What is tack sharp?

enoeske · 04-21-2011, 07:13 AM

Originally posted by mtansley

What sort of flash or strobe and lens did you create that photo with? It is stunning in it's simplicity in my opinion!!.
Michael

Originally posted by JHD

That is an excellent example of what is truly tack sharp.

Originally posted by tibbitts

Wow, technical details, please.

Paul

Thanks guys, this was an out-take shot from a photoshoot we did for a billboard.

Lighting was a single ring light, bare on a black background
Hasselblad H4D-40 with 80mm f/2.8

**Aristophanes** · 04-21-2011, 07:20 AM

The one on the right:

enoeske · 04-21-2011, 07:20 AM

Originally posted by Aristophanes

The one on the right:

you're thinking of sharp tacks

mtansley · 04-21-2011, 07:49 AM

Originally posted by enoeske

Thanks guys, this was an out-take shot from a photoshoot we did for a billboard.

Lighting was a single ring light, bare on a black background
Hasselblad H4D-40 with 80mm f/2.8

OK, now knowing the level of equipment and skill in this photograph, I don't feel QUITE so bad about not being able to achieve that just yet with my current skills and equipment. I know equipment isn't everything but I'm sure that in some cases it can help a lot. Combine skill and equipment and you get excellent.
Something to shoot for. (no pun intended!)
Michael

Parallax · 04-21-2011, 08:24 AM

Originally posted by Aristophanes

The one on the right:

That's really tacky.

**BigDave** · 04-21-2011, 01:18 PM

JJ:

Also, the sharpness of the image will be determined by the f-stop used. Higher f-stop does not mean "sharper" just greater depth of field. After about f11 or f16 you start losing sharpness due to diffraction. We are willing to give up the sharpness for the better DoF. Lighting will also play a role. Soft lighting can improve sharpness, and flash, under the right conditions, can reduce it. What we are hoping for is a rendering of the subject with as much detail as we can get!

Photography is always a balancing act between what you want and what you can get.

Andi Lo · 04-21-2011, 01:28 PM

Originally posted by RioRico

TACK SHARP
RAZOR SHARP
BRUTALLY SHARP

Your eyeballs bleed when you look. Handle the lens and your fingers are cut off. Drop the lens on your Chuhuahua-dog and poor Pepe is sliced in half. Beware of sharp lenses -- they are dangerous. Always file-down your lenses so they have no sharp edges.

+rep

Tack sharp is whatever you make it out to be... to me the DA 40 and FA 35 is the benchmark for a sharp prime. Sharpness isn't everything though! I actually prefer the colors of my 35mm tak than the FA 35.

As shown by the image posted earlier too, the lighting very much affects your perception of sharpness. Most of my flash photos always look sharper than non-flash ones, although that might also come partly from stopping down the lens when using flash

**Ash** · 04-21-2011, 03:59 PM

Yes, lighting makes a huge difference to image sharpness, as it helps to eliminate other factors that contribute to subject softness - motion blur, camera shake, insufficient contrast/exposure...

The lens that exemplifies sharpness to me is the FA 100 f/2.8 macro. Yes, the FA and DA limiteds are awesome, and the Sigma 70 is brutal in that department also, but from what I see on the screen my eyes keep coming back to the amazing microcontrast and sharpness produced by the FA 100 macro at the f/8-16 range.

**RichardS** · 04-21-2011, 04:02 PM

Originally posted by enoeske

Thanks guys, this was an out-take shot from a photoshoot we did for a billboard.

Lighting was a single ring light, bare on a black background
Hasselblad H4D-40 with 80mm f/2.8

Hmmm. Not bad for a kit lens

(Hasselblad Australia has H4D-40 with 80mm f/2.8 as a 'Kit' for $AUS22,995)

Richard.

**jac** · 04-21-2011, 04:06 PM

Originally posted by Parallax

That's really tacky.

He's just thinking outside the box.

**boriscleto** · 04-21-2011, 06:07 PM

You Tube

DaveHolmes · 04-21-2011, 06:48 PM

Originally posted by mtansley

I know equipment isn't everything but I'm sure that in some cases it can help a lot

According to your signiture your current set-up should be able to ahchive equally outstanding results...

mtansley · 04-22-2011, 03:59 AM

Originally posted by DaveHolmes

According to your signiture your current set-up should be able to ahchive equally outstanding results...

Thanks. I'll be honest though, maybe my EQUIPMENT can but I don't think that I'M quite up to that level yet!
I can certainly flood a room with light but I'm stlll working on getting it to do what I want WITHOUT blinding the poor photographic victim.

Certainly something to aspire to though!
Michael

TOUGEFC · 04-22-2011, 06:28 AM

TACK SHARP?
RAZOR SHARP?
or BRUTALLY SHARP?

Can clearly see the lighting setup, my postion and the glass panels on my front door.

mtansley · 04-22-2011, 06:35 AM

Originally posted by TOUGEFC

TACK SHARP?
RAZOR SHARP?
or BRUTALLY SHARP?

Can clearly see the lighting setup, my postion and the glass panels on my front door.

Are you using just your AF540 & umbrella to light her? On the crop I can actually see one hair that probably shouldn't be there.

It certainly shows what can be achieved with our cameras & lenses.

Very nice photo.

