Is it just me or most of us? [Stable Hands]

joodiespost · 01-04-2010, 09:38 PM

It seems that all my shots around 1/80 [which I consider to be pretty fast] come out blurry. Not all the time but a lot of times. The clarity is just not there with my Kit Lens 18-55 K-x. The SR is on and I try hard to be still. When I go into Lightroom and adjust the sharpness, it does wonders to the blurry photos but I don't want to "fix it up". Am I the only one or is that shutter speed considered pretty hard to get a sharp focus out of.

Thanks

**Ash** · 01-04-2010, 09:59 PM

What focal lengths are these shots coming out blurry at?
It's not unusual for any focal length above 50mm to be unsharp at such a shutter speed, and not just from camera shake...

dragonfly · 01-04-2010, 10:10 PM

How about posting some examples?

joodiespost · 01-04-2010, 10:10 PM

Originally posted by Ash

What focal lengths are these shots coming out blurry at?
It's not unusual for any focal length above 50mm to be unsharp at such a shutter speed, and not just from camera shake...

Yeah Ash, these blurry shots are from 55mm. I was at the zoo today trying to squeeze every last focal lenght out

So I see that this is not just my problem. If lenses are so bad above 50, how am I ever going to handhold use my 55-300 at over 100 much less at 300? Is that even possible??? I ordered one just today.

Marc Sabatella · 01-04-2010, 10:19 PM

When shooting longer focal lengths, you simply use faster shutter speeds - increase aperture or raise ISO as necessary.

I'm guesisng your problem here is that you weren't really close enough to be shooting at 55mm, and so you are zooming way in on your image on the computer (or camera LCD) in order to make your subject bigger - in other words,"pixel peeping" - and as a result you are simply seeing the limits of the lens' sharpness. But as always, examples would help.

joodiespost · 01-04-2010, 10:31 PM

Originally posted by dragonfly

How about posting some examples?

after looking at my photos at the zoo again, I might have some explanations. I think it has to do with the fact that a lot of the animals were moving. Although they were just strolling along with no quick sudden movements, I guess shutter speed around 1/50 - 1/100 is still not fast enough for a sharp focus. Does that sound reasonable? What's a good shutter speed for something that's moving quite slow?

I don't know, I might just be paranoid. A lot of these are with the moving animals. When they are still, it seems to be pretty clear. Click for bigger resolution

You can't tell from the picture but these birds were screeching and fighting
http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/2217/imgp2205.jpg

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/4573/imgp2199.jpg

So I should contribute the blur to the yawn?

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/1637/imgp2243.jpg

Does this look pretty sharp?

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/1637/imgp2243.jpg

joodiespost · 01-04-2010, 10:34 PM

Hmm, I uploaded the Full image to imageshack, I think imgwide command isn't working... I think if you paste the img url into a new window you will get the whole 12.4 megapixel image.

EDIT: click on the links for full image

asdf · 01-04-2010, 10:57 PM

Originally posted by joodiespost

Hmm, I uploaded the Full image to imageshack, I think imgwide command isn't working... I think if you paste the img url into a new window you will get the whole 12.4 megapixel image.

EDIT: click on the links for full image

Could you please embed the scaled version of your images? Suddenly it felt as if I were back in '95, using NSCA Mosaic on a 486.

joodiespost · 01-04-2010, 11:00 PM

Originally posted by asdf

Could you please embed the scaled version of your images? Suddenly it felt as if I were back in '95, using NSCA Mosaic on a 486.

i am so sorry

I actually did the imgwide command. I dont know of any other tag lines. Let me know so I can change it. so sorry

Gary do something!

Clicker · 01-04-2010, 11:02 PM

sunset small kitchen window off to the left WB set to "daylight", loss some sharpness around the edges.

Jasvox · 01-04-2010, 11:17 PM

SR wont freeze a moving object...you need fast shutter speed for that.

Jason

GoremanX · 01-04-2010, 11:23 PM

Yeah, I occasionally get blurry shots even at 1/80th, but not frequently. As mentioned above, it's mostly at longer focal lengths like 50mm and above. This is where faster lenses come to save the day. An F/2.8 zoom lens allows for faster shutter speeds while gathering more light, so you have a better chance of getting a sharp result. Your kit lens only opens up to F/5.6 at its max focal length, which often restricts your shutter speed to below 1/100 in even outdoor lighting conditions. The 55-300mm you ordered is a little better, but not by much. You'll gain about one stop of light at 55mm over the kit lens, and then it'll gradually work its way back up to the same limit as your kit lens as you increase focal length. Plus, since you'll be zoomed in more, the blur effect will be magnified.

Damn Brit · 01-04-2010, 11:24 PM

Holding the camera correctly can also help a lot. The act of pressing the shutter can cause enough movement to shift focus slightly.

GoremanX · 01-04-2010, 11:26 PM

It's also worth pointing out that at maximum focal length, zoom lenses typically give worse results than in the middle of their range. And at max aperture, images are always worse than a couple stops down. But then when you stop down, the shutter speed goes down too and makes it that much harder to get sharp results. It's all a matter of balance, and faster lenses give more advantages.

joodiespost · 01-04-2010, 11:39 PM

thanks to all for the help and info. Glad to know it's not just a personal problem. Always a relief

I leaned the practicality of a fast lens today, good stuff. Gary, Im going to have to practice holding the camera still. It's always when I am conscience of the fact that this will be an important shot, I can't lol. On the contrary, an easy "no pressure" shots are done with relaxed precision ^^

