I would love to go totally digital, but I still have a horrible problem with group shots being sharp. I just got back my S2 for Fuji after sending in for them to evaluate and fix my soft focus issue in groups. I was mostly having trouble with groups outdoors. The Tech guy I talked too on the phone confirmed to me that they knew that that problem exsisted with the camera.
So yesterday I shot several Bridal Party pics with the digital after finished with the film shots, and sure enough, they are all soft. I was shooting at F 5.6. Maybe start shooting them at F8 or 11 ? I'm using the Tamron 28-75 Di lens and with studio and close up shots, I have great success. But could this lens be failing me at further distances or is it just the camera ?
Never had that trouble using that combination. If you are stuck and HAVE to use those files. You might try this.
Convert the image to LAB color. Go to Window and drag down to show layers.
Clik on the (L) Lightness channel, then click the eyeball in the uppr left to make the color visible again.
Got to Unsharp mask. Crank it up to 500% and then back it down until it looks right. Play with the threshold and radius until you tweak it to your liking.
Convert back to RGB. Done.
Do this for all the shots you need. If the images are just soft, this should help save the day. If they are way out of focus, you are doomed.
I have the same problem using both a Nikon D70 and D100. I've tried a variety of lens, manual focus, various apetures, you name it. It's a really strange problem and generally happens with with groups of thirty or so taken outside. I'm actually glad to hear someone else has the same problem I thought I was going nuts.
Douglas Coon
