Canon 5D - Images are not sharp

<p>Hello Everyone<br>

I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong but all my images are blurry and not sharp as expected. I have included and image and you can clearly see the writings aren't even close to being sharp. It just looks blurry and wrong. What am I doing wrong? Is it my Auto Focus settings?</p>

<p><img src="http://i58.tinypic.com/o0nt55.jpg" alt="" /><br>

I did shoot this at a lower than usual shutter speed and i know that also might explain some of the blurriness but i have noticed even when i shoot at higher shutter speeds i'm still not getting sharp images. I'm using a 24-105 kit lens. I also noticed when i shoot people I'm not getting sharp facial features. I'm assuming this has to do with my auto focus settings. Can someone please help me figure this out? What settings are you using for your auto focus?</p>

 

<p>The blurry image example appears to me to be due to camera shake, which is the most common cause of out of focus images.<br>

We'd have to see examples of the other images you refer to, to intelligently comment on them.<br>

There's a rule-of-thumb that one shouldn't try to hand hold below a shutter speed relative to the lens focal length; example les is 50mm, don't shoot below 1/50th sec.<br>

If you truly believe the lens/autofocus is at fault, you'll want to take test photos in decent lighting, and with your camera mounted on a tripod.</p>

<p>I'm sure more experienced and knowledgeable folks will chime in here, but as someone who once experienced this issue, perhaps I can offer some thought. <br>

#1. You did not say which lens you used here - lens vary in range of focus and native sharpness<br>

#2. You did not use a tripod. When shooting closeups, a tripod is almost always essential for maximum sharpness. Camera shake happens even when we think we are holding the camera and lens perfectly still.<br>

#3. I prefer to use manual focus when doing closeups because auto rarely gets it right when up close. This seems to be particularly true when attempting to capture any type of writing. <br>

Learning to focus correctly is a process and one, for many of us, that can be frustrating at times. When I began using my tripod more often, the difference in sharpness was marked. i'd suggest trying to shoot using more than one lens (if you have more than one), using a tripod and not and shooting at different speeds and depth of field. This will help determine whether the issue is "photographer error" or equipment error. </p>

 

<blockquote>

<p>I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong but all my images are blurry and not sharp as expected. I have included and image and you can clearly see <strong><em>the writings aren't even close to being sharp. </em></strong>It just looks blurry and wrong. What am I doing wrong? Is it my Auto Focus settings? I did shoot this at a <strong><em>lower than usual shutter speed</em></strong> and i know that also might explain some of the blurriness but i have noticed even when i shoot at higher shutter speeds i'm still not getting sharp images. <strong><em>I'm using a 24-105 kit lens</em></strong>. I also noticed <strong><em>when i shoot people I'm not getting sharp facial features</em></strong>. I'm <strong><em>assuming this has to do with my auto focus settings.</em></strong></p>

</blockquote>

<p>Let’s not assume it is your AF settings until we get more information:</p>

<p>> What “writings” are not sharp? What did you want to focus on?(the writing on the bottle of Olive Leaf seems reasonably OK)<br /> > Did you have Image Stabilization activated on the 24 to 105 lens?<br /> > What CAMERA MODE did you use (i.e. one of the BASIC ZONE MODE like the green rectangle - or did you use Av, Tv, P or M mode?)<br /> > If you used: Av, Tv, M, or P MODE, what AF POINT did you select?<br /> > Please supply the EXIF details of the image - do you know how to get those?<br /> > Do you have Back Button Focus Activated?<br /> > Please, post an example of a “people picture” that has blurry facial details and with it <strong>all the above details</strong>.</p>

<p>***</p>

<p>Notwithstanding the above:<br /> <br /> 1. The image is under-exposed, by about three stops, perhaps a bit more that may make the writing on the bottle of Olive Leaf, more difficult to read<br /> <br /> 2. The bottle of “Olive Leaf’ seems reasonably sharp (apropos being 'In Focus')<br /> <br /> 3. The image appears not to have had any Post Production Sharpening</p>

<p>Very quick: Exposure Correction and PP Sharpening is below<br /> <br /> WW</p><div></div>

Use a tripod , use live view (10x magnification setting to focus) , use self timer. Expose correctly for the subject.

<p>Whilst the suggestion to use 'Live View' to attain accurate Focus is a good <em>general</em> suggestion: the question in this thread is specifically about a Canon <strong>EOS 5D</strong>, which does NOT have 'Live View' functionality.</p>

<p>WW</p>

 

<p>The scene does look rather low light; there is no EXIF data in this image, but I'd guess the shutterspeed might have been too low, so I'd guess camerashake. Also the (much better looking) corrected image still the text looks slightly fuzzy/doubled, in a way I do not associate with Out of Focus, but with movement. EXIF data in the image would be very useful.</p>

<blockquote>

<p>"Also the (much better looking) corrected image <strong>still the text looks slightly fuzzy/doubled,</strong> in a way I do not associate with Out of Focus, <strong>but <em>[i associate]</em> with movement.</strong>"</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Wouter, I concur: the label on the "Olive Leaf" Bottle is not super sharp.</p>

<p>That's why I asked all the other questions specific to an EOS 5D camera and the EF 24 to 105 F/4 IS USM Lens (including if IS was engaged), as well as asking the OP for the EXIF data.</p>

<p>I look forward to alex's reply.</p>

<p>WW</p>

<p>And what aperture was used. Besides camera shake due to a too slow shutter speed, if the lens was wide open, there might just be not enough depth of focus to get all the writing on the bottle to be in focus at the same time. To me, the "B" of Barlean's seems a bit sharper than the end of the word. The whole word is not all at the same distance from the lens and therefore might not be in focus at the same time without enough depth of focus.</p>

<p>Though I have not read it for awile there used to be a saying "You get sharp pictures out of P&S cameras and blurred ones from DSLR" The rational behind this statement is that the P&S does more for you than a DSLR where you are expected to know what you are doing ... having graduated up from simpler cameras .... At least that was the situation in the 'old days' before digital sold DSLRs to every tom dick and harry with the advice ' they will make you a PRO ' LOL.<br /> My solution to your problem is to be aware of what post processing can do for you and here taking just a sample of your picture I sharpened it in editing.<br>

Add PP to all the other suuggestions and you will get good result you want .... PS that suggestion about 1/50 shutter with the 50mm lens only applies if firstly you are using a full frame camera and know how to properly release the trigger when hand holding.... personally I almost always also use the ten second delay release when using a tripod and leaving camera and tripod untouched after pressing the trigger. The only snag to this with a DSLR [ which I do not use, being a mirrorless worker] is vibration caused by the mirror lifting and cameras have 'mirror lock' up for this reason.</p><div></div>

<p>Mind you there is a limit to what PP can do for you so the lettering below Olive Leaf is not sharp so you need to heed others suggestions [ bearing in mind that the reduction in size for web use can loose sharpness too :-( ]</p>