Upgrade to K5, Change my Lens or Switch to CANON/NIKON

cats_five · 05-26-2011, 10:37 PM

As everyone has said, you are very unlikely to get sharp handheld images at 1/8 second - with ANY camera / lens, unless you are using a tripod. You need a faster shutter speed to avoid camera shake, and also to avoid problems with the subject moving.

So - you need to be using a higher ISO, and also a smaller aperture - lenses are almost never as sharp wide open as stopped down a touch.

This is sharp at the front - it has a shallow DOF.

dr_romix · 06-02-2011, 06:20 PM

thanks

rfortson · 06-02-2011, 07:51 PM

Regardless of the camera or lens, to get the sharpest shots, close the aperture down about 2 stops from wide open, get the shutter speed to at least 1/(focal length x 1.5) and use a tripod. Use the 2 second timer so you don't shake the camera when you trip the shutter. If your shots are still blurry, then there's a problem with the camera and/or lens. If not, then the problem is your technique.

For your Sigma lens, set it to around 50mm, set the aperture to f/8 (not too much smaller or you'll start to run into diffraction), and the shutter speed to at least 1/80 sec (I'd go to 1/125 or 1/250 as long as you can keep the ISO lower).

Try that and get back to us.

dr_romix · 08-27-2011, 04:21 PM

Originally posted by rfortson

Regardless of the camera or lens, to get the sharpest shots, close the aperture down about 2 stops from wide open, get the shutter speed to at least 1/(focal length x 1.5) and use a tripod. Use the 2 second timer so you don't shake the camera when you trip the shutter. If your shots are still blurry, then there's a problem with the camera and/or lens. If not, then the problem is your technique.

For your Sigma lens, set it to around 50mm, set the aperture to f/8 (not too much smaller or you'll start to run into diffraction), and the shutter speed to at least 1/80 sec (I'd go to 1/125 or 1/250 as long as you can keep the ISO lower).

Try that and get back to us.

Thank you. please check this out and see what you think.

Flickr: dr_romix's Photostream

**Rondec** · 08-29-2011, 03:11 AM

Originally posted by dr_romix

Thank you. please check this out and see what you think.

Flickr: dr_romix's Photostream

Nicely done! Some very nice photos there.

Frogfish · 08-29-2011, 08:16 AM

I haven't even looked at your photos but just reading through the thread everybody has told you what the problem is ..... your shutter speeds are too low. Very experienced shooters who know how to hold the camera properly, know how to control their breathing, stand or brace properly etc. can shoot and get sharp shots at low or very low speeds (e.g. 1/15 to 1/50) but since so many of your shots are taken at 1/25 then the answer is obviously user error (motion blur).

Use TAv - it's my most used setting. In the K7 menu go and set the permitted ISO maximum to 800 or 1,600 (lower is better). Now with this setting, for general walkaround, garden use etc., you can set f5.6 to f8 (these are the sharpest settings for most lenses, after f11-f16 and smaller then diffraction sets in (check it in Wiki), and that will soften your shots) and the speed to 1/250, 1/320 or faster and your shots will now be much sharper as motion blur becomes less of an issue. Good luck.

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05-26-2011, 10:37 PM	#31
cats_five Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Fife, Scotland Posts: 835	As everyone has said, you are very unlikely to get sharp handheld images at 1/8 second - with ANY camera / lens, unless you are using a tripod. You need a faster shutter speed to avoid camera shake, and also to avoid problems with the subject moving. So - you need to be using a higher ISO, and also a smaller aperture - lenses are almost never as sharp wide open as stopped down a touch. This is sharp at the front - it has a shallow DOF.

06-02-2011, 06:20 PM	#32
dr_romix Banned Join Date: May 2011 Location: Pittsburgh,PA Posts: 321 Original Poster	thanks

06-02-2011, 07:51 PM	#33
rfortson Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Houston TX Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,129	Regardless of the camera or lens, to get the sharpest shots, close the aperture down about 2 stops from wide open, get the shutter speed to at least 1/(focal length x 1.5) and use a tripod. Use the 2 second timer so you don't shake the camera when you trip the shutter. If your shots are still blurry, then there's a problem with the camera and/or lens. If not, then the problem is your technique. For your Sigma lens, set it to around 50mm, set the aperture to f/8 (not too much smaller or you'll start to run into diffraction), and the shutter speed to at least 1/80 sec (I'd go to 1/125 or 1/250 as long as you can keep the ISO lower). Try that and get back to us.

08-27-2011, 04:21 PM	#34
dr_romix Banned Join Date: May 2011 Location: Pittsburgh,PA Posts: 321 Original Poster	Originally posted by rfortson Regardless of the camera or lens, to get the sharpest shots, close the aperture down about 2 stops from wide open, get the shutter speed to at least 1/(focal length x 1.5) and use a tripod. Use the 2 second timer so you don't shake the camera when you trip the shutter. If your shots are still blurry, then there's a problem with the camera and/or lens. If not, then the problem is your technique. For your Sigma lens, set it to around 50mm, set the aperture to f/8 (not too much smaller or you'll start to run into diffraction), and the shutter speed to at least 1/80 sec (I'd go to 1/125 or 1/250 as long as you can keep the ISO lower). Try that and get back to us. Thank you. please check this out and see what you think. Flickr: dr_romix's Photostream

08-29-2011, 03:11 AM	#35
Rondec Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Gladys, Virginia Photos: Gallery Posts: 27,653	Originally posted by dr_romix Thank you. please check this out and see what you think. Flickr: dr_romix's Photostream Nicely done! Some very nice photos there.

08-29-2011, 08:16 AM	#36
Frogfish Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Shanghai Posts: 4,490	I haven't even looked at your photos but just reading through the thread everybody has told you what the problem is ..... your shutter speeds are too low. Very experienced shooters who know how to hold the camera properly, know how to control their breathing, stand or brace properly etc. can shoot and get sharp shots at low or very low speeds (e.g. 1/15 to 1/50) but since so many of your shots are taken at 1/25 then the answer is obviously user error (motion blur). Use TAv - it's my most used setting. In the K7 menu go and set the permitted ISO maximum to 800 or 1,600 (lower is better). Now with this setting, for general walkaround, garden use etc., you can set f5.6 to f8 (these are the sharpest settings for most lenses, after f11-f16 and smaller then diffraction sets in (check it in Wiki), and that will soften your shots) and the speed to 1/250, 1/320 or faster and your shots will now be much sharper as motion blur becomes less of an issue. Good luck.