

Like I said, it probably isn't the problem you are facing in TX, as you were in the 70's today and we have been in the 20s lately (today a balmy 50 though! ).

Andy

 

[0bli0]

It has those lil AF points, but that is all.

that's all you need. spot metering is something different. with the little AF points, you can set it to focus on any of the points, or select a single one. that wll then focus on that area and not somewhere else you didnt mean to focus (note it needs some contrast where you're pointing for the AF to work).

 

[DVC Jen]

that's all you need. spot metering is something different. with the little AF points, you can set it to focus on any of the points, or select a single one. that wll then focus on that area and not somewhere else you didnt mean to focus (note it needs some contrast where you're pointing for the AF to work).

That is exactly what I did. I had MUCH better luck today - I was very careful to not open the aperature wide at f/1.8. The widest I went was f/4.5 and didn't have the focusing issues like yesterday.