Focusing issue?

OrenMc · 05-04-2008, 11:13 AM

I am new to the d-slr thing and have had my K10d only since Feburary but I have been struggling from the beginning to get a good sharp photo. There were two things I have been looking at which are user error and the known fact that the K10d needs PP or custom setting +2 sharpness 1+ contrast. But I still don't get the truely sharp pictures I know this camera is capable of.
I do a lot of manual focus ( one of the reason I thought it was user error ) macro/closefocus but the Tamron 90 2.5 doesn't put out the photos I know it can. I know it takes a lot of practice which I do but still..... I have tried tripod, self timer and other lenses with autofocus and let the camera do all the work.
Some of the pictures look fine when I first download but as soon as I try to zoom I loose detail fast. Even after PP I have very little detail. I have been thinking all along it was that the pictures were just soft but I am beginning to think it is a focusing issue.
What is a really good way to test the focus and how to tell the difference between soft and out of focus?

Thank all, Oren

MJB DIGITAL · 05-04-2008, 11:15 AM

is it possible to post a couple?

when you zoom it to check the detail, how much are you zooming?

i dont really run camera tests but im sure someone here will tell you about some chart tests or newspaper tests.....

good luck

bymy141 · 05-04-2008, 11:31 AM

Originally posted by MJB DIGITAL

is it possible to post a couple?

when you zoom it to check the detail, how much are you zooming?

i dont really run camera tests but im sure someone here will tell you about some chart tests or newspaper tests.....

good luck

If you do post photos, please add exif info (shutter speed, ISO, aperture, etc) and the type of lens you are shooting?

- Bert

OrenMc · 05-04-2008, 11:34 AM

http://http://www.flickr.com/photos/33427578@N00/
I did a lens test a little will back but these are a few of the better ones.

bymy141 · 05-04-2008, 11:38 AM

Originally posted by OrenMc

http://http://www.flickr.com/photos/33427578@N00/
I did a lens test a little will back but these are a few of the better ones.

Unfortnatly the maximum resolution on your flickr site is only 800x558 pixels.
Judging from this I don't see what is wrong.
Nice Seattle photos by night though.

- Bert

OrenMc · 05-04-2008, 01:17 PM

Here is a shot today. I had it on a tripod. Quanatary 70-300 ( not the best lens I know but ) Green mode @ F 4.5 1/4 sec ISO 100 I also kow I probably should have raised my ISO to increase shutter speed but I did have it on a tripod.

roscot · 05-04-2008, 01:25 PM

Do you shoot in AV mode?

Watch your shutter speed. You shot this at 1/4 sec @ 180mm. SR is good, but not THAT good.

. The rule of thumb for shutter speed with out stabilization is 1/ the focal length x crop factor, or in your case 1/(180x1.5) , or 1/270 sec. If you are really steady and have a subject that is standing still, you can get 2-3 additional stops, or about 1/60 sec. If you have a subject in motion, you need a higher shutter speed.

Learn to balance your shutter speed to aperture to ISO speed, and you will find yourself doing much better.

MJB DIGITAL · 05-04-2008, 05:25 PM

i would guess that you have some camera shake going on, but of course, that is just a guess.

another possibility could be that your blur is an effect of having SR activated while on a tripod, but I dont know if you had it on or not.

and yes, get your shutter speed up. a quarter of a second wont do for anything really unless everything in the frame is stationary or you are doing something (art) that wants to be shot at that speed.

mitch

Ole · 05-04-2008, 06:29 PM

Use a smaller aperture. If f/4.5 is near or at the max for the lens it won't be at its best.

Use the 3 seconds selftimer when you're on a tripod. That does two things: Turns off SR if you should have forgotten to(you don't need SR on a tripod) and flips the mirror up 3 seconds before exposure thus eliminating unsharpness from the mirror slap.

Try another lens.

little laker · 05-04-2008, 06:48 PM

Originally posted by OrenMc

Here is a shot today. I had it on a tripod. Quanatary 70-300 ( not the best lens I know but ) Green mode @ F 4.5 1/4 sec ISO 100 I also kow I probably should have raised my ISO to increase shutter speed but I did have it on a tripod.

The bird would have moved during a 1/4 second shutter speed, so this isn't a fair test

photofreak88 · 05-04-2008, 06:56 PM

Originally posted by little laker

The bird would have moved during a 1/4 second shutter speed, so this isn't a fair test

but then the post the bird was perched on would have been in focus if the bird had moved

little laker · 05-04-2008, 07:01 PM

If he focused on the post

OrenMc · 05-05-2008, 05:42 AM

No this isn't a good example of what I am having issuses with. This one is SR, but thanks for the help. I'll try another one this evening.

little laker · 05-05-2008, 07:14 AM

OrenMc, I've seen several people using plastic toys as models. And they're almost the perfect subject.
They don't move, and have nice sharp edges to start with.

Stuffed animals just have too much fir for an accurate assessment.

OrenMc · 05-06-2008, 05:24 AM

Good idea little laker, I'll give it a whurl.

