New Lens - Learning Curve?

[mom2rtk]

That does look soft to me. It's hard to say on the blanket shot, since the print on blankets like that looks out of focus in real life.

I'd love to see more photos when you get a chance. I'd post some of the first ones I took with that lens, but I think they were taken outdoors so hard to compare to one taken at 1600 ISO. But I still say that body/lens combo should be much better even at 1600.

Does anyone know if the actual focal point is buried somewhere in the EXIF data?

Egritz, did you set the focal point yourself or let the camera decide? I typically use the center dot since it's the strongest, then recompose.

 

[Pixel Dust]

It does seem a bit soft to me, too. Is there a part of the photo that seems more in focus than your daughter's face?

Does anyone know if the actual focal point is buried somewhere in the EXIF data?

I know Nikon cameras do this. I can't speak for Canon.

Also, it looked like she used spot metering and that usually correlates to focus point. Dependent on settings and usage, of course.

 

[egritz]

Egritz, did you set the focal point yourself or let the camera decide? I typically use the center dot since it's the strongest, then recompose.

I too use the center point and then recompose. I'll be taking tons of pictures on Sunday, will try to come back and update on if they look any better.

Focus looks ok to me, but there is some noise disrupting the image.

Did you brighten the shadows or up the exposure in post?

Yes, in the RAW editor I did, but even before lightening it there was noticable noise.

It does seem a bit soft to me, too. Is there a part of the photo that seems more in focus than your daughter's face?

Not that I could find.

 

[mom2rtk]

It does seem a bit soft to me, too. Is there a part of the photo that seems more in focus than your daughter's face?


I know Nikon cameras do this. I can't speak for Canon.

Also, it looked like she used spot metering and that usually correlates to focus point. Dependent on settings and usage, of course.

Ah, yep. Good point.

It seems like I have been able to find my focal point from my Canon shots before. I just don't remember how I did that.

I too use the center point and then recompose. I'll be taking tons of pictures on Sunday, will try to come back and update on if they look any better.

It could be as easy as the depth of field being off. Focusing then recomposing can affect what is in focus when using a wide open aperture. But honestly, I do this all the time, and I would not be happy with that result.

Can't wait to see more shots. I think that will help a lot.

 

[havoc315]

I too use the center point and then recompose. I'll be taking tons of pictures on Sunday, will try to come back and update on if they look any better.



Yes, in the RAW editor I did, but even before lightening it there was noticable noise.



Not that I could find.

Upping the exposure increases the effective ISO and noise.

The image does look soft, but not unfocused. How are your shots at low ISO and good light?

 

[egritz]

Upping the exposure increases the effective ISO and noise.

The image does look soft, but not unfocused. How are your shots at low ISO and good light?

Haven't tried yet, got the lens later in the afternoon on Tuesday...I'm now in the middle of my work week and won't have the opportunity to take pictures during the day until Sunday.

 

[Skywise]

I've definitely taken sharper pictures with that lens at that ISO. Possibly it's a bad copy?

 

[photo_chick]

I do feel like there is a little bit of a learning curve with each lens. You have to get a feel for how it behaves with your AF, where the sweet spots are, etc.. And it does look like the blanket is the actual focus point. With that shallower depth of field you really have to look in the viewfinder to confirm focus. Don't trust the red box flashing, visually confirm the focus is where you want it.

Focus and recompose can be unreliable to nail focus. You're moving the sensor plane in relation to the plane of focus when you do it. Combine that with a shallow depth of field and you can easily be far enough off the mark and have your subject unacceptably soft rather than fall in the acceptably sharp range.