40D soft on people sharp on objects

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Archive 2008 · 40D soft on people sharp on objects

MC Mullins
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p.1 #1 · 40D soft on people sharp on objects

Here I go again!!!! I sent my camera back to Canon a few months back for this issue, but they sent it back in the same condition. I don't think they understood what the problem was, so I am sending it back.

The issue is that the images are nice and sharp if I am shooting non-moving objects. When I shoot people, they are mostly soft and need lots of PS processing.

If you own a 40D and do not have this problem, could you please post a photo prior to any editing? I would like to compare.

Thanks,

Mary

Dec 18, 2008 at 02:46 PM

orangefirefish
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p.1 #2 · 40D soft on people sharp on objects

What focus mode are you using on moving objects? And where are you focusing? I've never had an issue with my 40D. Always sharp, even for fast sports.
I guess this is people so it counts: with 70-200 at 2.8 IS

This image is copyrighted by the owner

Dec 18, 2008 at 02:52 PM

EltonTeng
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p.1 #3 · 40D soft on people sharp on objects

MC Mullins wrote:
Here I go again!!!! I sent my camera back to Canon a few months back for this issue, but they sent it back in the same condition. I don't think they understood what the problem was, so I am sending it back.

The issue is that the images are nice and sharp if I am shooting non-moving objects. When I shoot people, they are mostly soft and need lots of PS processing.

If you own a 40D and do not have this problem, could you please post a photo prior to any editing? I would like to compare.

Thanks,

Mary

Mary

Can you post samples with EXIT intact for all to help you out? You can provide a link, or host it elsewhere.

Dec 18, 2008 at 02:57 PM

Yakim Peled
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p.1 #4 · 40D soft on people sharp on objects

Yes, I have the exact same problem. People are very blurry and still objects (e.g. background) are sharp.

Happy shooting,
Yakim.

2012 © Yakim Peled

Dec 18, 2008 at 02:58 PM

EltonTeng
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p.1 #5 · 40D soft on people sharp on objects

Yakim

I think you have a black splotch problem in the BG. Your highlights are also blowing out badly.

Dec 18, 2008 at 03:00 PM

twistedlim
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p.1 #6 · 40D soft on people sharp on objects

Yakim:

"I see dead people"

Dec 18, 2008 at 03:02 PM

Yakim Peled
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p.1 #7 · 40D soft on people sharp on objects

Just kidding of course. People are nice and sharp, just as inanimate objects.

According to your description it is probably a user error. Please post all the relevant details (lens, aperture, shooting mode, speed etc.). Also, upload a pic or two with EXIF (click on the checkbox).

Happy shooting,
Yakim.

2012 © Yakim Peled

Canon EOS 40D 35 mm f/1.4 1/750 sec 100 ISO 0.0 EV

2012 © Yakim Peled

Canon EOS-1D 105 mm f/2.8 1/350 sec 400 ISO 0.0 EV

2012 © Yakim Peled

Canon EOS 40D 100 mm f/8.0 1/60 sec 1600 ISO +0.5 EV

Dec 18, 2008 at 03:04 PM

MC Mullins
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p.1 #8 · 40D soft on people sharp on objects

Here is an example.

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Dec 18, 2008 at 03:08 PM

Yakim Peled
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p.1 #9 · 40D soft on people sharp on objects

EltonTeng wrote:
Yakim

I think you have a black splotch problem in the BG. Your highlights are also blowing out badly.

1. It was meant to be a joke.
2. What exactly is a splotch? A blend of spot and blotch?
3. Where do you see the problem?
4. I know the highlights are blown but considering all aspects of the frame, I think it is exposed well.

Happy shooting,
Yakim.

Dec 18, 2008 at 03:13 PM

Yakim Peled
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p.1 #10 · 40D soft on people sharp on objects

twistedlim wrote:
Yakim:

"I see dead people"

Yeah, they are from Beetlejuice.

Happy shooting,
Yakim.

Dec 18, 2008 at 03:15 PM

Ian.Dobinson
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p.1 #11 · 40D soft on people sharp on objects

OP what you describe doesn't make sense. what is the exif for the image you posted? are you shooting at slower fstops for the non moveing objects (ie f8) and wide open for the people? what shutter speeds are you useing ? and are the people pictures taken at much closer range to the sharp non people?
any of the above can have an effect on the result.