05-04-2008, 11:13 AM	#1
OrenMc Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,901	Focusing issue? I am new to the d-slr thing and have had my K10d only since Feburary but I have been struggling from the beginning to get a good sharp photo. There were two things I have been looking at which are user error and the known fact that the K10d needs PP or custom setting +2 sharpness 1+ contrast. But I still don't get the truely sharp pictures I know this camera is capable of. I do a lot of manual focus ( one of the reason I thought it was user error ) macro/closefocus but the Tamron 90 2.5 doesn't put out the photos I know it can. I know it takes a lot of practice which I do but still..... I have tried tripod, self timer and other lenses with autofocus and let the camera do all the work. Some of the pictures look fine when I first download but as soon as I try to zoom I loose detail fast. Even after PP I have very little detail. I have been thinking all along it was that the pictures were just soft but I am beginning to think it is a focusing issue. What is a really good way to test the focus and how to tell the difference between soft and out of focus? Thank all, Oren

05-04-2008, 01:17 PM	#6
OrenMc Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,901 Original Poster	Here is a shot today. I had it on a tripod. Quanatary 70-300 ( not the best lens I know but ) Green mode @ F 4.5 1/4 sec ISO 100 I also kow I probably should have raised my ISO to increase shutter speed but I did have it on a tripod. Last edited by OrenMc; 06-06-2008 at 05:10 AM.

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05-04-2008, 11:15 AM	#2
MJB DIGITAL Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: st. louis Posts: 1,170	is it possible to post a couple? when you zoom it to check the detail, how much are you zooming? i dont really run camera tests but im sure someone here will tell you about some chart tests or newspaper tests..... good luck

05-04-2008, 11:31 AM	#3
bymy141 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,563	Originally posted by MJB DIGITAL is it possible to post a couple? when you zoom it to check the detail, how much are you zooming? i dont really run camera tests but im sure someone here will tell you about some chart tests or newspaper tests..... good luck If you do post photos, please add exif info (shutter speed, ISO, aperture, etc) and the type of lens you are shooting? - Bert

05-04-2008, 11:34 AM	#4
OrenMc Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,901 Original Poster	http://http://www.flickr.com/photos/33427578@N00/ I did a lens test a little will back but these are a few of the better ones.

05-04-2008, 11:38 AM	#5
bymy141 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,563	Originally posted by OrenMc http://http://www.flickr.com/photos/33427578@N00/ I did a lens test a little will back but these are a few of the better ones. Unfortnatly the maximum resolution on your flickr site is only 800x558 pixels. Judging from this I don't see what is wrong. Nice Seattle photos by night though. - Bert

05-04-2008, 01:25 PM	#7
roscot Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Virginia Beach VA USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,363	Do you shoot in AV mode? Watch your shutter speed. You shot this at 1/4 sec @ 180mm. SR is good, but not THAT good. . The rule of thumb for shutter speed with out stabilization is 1/ the focal length x crop factor, or in your case 1/(180x1.5) , or 1/270 sec. If you are really steady and have a subject that is standing still, you can get 2-3 additional stops, or about 1/60 sec. If you have a subject in motion, you need a higher shutter speed. Learn to balance your shutter speed to aperture to ISO speed, and you will find yourself doing much better.

05-04-2008, 05:25 PM	#8
MJB DIGITAL Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: st. louis Posts: 1,170	i would guess that you have some camera shake going on, but of course, that is just a guess. another possibility could be that your blur is an effect of having SR activated while on a tripod, but I dont know if you had it on or not. and yes, get your shutter speed up. a quarter of a second wont do for anything really unless everything in the frame is stationary or you are doing something (art) that wants to be shot at that speed. mitch

05-04-2008, 06:29 PM	#9
Ole Administrator Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Copenhagen, Denmark Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,408	Use a smaller aperture. If f/4.5 is near or at the max for the lens it won't be at its best. Use the 3 seconds selftimer when you're on a tripod. That does two things: Turns off SR if you should have forgotten to(you don't need SR on a tripod) and flips the mirror up 3 seconds before exposure thus eliminating unsharpness from the mirror slap. Try another lens.

05-04-2008, 06:48 PM	#10
little laker Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,697	Originally posted by OrenMc Here is a shot today. I had it on a tripod. Quanatary 70-300 ( not the best lens I know but ) Green mode @ F 4.5 1/4 sec ISO 100 I also kow I probably should have raised my ISO to increase shutter speed but I did have it on a tripod. The bird would have moved during a 1/4 second shutter speed, so this isn't a fair test

05-04-2008, 06:56 PM	#11
photofreak88 New Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: texas hill country Posts: 16	Originally posted by little laker The bird would have moved during a 1/4 second shutter speed, so this isn't a fair test but then the post the bird was perched on would have been in focus if the bird had moved

05-04-2008, 07:01 PM	#12
little laker Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,697	If he focused on the post

05-05-2008, 05:42 AM	#13
OrenMc Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,901 Original Poster	No this isn't a good example of what I am having issuses with. This one is SR, but thanks for the help. I'll try another one this evening.

05-05-2008, 07:14 AM	#14
little laker Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,697	OrenMc, I've seen several people using plastic toys as models. And they're almost the perfect subject. They don't move, and have nice sharp edges to start with. Stuffed animals just have too much fir for an accurate assessment.

05-06-2008, 05:24 AM	#15
OrenMc Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,901 Original Poster	Good idea little laker, I'll give it a whurl.