new to dSLR-Are these in focus?

[tyedye]

Here are some pics I've taken w/my new xsi. Not the best of subjects but I'm trying to see why my pictures when I view them actual size seem a bit out of focus. Any advice is welcome.

Green mode auto

Green mode auto

Focused in center point only, P mode

Focused in center point only, P mode

 

[ukcatfan]

From the EXIF, I can tell that the aperture on all of them is pretty large. The smallest I saw was f/5.6. That means that you had a relatively small depth of field (area in focus). Also, a lens is not at its sharpest when it is open like that. Try going to around f/8-11 and you will see more in focus.

 

[tyedye]

Thanks, I will try to get some pictures doing that. Would it be best to use p mode and change the aperature or just shoot in aperature priority mode?

Some have said to learn to use the camera to use the green rectangle mode at first but in that mode I do not see that you can change any settings they are all preset/auto, you cannot even change focus points.

I have read that many set the camera to center focus point and center weighted metering for learning, although there are alot who prefer evaluative metering instead.

 

[ukcatfan]

Thanks, I will try to get some pictures doing that. Would it be best to use p mode and change the aperature or just shoot in aperature priority mode?

Some have said to learn to use the camera to use the green rectangle mode at first but in that mode I do not see that you can change any settings they are all preset/auto, you cannot even change focus points.

I have read that many set the camera to center focus point and center weighted metering for learning, although there are alot who prefer evaluative metering instead.

You cannot change the aperture or shutter speed in P or Auto. The camera picks it. You can always confirm it before the shot though. Try out aperture priority to see how it controls the DOF and shutter.

 

[boBQuincy]

Actually the shutter speed and aperture can be changed in P mode, that's the mode I use about 99% of the time. The wheel changes the aperture and shutter together to keep the exposure constant.
By pressing the Av button and turning the wheel we change the exposure. Finally, by pressing the ISO button and turning the wheel we can change ISO.

By using these three change modes we can get just about any shutter speed and aperture we want, which is why I rarely need to use aperture or shutter priority modes.

To really check focus, look at the images at 100% magnification and select the area that is in best focus.

 

[sherry7]

Actually the shutter speed and aperture can be changed in P mode, that's the mode I use about 99% of the time. The wheel changes the aperture and shutter together to keep the exposure constant.
By pressing the Av button and turning the wheel we change the exposure. Finally, by pressing the ISO button and turning the wheel we can change ISO.

By using these three change modes we can get just about any shutter speed and aperture we want, which is why I rarely need to use aperture or shutter priority modes.

To really check focus, look at the images at 100% magnification and select the area that is in best focus.

Thanks for that helpful info....I really should read my owner's manual, instead of just trying to play around with the camera.

 

[tyedye]

Thanks for the info, I'm hoping to take some pics later today and tomorrow.

Question re: 100% magnification - Is that different than viewing the image actual size? I also think that maybe we don't have the best quality of monitor which isn't helping.

When I'm viewing pics actual size, almost all the xsi pics are better than my old panasonic fz20. The fz20 pics get more grainy when enlarged to actual size. When looking at some pics I took w/a p&s canon A620 at actual size, some of those pics remain sharp and are noticeably sharper than the xsi pics but I don't have pictures of the same things taken at the same time for comparison, maybe I can try to do that as well.

 

[pjacobi]

When looking at some pics I took w/a p&s canon A620 at actual size, some of those pics remain sharp and are noticeably sharper than the xsi pics...

The smaller sensor in the A620 allows the use of shorter focal length lenses which have a *larger* depth of field (area in focus). Normal focal length on A620 is about 10mm.

The XSI with larger sensor requires the use of longer focal length lenses which have a *smaller* depth of fields. Normal focal length on XSI is about 32mm.

To increase depth of field in the XSI, use a higher f/stop, such as f/8 or f/11. This means you need to switch to using Av mode for photos which require high depth of field to get the sharpness that you desire.


-Paul

 

[boBQuincy]

Without going too far down the technical path, Canon (reportedly) designs the focusing on consumer SLRs to appear sharp on a 6" x 9" print viewed at 10" distance. When viewed at 100% on a monitor the image is not likely to look very sharp.

Depth of field and focus are related but are not the same. With a wide aperture there should always be at least one spot that is in focus, with more depth of field areas that are closer and farther than that one spot will appear to be in focus also.

Because of diffraction issues apertures smaller than f/11 will start to degrade the sharpness, even though the depth of field increases.

Most dSLR manufacturers set their default sharpening to be less than they do for P&S cameras. Because of this and the reduced depth of field the images can appear less sharp than those from a P&S.

 

[jann1033]

op, make sure the lit focus point is where you mean it to be. i have only my center point selected but my camera has a tendency to change focal points by itself somehow and a point i don't want lit is lit so my focus can not be where i want it to be. so now i try to be really conscious of which little red light is lit and make sure that is over my subject