Help! OOF Problem

[mpguitars]

somebody plse lp me with my OOF problem. I'm using a 350D and kit lens. I shoot portraits which appear very sharp in the LCD but are really OOF when I display them on the PC. A side problem is that I find it difficult to gauge from the LCD whether the image is sharp or not. Is this a lens problem or is this a viewfinder problem? PS - I just had my eyes checked and they are fine

[yZong]

Originally Posted by mpguitars somebody plse lp me with my OOF problem. I'm using a 350D and kit lens. I shoot portraits which appear very sharp in the LCD but are really OOF when I display them on the PC. A side problem is that I find it difficult to gauge from the LCD whether the image is sharp or not. Is this a lens problem or is this a viewfinder problem? PS - I just had my eyes checked and they are fine

Cannot trust LCD images 100%. Just a reference only.

[ykia]

Please share with us the picture setting you use? How much sharpening, saturation and contrast?

Also, what s/w do you use on the PC?

[namespace]

I'm using 350D too but I don't use the kit lens. From my experience, the LCD is not able to show the actual sharpness of your photo. You might want to try to take some stationary objects to make sure it is not your lens problem.

[Russ]

Unless it is way OOF you can't tell from the LCD. Heck, the LCD only normally displays an embedded thumbnail image. When you zoom in, it never appears sharp. And OOF photos never appear soft either.

So your photo skill in composition and focussing is still critical and useful. The LCD is only good to roughly gauge whether there are closed eyes, anything unexpected or exposure. Don't be over reliant on it.

Often when busy shooting, I don't even look at it. No time. The event moves on. You just have to keep shooting and only review when you get a break - not that you can retake history.

[mpguitars]

Here is one example. I swear the focus points looks really sharp when I was manually focussing this.

[Stratix]

Originally Posted by mpguitars Here is one example. I swear the focus points looks really sharp when I was manually focussing this.

you can never really get accurate manual focus. the lens isn't built this way, and, the viewfinder is too small too dim and doesnt have any form of manual focus assistance (like split prism etc.)

[ykia]

Were you using a tripod or bracing yourself for this shot?

I notice that it was taken at 1/20.

[kayheem]

Originally Posted by mpguitars Here is one example. I swear the focus points looks really sharp when I was manually focussing this.

You mean you focus until the focus point is sharp?

Do you mean you only focus manually and not use the AF? Have you tested your cam with other lenses?

Do a search in the forum for back and front focusing problems.

[mpguitars]

It was a photoshoot where I held the camera in my hands and braced myself for the shot, using manual focus. I don't seem to have this problem with my prime 50mm 1.8 II. Strange.

[ezestan]

For the eye piece, there is some adjustment for people wearing spec like me... have you tried using AF to focus and look through to see if it is sharp in your eyes view.. if it is not, adjust the eye piece setting till you can see it sharp... sorry, me can't remember what the adjustment thing call...

[calebk]

I don't understand why you don't just use AF.

[mpguitars]

thanks, will try to adjust the eye piece. suspect it may be the cause.

Use AF? always thought that good portrait shots were manually focused, no?

at what speed before handheld becomes a problem for a portrait?

[calebk]

Originally Posted by mpguitars thanks, will try to adjust the eye piece. suspect it may be the cause. Use AF? always thought that good portrait shots were manually focused, no? at what speed before handheld becomes a problem for a portrait?

Whoever told you that?

If you can manual focus accurately, then go ahead, but the problem is it's really hard to perform accurate MF with the kit lens (it doesn't even have a focus ring to begin with).

[mpguitars]

Originally Posted by calebk Whoever told you that? If you can manual focus accurately, then go ahead, but the problem is it's really hard to perform accurate MF with the kit lens (it doesn't even have a focus ring to begin with).

Ha ha ha dunno where i heard that but that's one myth out the door! but u r rite, its extremely difficult to manually focus on the kit. feels like turning a toy wheel
thanks for the advice.

[ndroo]

Originally Posted by mpguitars Ha ha ha dunno where i heard that but that's one myth out the door! but u r rite, its extremely difficult to manually focus on the kit. feels like turning a toy wheel thanks for the advice.

From all the different possibilities mentioned above, seems that you are claiming that MF is causing the problem? Why not take some in AF and see the difference?

[longkangman]

Originally Posted by mpguitars Here is one example. I swear the focus points looks really sharp when I was manually focussing this.

You have a very steady hand I can't do it even at 1/100.

Try use a tripod or slight usm the img it will be good.

[mpguitars]

yup, just tried both AF and Manual under the M mode and using the camera's light meter for correct exposure. Both showed OOF.

But when I switched to Auto Mode, the flash came on and the focus was PERFECT.

Really strange.

[buabua]

seriously i think is ur shutter speed..

1/20 is serious very hard to use.. (very slight handshake will cause it)

With the pop out flash this will means more light and auto mode it will auto up the shutter speed to maybe 1/100 or so..

[SpeedShutter]

Originally Posted by buabua seriously i think is ur shutter speed.. 1/20 is serious very hard to use.. (very slight handshake will cause it)

I can bet the shutter speed does play a part too.

Personally tried before with 50mm f/1.4 at 1/30, also looks alright from LCD. Once I view it on PC, I could easily tell that handshake blurred the whole thing, even though I tried to be steady.

If you want us to further judge the cause, you might want to post a larger sized image.