Michael

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04-21-2011, 07:13 AM	#16
enoeske Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Surprise, Az Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,136	Originally posted by mtansley What sort of flash or strobe and lens did you create that photo with? It is stunning in it's simplicity in my opinion!!. Michael Originally posted by JHD That is an excellent example of what is truly tack sharp. Originally posted by tibbitts Wow, technical details, please. Paul Thanks guys, this was an out-take shot from a photoshoot we did for a billboard. Lighting was a single ring light, bare on a black background Hasselblad H4D-40 with 80mm f/2.8

04-21-2011, 07:20 AM	#17
Aristophanes Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Rankin Inlet, Nunavut Photos: Albums Posts: 3,948	The one on the right:

04-21-2011, 07:20 AM	#18
enoeske Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Surprise, Az Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,136	Originally posted by Aristophanes The one on the right: you're thinking of sharp tacks

04-21-2011, 07:49 AM	#19
mtansley Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Ajax, Ontario, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,139	Originally posted by enoeske Thanks guys, this was an out-take shot from a photoshoot we did for a billboard. Lighting was a single ring light, bare on a black background Hasselblad H4D-40 with 80mm f/2.8 OK, now knowing the level of equipment and skill in this photograph, I don't feel QUITE so bad about not being able to achieve that just yet with my current skills and equipment. I know equipment isn't everything but I'm sure that in some cases it can help a lot. Combine skill and equipment and you get excellent. Something to shoot for. (no pun intended!) Michael

04-21-2011, 08:24 AM	#20
Parallax Senior Moderator Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: South Dakota Photos: Gallery Posts: 19,333	Originally posted by Aristophanes The one on the right: That's really tacky.

04-21-2011, 01:18 PM	#21
BigDave Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Hudson Valley, NY Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,626	JJ: Also, the sharpness of the image will be determined by the f-stop used. Higher f-stop does not mean "sharper" just greater depth of field. After about f11 or f16 you start losing sharpness due to diffraction. We are willing to give up the sharpness for the better DoF. Lighting will also play a role. Soft lighting can improve sharpness, and flash, under the right conditions, can reduce it. What we are hoping for is a rendering of the subject with as much detail as we can get! Photography is always a balancing act between what you want and what you can get.

04-21-2011, 01:28 PM	#22
Andi Lo Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia Posts: 2,924	Originally posted by RioRico TACK SHARP RAZOR SHARP BRUTALLY SHARP Your eyeballs bleed when you look. Handle the lens and your fingers are cut off. Drop the lens on your Chuhuahua-dog and poor Pepe is sliced in half. Beware of sharp lenses -- they are dangerous. Always file-down your lenses so they have no sharp edges. +rep Tack sharp is whatever you make it out to be... to me the DA 40 and FA 35 is the benchmark for a sharp prime. Sharpness isn't everything though! I actually prefer the colors of my 35mm tak than the FA 35. As shown by the image posted earlier too, the lighting very much affects your perception of sharpness. Most of my flash photos always look sharper than non-flash ones, although that might also come partly from stopping down the lens when using flash

04-21-2011, 03:59 PM	#23
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	Yes, lighting makes a huge difference to image sharpness, as it helps to eliminate other factors that contribute to subject softness - motion blur, camera shake, insufficient contrast/exposure... The lens that exemplifies sharpness to me is the FA 100 f/2.8 macro. Yes, the FA and DA limiteds are awesome, and the Sigma 70 is brutal in that department also, but from what I see on the screen my eyes keep coming back to the amazing microcontrast and sharpness produced by the FA 100 macro at the f/8-16 range.

04-21-2011, 04:02 PM	#24
RichardS Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Nelson Bay, NSW, Australia Posts: 2,418	Originally posted by enoeske Thanks guys, this was an out-take shot from a photoshoot we did for a billboard. Lighting was a single ring light, bare on a black background Hasselblad H4D-40 with 80mm f/2.8 Hmmm. Not bad for a kit lens (Hasselblad Australia has H4D-40 with 80mm f/2.8 as a 'Kit' for $AUS22,995) Richard.

04-21-2011, 04:06 PM	#25
jac Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Clyde River, Nunavut, Canada Posts: 2,364	Originally posted by Parallax That's really tacky. He's just thinking outside the box.

04-21-2011, 06:48 PM	#27
DaveHolmes Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 1,501	Originally posted by mtansley I know equipment isn't everything but I'm sure that in some cases it can help a lot According to your signiture your current set-up should be able to ahchive equally outstanding results...

04-22-2011, 03:59 AM	#28
mtansley Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Ajax, Ontario, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,139	Originally posted by DaveHolmes According to your signiture your current set-up should be able to ahchive equally outstanding results... Thanks. I'll be honest though, maybe my EQUIPMENT can but I don't think that I'M quite up to that level yet! I can certainly flood a room with light but I'm stlll working on getting it to do what I want WITHOUT blinding the poor photographic victim. Certainly something to aspire to though! Michael

04-22-2011, 06:28 AM	#29
TOUGEFC Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Brisbane Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,561	TACK SHARP? RAZOR SHARP? or BRUTALLY SHARP? Can clearly see the lighting setup, my postion and the glass panels on my front door.

04-22-2011, 06:35 AM	#30
mtansley Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Ajax, Ontario, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,139	Originally posted by TOUGEFC TACK SHARP? RAZOR SHARP? or BRUTALLY SHARP? Can clearly see the lighting setup, my postion and the glass panels on my front door. Are you using just your AF540 & umbrella to light her? On the crop I can actually see one hair that probably shouldn't be there. It certainly shows what can be achieved with our cameras & lenses. Very nice photo. Michael