Not happy with sharpness of photos...

SheShootsSports

I have not been happy with the sharpness of my photos since purchasing the canon 50D and using it along with my 70-200 2.8 IS. I've tried every adjustment I can think of...please help me figure out what in the h*ll I'm screwing up on:) They look fine until you enlarge...

mercphoto

We need more info. Are you shooting JPG or RAW? If JPG, what are your in-camera settings? If RAW are you applying any sharpening? And I am assuming you are comparing this to your last camera, which would have been a.... ?

SheShootsSports

Shot at 2.8, 1/1250 at 100 mm, mid-day sun, shot in RAW, PP for sat, sharpness, then converted to JPEG. I wasn't happy with the old canon rebel either...

KellyC

I would try using the depth of field calculator at http://www.dofmaster.com/dofjs.html When you are shooting, remember your focus point then first check it for sharpness. Using the dof calculator, you can see how far your limit will be before loosing sharpness. It may be shorter than you think.

I know I had this problem when shooting a f2.8 I just felt my pictures were not as sharp as I wanted them. Changed the f-stop and I was happier.

Best wishes,
Kelly

mercphoto

SheShootsSports wrote:

Shot at 2.8, 1/1250 at 100 mm, mid-day sun, shot in RAW, PP for sat, sharpness, then converted to JPEG. I wasn't happy with the old canon rebel either...

I had a hard time shooting youth football and getting sharp results myself, but I was using a 300mm lens at f/2.8. Go calculate the depth of field I had to work with at that setting. Its possible you are running into a situation where your depth of field is simply too shallow. For example, you might find that the mitt is sharp, but the body is going slightly soft, and that back arm softer still. Also, were you using AI-Servo focus tracking? Did you have image stabilization on? (hint, turn it off, as it can delay focus lock)

Next time out, try shooting at f/4 and see if you like the results any better. Shooting sports at f/2.8 is ideal, no doubt. But its also a skill to learn and master.

SheShootsSports

Yes, AI Servo...great suggestions...I will try some tonight with the IS off (waste of money in MHO) and F4 or so...I get so used to shooting indoor sports at 2.8, I never think to adjust...you get addicted to the bokeh:)

Thanks a bunch, I'll post some tonight and we'll see if they look better:)

Mitchell

If your lens is sharp on that body when you test it on a static subject with a tripod, I think your problem here is likely your IS. I shoot Nikon, but I have found that the VR (IS in Nikon speak) needs to be off for serious sports shooting. The image stabilization will make your first shot sharp, but any subsequent shots in a high speed sequence will be soft due to the bounce effect of the stabilization. The image needs a chance to settle for stabilization to actually work.

torags

Mitchell wrote:

If your lens is sharp on that body when you test it on a static subject with a tripod, I think your problem here is likely your IS. I shoot Nikon, but I have found that the VR (IS in Nikon speak) needs to be off for serious sports shooting. The image stabilization will make your first shot sharp, but any subsequent shots in a high speed sequence will be soft due to the bounce effect of the stabilization. The image needs a chance to settle for stabilization to actually work.

+1

dadwtwins

KellyC wrote:

I would try using the depth of field calculator at http://www.dofmaster.com/dofjs.html When you are shooting, remember your focus point then first check it for sharpness. Using the dof calculator, you can see how far your limit will be before loosing sharpness. It may be shorter than you think.

I know I had this problem when shooting a f2.8 I just felt my pictures were not as sharp as I wanted them. Changed the f-stop and I was happier.

Best wishes,
Kelly

what a great tool to have....In the film days I use to carry a cheat sheet with me everywhere I shot. After I learned my equipment combinations and did not need the cheat sheet.

Macushla

Mitchell wrote:

If your lens is sharp on that body when you test it on a static subject with a tripod, I think your problem here is likely your IS. I shoot Nikon, but I have found that the VR (IS in Nikon speak) needs to be off for serious sports shooting. The image stabilization will make your first shot sharp, but any subsequent shots in a high speed sequence will be soft due to the bounce effect of the stabilization. The image needs a chance to settle for stabilization to actually work.

Thanks for explaining this.


Good luck shooting the game.

dadwtwins

Macushla wrote:

Thanks for explaining this.


Good luck shooting the game.

Here is a quick guide for shooting sports properly

Click Here--> Steps to Shooting Sports Properly

Macushla

dadwtwins wrote:

Here is a quick guide for shooting sports properly

Click Here--> Steps to Shooting Sports Properly

Thanks, that was a helpful article.