01-04-2010, 09:38 PM	#1
joodiespost Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 336	Is it just me or most of us? [Stable Hands] It seems that all my shots around 1/80 [which I consider to be pretty fast] come out blurry. Not all the time but a lot of times. The clarity is just not there with my Kit Lens 18-55 K-x. The SR is on and I try hard to be still. When I go into Lightroom and adjust the sharpness, it does wonders to the blurry photos but I don't want to "fix it up". Am I the only one or is that shutter speed considered pretty hard to get a sharp focus out of. Thanks

01-04-2010, 10:31 PM	#6
joodiespost Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 336 Original Poster	Originally posted by dragonfly How about posting some examples? after looking at my photos at the zoo again, I might have some explanations. I think it has to do with the fact that a lot of the animals were moving. Although they were just strolling along with no quick sudden movements, I guess shutter speed around 1/50 - 1/100 is still not fast enough for a sharp focus. Does that sound reasonable? What's a good shutter speed for something that's moving quite slow? I don't know, I might just be paranoid. A lot of these are with the moving animals. When they are still, it seems to be pretty clear. Click for bigger resolution You can't tell from the picture but these birds were screeching and fighting http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/2217/imgp2205.jpg http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/4573/imgp2199.jpg So I should contribute the blur to the yawn? http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/1637/imgp2243.jpg Does this look pretty sharp? http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/1637/imgp2243.jpg Last edited by Damn Brit; 01-05-2010 at 06:29 PM.

01-04-2010, 11:02 PM	#10
Clicker Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,241	Kit Lens 18-55 II sunset small kitchen window off to the left WB set to "daylight", loss some sharpness around the edges.

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01-04-2010, 09:59 PM	#2
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	What focal lengths are these shots coming out blurry at? It's not unusual for any focal length above 50mm to be unsharp at such a shutter speed, and not just from camera shake...

01-04-2010, 10:10 PM	#3
dragonfly Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: on the wall Photos: Gallery Posts: 715	How about posting some examples?

01-04-2010, 10:10 PM	#4
joodiespost Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 336 Original Poster	Originally posted by Ash What focal lengths are these shots coming out blurry at? It's not unusual for any focal length above 50mm to be unsharp at such a shutter speed, and not just from camera shake... Yeah Ash, these blurry shots are from 55mm. I was at the zoo today trying to squeeze every last focal lenght out So I see that this is not just my problem. If lenses are so bad above 50, how am I ever going to handhold use my 55-300 at over 100 much less at 300? Is that even possible??? I ordered one just today.

01-04-2010, 10:19 PM	#5
Marc Sabatella Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Denver, CO Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,685	When shooting longer focal lengths, you simply use faster shutter speeds - increase aperture or raise ISO as necessary. I'm guesisng your problem here is that you weren't really close enough to be shooting at 55mm, and so you are zooming way in on your image on the computer (or camera LCD) in order to make your subject bigger - in other words,"pixel peeping" - and as a result you are simply seeing the limits of the lens' sharpness. But as always, examples would help.

01-04-2010, 10:34 PM	#7
joodiespost Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 336 Original Poster	Hmm, I uploaded the Full image to imageshack, I think imgwide command isn't working... I think if you paste the img url into a new window you will get the whole 12.4 megapixel image. EDIT: click on the links for full image

01-04-2010, 10:57 PM	#8
asdf Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 1,252	Originally posted by joodiespost Hmm, I uploaded the Full image to imageshack, I think imgwide command isn't working... I think if you paste the img url into a new window you will get the whole 12.4 megapixel image. EDIT: click on the links for full image Could you please embed the scaled version of your images? Suddenly it felt as if I were back in '95, using NSCA Mosaic on a 486.

01-04-2010, 11:00 PM	#9
joodiespost Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 336 Original Poster	Originally posted by asdf Could you please embed the scaled version of your images? Suddenly it felt as if I were back in '95, using NSCA Mosaic on a 486. i am so sorry I actually did the imgwide command. I dont know of any other tag lines. Let me know so I can change it. so sorry Gary do something!

01-04-2010, 11:17 PM	#11
Jasvox Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 3,107	SR wont freeze a moving object...you need fast shutter speed for that. Jason

01-04-2010, 11:23 PM	#12
GoremanX Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Georgia, VT Photos: Albums Posts: 1,657	Yeah, I occasionally get blurry shots even at 1/80th, but not frequently. As mentioned above, it's mostly at longer focal lengths like 50mm and above. This is where faster lenses come to save the day. An F/2.8 zoom lens allows for faster shutter speeds while gathering more light, so you have a better chance of getting a sharp result. Your kit lens only opens up to F/5.6 at its max focal length, which often restricts your shutter speed to below 1/100 in even outdoor lighting conditions. The 55-300mm you ordered is a little better, but not by much. You'll gain about one stop of light at 55mm over the kit lens, and then it'll gradually work its way back up to the same limit as your kit lens as you increase focal length. Plus, since you'll be zoomed in more, the blur effect will be magnified.

01-04-2010, 11:24 PM	#13
Damn Brit Guest	Holding the camera correctly can also help a lot. The act of pressing the shutter can cause enough movement to shift focus slightly.

01-04-2010, 11:26 PM	#14
GoremanX Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Georgia, VT Photos: Albums Posts: 1,657	It's also worth pointing out that at maximum focal length, zoom lenses typically give worse results than in the middle of their range. And at max aperture, images are always worse than a couple stops down. But then when you stop down, the shutter speed goes down too and makes it that much harder to get sharp results. It's all a matter of balance, and faster lenses give more advantages.

01-04-2010, 11:39 PM	#15
joodiespost Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 336 Original Poster	thanks to all for the help and info. Glad to know it's not just a personal problem. Always a relief I leaned the practicality of a fast lens today, good stuff. Gary, Im going to have to practice holding the camera still. It's always when I am conscience of the fact that this will be an important shot, I can't lol. On the contrary, an easy "no pressure" shots are done with relaxed precision ^^