kit lens sharpness

[onghm]

Hi,

Have been drooling over those photos produced by 50mm prime and 100mm macro lens.

Also have been resisting the temptation to buy one as I don't take pic frequent enough to justify the $$$.

But don't know how long i can last

In the meantime, keep consoling myself that the kit lens can do.

Its not too bad right ?

All photos not sharpened.

Comments welcomed.

thanks.

[onghm]

2 more..

[soonwah]

Your shots are nice and quite sharp. Have you checked out http://www.dyxum.com/reviews/lenses/...asp?IDLens=204
and
http://www.pophouse.it/minoltalenstest/center_50.html
?
Kit lens seems to provide best sharpness at f/8 or smaller aperture at 70mm. Hence, it may not give good bokeh with sharp pictures. This is one reason that I got myself a 50mm f/1.7 lens. Actually, even with 50mm prime lens, you still need to use post processing to give it the best sharpness.

[onghm]

Originally Posted by soonwah Your shots are nice and quite sharp. Have you checked out http://www.dyxum.com/reviews/lenses/...asp?IDLens=204 and http://www.pophouse.it/minoltalenstest/center_50.html ? Kit lens seems to provide best sharpness at f/8 or smaller aperture at 70mm. Hence, it may not give good bokeh with sharp pictures. This is one reason that I got myself a 50mm f/1.7 lens. Actually, even with 50mm prime lens, you still need to use post processing to give it the best sharpness.

Hi SoonWah,

Thanks for the links!
Will give f8 a try.

I understand pics from digital camera will benefit from a little post-processing sharpening.
Intentionally did not sharpen the pics here to see the kit lens sharpness.

[TME]

Shooting at lower ISO of 200 would make the pictures less noisy if u intend to blow up... my experience is that at ISO200 the pictures also look sharper. I notice that your shutter speeds are very low... u might want to use a flash... were u on tripod?

[soonwah]

Originally Posted by onghm Hi SoonWah, Thanks for the links! Will give f8 a try. I understand pics from digital camera will benefit from a little post-processing sharpening. Intentionally did not sharpen the pics here to see the kit lens sharpness.

Hi, Onghm,
You are welcome. I was also initially quite disappointed with the kit lens as my first photos with the 5D were not sharp. However, if I use the built-in flash, the photos turned up much sharper. I notice that with the flash, the aperture was stopped down to smaller size, which gives the much sharper result. Of course, pictures with direct built-in flash were not quite flattering. Also, with a slow speed, although 5D AS provides quite sharp pictures, the slow speeds used could cause motion blur from the subject. I got quite a number of blur images from my kids as they could not keep still for the slower shutter speeds. Usually, I need 1/80s or faster to prevent motion blur from young kids.

Regards,
Soon Wah

[onghm]

Originally Posted by TME Shooting at lower ISO of 200 would make the pictures less noisy if u intend to blow up... my experience is that at ISO200 the pictures also look sharper. I notice that your shutter speeds are very low... u might want to use a flash... were u on tripod?

Due to the low shutter speed, iso 400 is a good compromise.
I have tried many time using flash with her but end results is always half-close eyes
And the flash is already with softscreen on.
Her younger sis is fine with flash though.

No tripod, all handheld.

Maybe getting the 50mm f1.7 will help

If kung-foo good, any lens will do.
For me kung-foo no good, better get help from better lens

[onghm]

Originally Posted by soonwah Hi, Onghm, You are welcome. I was also initially quite disappointed with the kit lens as my first photos with the 5D were not sharp. However, if I use the built-in flash, the photos turned up much sharper. I notice that with the flash, the aperture was stopped down to smaller size, which gives the much sharper result. Of course, pictures with direct built-in flash were not quite flattering. Also, with a slow speed, although 5D AS provides quite sharp pictures, the slow speeds used could cause motion blur from the subject. I got quite a number of blur images from my kids as they could not keep still for the slower shutter speeds. Usually, I need 1/80s or faster to prevent motion blur from young kids. Regards, Soon Wah

Very true Soon Wah.
I tried flash too.
In-built flash with lumiquest softscreen and 3600 with stofen.
But all attempts resulted in half-close eyes even though flash compensation was -1

With flash, i prefer to lock in ambient exposure with AEL and using the flash just for catchlight and subtle fill-in. I find this more pleasing than letting the camera syn-lock at 1/125.
But that's just my personal taste

Agreed with you that blur image from slow shutter speed is due to subject movement.
Nothing to blame the AS.
I have some shots where the nose and mouth are sharp but not the eyes as they were blinking

Thanks again for your time and advice!

[Timber Wolf]

nice pics onghm!
If only my cousins would allow me to take their pic lor =P

QX

[onghm]

Originally Posted by Timber Wolf nice pics onghm! If only my cousins would allow me to take their pic lor =P QX

Hi Timber Wolf,

Thanks for your kind comments.

Why won't your cousins let u take their pics ?

They scared of wolf

[Isaiahfortythirtyone]

Originally Posted by soonwah Your shots are nice and quite sharp. Have you checked out http://www.dyxum.com/reviews/lenses/...asp?IDLens=204 and http://www.pophouse.it/minoltalenstest/center_50.html ? Kit lens seems to provide best sharpness at f/8 or smaller aperture at 70mm. Hence, it may not give good bokeh with sharp pictures. This is one reason that I got myself a 50mm f/1.7 lens. Actually, even with 50mm prime lens, you still need to use post processing to give it the best sharpness.

you seem to be using auto mode or P mode (inference from your post)? else you shd use AV mode and manually stop down your lens to the optimum aperture.

[onghm]

Originally Posted by Isaiahfortythirtyone you seem to be using auto mode or P mode (inference from your post)? else you shd use AV mode and manually stop down your lens to the optimum aperture.

Those shots were all on aperture priority.

Thanks.

[TME]

Originally Posted by onghm Due to the low shutter speed, iso 400 is a good compromise. I have tried many time using flash with her but end results is always half-close eyes

It's due to the pre-flash... u could bounce the flash or place her facing a corner of the room and face the flash backwards and shoot using the reflected light off the corner of the ceiling... this way the light will be very diffused and she would not likely blink before the shutter goes off. U can use wireless to achieve this.

[onghm]

Originally Posted by TME It's due to the pre-flash... u could bounce the flash or place her facing a corner of the room and face the flash backwards and shoot using the reflected light off the corner of the ceiling... this way the light will be very diffused and she would not likely blink before the shutter goes off. U can use wireless to achieve this.

Hi TME,

Thanks a lot for your suggestion.

I will try that soon