Why photos not sharp one?

[skyhifi]

Hi. I just started on this photography hobby and have been snapping around for about 2 weeks. My gear is as follows:

1. Canon 20D
2. 17-40mm L f4
3. 85mm f1.8

I have been trying to shoot those sharp looking photos but somehow I still cannot get it right. Quite frustrating. Not sure if my techniques are correct. I tried both Auto Focus and Manual Focus, but the photos are not as sharp as I wanted them to be.

You can view some of my casual shots here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/27201863@N00/

Nothing fanciful, just trying out the camera to get the best sharpness. When the file is viewed at 100%, it just become blurred. People shots are not sharp also (though not uploaded here). I did not use any sharpening tool in the camera setting (set to the middle).

Could I ask for help? Is it my technique/setting which is wrong or is there something wrong with the camera focusing system?

Thanks in advance.

 

[ExplorerZ]

looks perfectly alright to me...

 

[raptor84]

Did you use user defined focus point selections or did you let your camera decide? You might be focusing on the wrong things? Perhaps you might wanna increase the shytter speed to about 1/60 or 1/90. 1/200 is best to freeze motion. All the pics look acceptibly sharp to me. Just try not to stop down the lens too much as it might result in chromatic abberations.

 

[ExplorerZ]

would be better to post a 100% crop here...

 

[skyhifi]

Actually, when I use the Window Pictures and Fax Viewer, the photos look much much softer than when viewed from Flickr. Not sure why. I was surprised the the Flickr website made my photos look much sharper. Maybe because Flickr's largest size of the photo is still smaller than my original ones?

I'll try to post some shots of people soon. I'll try to increase the shuttle speed. Read that the guide is 1/(focal lens*crop factor).

Thanks for the comments.

 

[skyhifi]

would be better to post a 100% crop here...

Not sure how to post the 100% crop here. Flickr made the size smaller. I thought I could upload the full size there. Any good website for me to post 100% crop photos?

Thanks.

 

[raptor84]

DLSR's general have a softer output be deault so you might need to apply USM to that that super sharp quality you want..

For 100% crops just slect a small portion of the original for example the reszied pic is

and the 100% crop is

Keep in mind there is USM applied to both.

 

[Reliance]

Looks sharp to me.

Can you upload more pics in particular objects or people photographed at close range.

Also try using a tripod or similar device to eliminate possibility of handshake.

 

[skyhifi]

DLSR's general have a softer output be deault so you might need to apply USM to that that super sharp quality you want..

For 100% crops just slect a small portion of the original for example the reszied pic is

and the 100% crop is

Keep in mind there is USM applied to both.

Err...what do you mean by 'need to apply USM'? I thought it is inbuilt in the lens?

 

[wildstallion]

Err...what do you mean by 'need to apply USM'? I thought it is inbuilt in the lens?

He means you need to apply "Unsharp Mask" in photoshop or a similar application. If you dont use a tack sharp pro lenses then the final output tends to be slightly soft. Applying sharpening after you have taken the pic makes the picture look sharper.

Simply put.

 

[wanzw]

shutter speed is a little slow. try 1/100 and see what happens. nice lens you have there

 

[fintan]

1. Canon 20D
2. 17-40mm L f4
3. 85mm f1.8

2 and 3 are not kit lenses am i right?

Your pics look clear , even the white balance. Clearer than my 350D with kit lens.

 

[versatile]

Wow.

Just started and already owned this.

1. Canon 20D
2. 17-40mm L f4
3. 85mm f1.8

 

[renewification]

must be some rich person. Anyway, i think they are perfectly fine. Its not the equpiment but you have to learn what is sharp and what is not..go figure

 

[dreamerz]

plbvf

 

[CreaXion]

Hi. I just started on this photography hobby and have been snapping around for about 2 weeks. My gear is as follows:

1. Canon 20D
2. 17-40mm L f4
3. 85mm f1.8

I have been trying to shoot those sharp looking photos but somehow I still cannot get it right. Quite frustrating. Not sure if my techniques are correct. I tried both Auto Focus and Manual Focus, but the photos are not as sharp as I wanted them to be.

You can view some of my casual shots here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/27201863@N00/

Nothing fanciful, just trying out the camera to get the best sharpness. When the file is viewed at 100%, it just become blurred. People shots are not sharp also (though not uploaded here). I did not use any sharpening tool in the camera setting (set to the middle).

Could I ask for help? Is it my technique/setting which is wrong or is there something wrong with the camera focusing system?

Thanks in advance.

Canon's system tends to be softer in comparison with Nikon's systems if that is what u are comparing images to. I set my 30D to max sharpness so that it can be near to my Nikon's images. You may want to try. U may also increase the speed so that u have less movt on camera.

 

[eesteck]

Same here, the pictures look ok to me. Notice that your photos taken were merely casual shoot with no focus on particular subject. Esp when u shoot at wide angle, you can't expect every parts of the pictures turn out sharp becos of different focal distant.

 

[lightning]

DLSR's general have a softer output be deault so you might need to apply USM to that that super sharp quality you want..

For 100% crops just slect a small portion of the original for example the reszied pic is

and the 100% crop is

Keep in mind there is USM applied to both.

hey that is my baby!!!

 

[raptor84]

hey that is my baby!!!

shh yes I know shes a good example and model :bsmilie:

 

[CreaXion]

If u are comparing with your previous compact cams, you may find that images from compact cams may be sharper. That is because a lot of compact cams are defaulted to high aperture value when u take scenery mode. Hence the photos are sharper.