Shooting for sharpness

[Copy_Kot]

I spent a lot of time today practicing shooting with manual focus. I used my Canon 300mm f/4L and 2X TC, these were all hand held and haven’t had a sharpening filter applied to them (only p/p was a very minor levels and contrast adjustment… and vertical crop from the top of the frame to the bottom).

Anyway, here are my best five out of about fifty. I tried using Loupeys suggestion of focusing on the eye ring but found that was very hard for me. Instead I focused on their legs.

A female house-finch



Dark-eyed junco (male I guess)



Male hairy woodpecker



Female downy woodpecker



Male cardinal



Thank you for looking.

[paulnj]

You should really have a monopod atleast when manually focusing a 600 f8 lens and always having the eyes sharp is paramount in nature imagery.

Nice job here !!!!!

[Copy_Kot]

Thank you Paul

[ZL4life]

what shutter speed were you using. a few of them look like they might be a little blured. and that's tough not to do with 600mm of lense

[Loupey]

The junco and two woodpeckers seem very sharp (first w/p's feet are right on). The house finch appears to have some camera motion blur while the cardinal seems to suffering from the focus being too far to the rear (wing is sharp).

I too find it very hard to focus on juncos as their eye ring isn't as distinct as it is on most other birds. Usually, the fleshy ring has bumps and segments which will pop into focus - unlike the dark eye itself. Even with bright yellow eyes, the transition from iris to pupil is not as distinct as the eye ring for focusing.

One tip which may help you: press the shutter halfway at least a second before the release in order to let the IS servos spin up fully. In addition, if you shoot a 2 or 3 frame burst, the first will typically be the sharpest.

Don't give up!

[Copy_Kot]

Thank you for replying ZL4life,

I might agree that my focus may be off on some of these, but I do not think these have any motion blur in them. Which images were you referring too? Here are the shutter speeds…

1/200th


1/160th


1/500th


1/500th


1/320th

[Loupey]

The noise pattern doesn't look consistent. What ISO did you use? I find 400 to be the maximum workable level.

No filter? What aperture? Did you shoot from a car or through an open window? Convection heat distortion plays havoc on images.

Also, check your picture style setting. Even though you may shoot in RAW mode, I suggest using the Neutral Setting (sharpness, contrast set to zero).

[Copy_Kot]

Thanks Loupey, I think we posted at the same time. ISO was 400 for all of them, aperture was f/9... and through an open window. I really do not see any motion blur in the finch image, if it's there... I want to see it I would rather just delete those images than try to save them, unless they are just fun images... like the ducks. In the long run, I want my images to be as good as I can possibly get them.

edit- I've been using the landscape picture style while shooting in RAW. Canon presets this setting one stop over the center bracket in the 'sharpness meter' (lol, I don't know what to call it). Are you saying I should decrease this setting to the center (which I guess would be neutral)?

[ZL4life]

ok, i guess no motion blur, just a little bit of soft focus. the one i thought might be motion blured was the Male hairy woodpecker. i was looking between his upper and lower beaks there might have been blured. i don't know, i might just be crazy

[Loupey]

OK, I would say that convection is the problem here. I get it too when I first start shooting from a car. After driving around with the windows open and heat off, the sharpness returns (and chills begin). From a house, stick your body and camera out as far as possible.

The Landscape picture style has quite a bit of sharpness (4). Yes, I would recommend turning down all to the center positions (0) or using the Neutral picture style which already has that.

[Copy_Kot]

ZL4life, your comments are really appreciated. It can be a bit frustrating when I look at my pictures and see certain things wrong with them, and then someone points out something completely different than what I was looking at. It's frustrating but appreciated, I'm still learning and want to get things right.

Loupey, I can't thank you enough for all of your great advice... camera will be set to Neutral ASAP.

[Copy_Kot]

One from this afternoon. I focused on the eye-ring and had my camera set to the Neutral picture style.

[Loupey]

Well, alright! Looks good!

[Copy_Kot]

Thanks Loupey, of the six pictures, I like were my focus was with the last. I'll try to focus on the eye ring from now on.

[Copy_Kot]

:mad2: OMG, these suck! I've been looking at some other peoples photo's and I still have so much to learn.... arghhhhh! :mad2:

[Loupey]

We are ALL at different points in our photographic adventure. You have to admit that you have made some quantum leaps forward in a very short period of time?!

How else would you define success?

[Copy_Kot]

Thanks Loupey, just getting a little frustrated... there are so many great photographers out there and I was hoping I would be a little farther along by now... practice, practice, practice.

[poker]

Hi, nice shots. I haven't done any birding in a while. I need to wake up early on the weekends and join the local bird watching club.

Are you using the Canon EF 300mm f/4 USM L non-IS? I can't seem to find it for sale any more. I know the IS version is still out there for a $1k.

[Copy_Kot]

Thanks Manacsa, I'm using the Canon EF 300mm f/4L IS USM. I read somewhere recently that soon Canon will not offer any of their prime lenses without IS.

[payn817]

:mad2: OMG, these suck! I've been looking at some other peoples photo's and I still have so much to learn.... arghhhhh! :mad2:

Ahhh... At some time everyone feels it. You have to think about how long you've been at it. I just recently went/am going through this. Looking back however, 1 1/2 years is not a long time (how long have you been at it?). You have to find your strengths and weakness. You have to find out what you really want to do. Six months ago, I wanted to shoot concerts, before that is was architecture. It takes some time to settle and learn the techniques necessary in your chosen area. It all takes time, some people need more time.

One thing you can do to help is join a local photography club. You will get feedback, plus have the opportunity to attend workshops, and presentations on different types of photography. It would also give you a chance to speak with more experienced photographers, that would likely be happy to offer advice.

Another thing it could do is allow you the chance to compete, and exhibit. I was scared to compete, but every photo I have entered (6 so far) has earned honors. That's a confidence boost! Especially competeing with people with 10, 20+ years under their belt. So, you may consider that as well. That confidence boost will keep you going and inspire you to learn even more.

[Copy_Kot]

One thing you can do to help is join a local photography club. You will get feedback, plus have the opportunity to attend workshops, and presentations on different types of photography. It would also give you a chance to speak with more experienced photographers, that would likely be happy to offer advice.

That seems like a great idea, thanks Payn817. I hope something is offered in my area, I will look into something like this.