Dec 18, 2008 at 03:29 PM

MC Mullins
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p.1 #12 · 40D soft on people sharp on objects

Shutter speed: 1/332
Apeture priority
Exposure time: 1/320
F number: 5.6
Len apeture: F5/7
Focal length: 38.0mm
ISO: 400

Dec 18, 2008 at 03:40 PM

AGeoJO
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p.1 #13 · 40D soft on people sharp on objects

Mary,
I see camera/lens movement as well as not enough depth-of-field on your shot. It seems like your focus point is more on the left eye of the girl or even on the ribbon on her hair and the baby in front of her is well outside the focus plane. But still camera/lens movement kind of "ruined" the shot.

Dec 18, 2008 at 03:57 PM

orangefirefish
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p.1 #14 · 40D soft on people sharp on objects

nah, at 1/320 any camera shake would be frozen. It's the shallow DOF that is doing that- the baby is not in the focal area. You had enough light, you could have easily shot f/11 or so and gotten both subjects in focus.

Dec 18, 2008 at 03:59 PM

MC Mullins
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p.1 #15 · 40D soft on people sharp on objects

I will remeber the DOF next time, thanks

Here is the same shot once edited.................

This image is copyrighted by the owner

Mary C

Dec 18, 2008 at 04:17 PM

AGeoJO
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p.1 #16 · 40D soft on people sharp on objects

orangefirefish wrote:
nah, at 1/320 any camera shake would be frozen.

Depending on her camera holding technique and how steady she is, it cannot be ruled out completely. That's why people resort to tripod for this kind of situation.

Furthermore, Mary, your image would benefit more from putting the focusing point to the object closer to the camera in addition to using a smaller aperture. The DOF tends to extend slightly in the back than in the front of your focusing plane. You should be able to download or look up a DOF scale on the internet by "googling" that keyword. This being said, I kind of like shallow DOF portraits of two or more people as long as you keep the areas you want to be in focus (eyes in case of portraits) in approximately the same focusing plane. Enjoy phototgraphy and take a lot of pictures of your kids as they grow fast!

Dec 18, 2008 at 04:35 PM

orangefirefish
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p.1 #17 · 40D soft on people sharp on objects

@ 1/320? you'd have to be shaking pretty badly.

Dec 18, 2008 at 04:36 PM

MC Mullins
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p.1 #18 · 40D soft on people sharp on objects

I really don't think I was shaking that bad................

Mary C

Dec 18, 2008 at 04:45 PM

jvarszegi
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p.1 #19 · 40D soft on people sharp on objects

Nevertheless, I agree with AGeoJO. There is a slight directional component to the blur if you look at the girl's eyes, not so evident on the more-blurred baby. It's not impossible, I guess, that it was subject motion. The points about DOF and where to focus are good ones.

Dec 18, 2008 at 04:45 PM

Jo Dilbeck
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p.1 #20 · 40D soft on people sharp on objects

Seeing the full shot gives a better indication that it's an aperture/DOF issue. The focal point is clearly at or slightly behind the middle of the older childs head. As mentioned above, focusing more on the front child, with a wider aperture, would help remove the blur.

Dec 18, 2008 at 05:00 PM

AGeoJO
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p.1 #21 · 40D soft on people sharp on objects

MC Mullins wrote:
I really don't think I was shaking that bad................

Mary C

Mary,
I am not saying that you were shaking, let alone shaking terribly. It seems my remarks were taken out of context

. A barely perceptible and ever so slight movement could be enough to cause that. I couldn't help it but I believe that had you used a tripod the image would have benefitted from that, well, the insufficient DOF will remain, of course. Again, people use tripod, sometimes combined with the mirror lockup feature, and a remote shutter release for critical shots to prevent exactly that regardless of the shutter speed. If you want to get the most out of your system...., well, you get my drift.

Joshua

Dec 18, 2008 at 05:02 PM

MC Mullins
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p.1 #22 · 40D soft on people sharp on objects

Thanks Joshua, I get it

Mary C

Dec 18, 2008 at 05:19 PM

toonhorse
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p.1 #23 · 40D soft on people sharp on objects

Yes, I think it's true that the DOF beyond the subject is always greater than the DOF in front of the subject. Some people say that 1/3 of the DOF is in front and 2/3 behind but I think that's only true generally and not as a set rule. I'm sure it depends on subject distance and the hyperfocal distance.

Is this an issue with all people shots? It seems very strange to even consider that AF could treat inanimate objects differently than human faces. All other things considered I can't think of any reason all people shots would be soft.....

Dec 18, 2008 at 05:44 PM

EltonTeng
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p.1 #24 · 40D soft on people sharp on objects

Yakim Peled wrote:
EltonTeng wrote:
Yakim

I think you have a black splotch problem in the BG. Your highlights are also blowing out badly.

1. It was meant to be a joke.
2. What exactly is a splotch? A blend of spot and blotch?
3. Where do you see the problem?
4. I know the highlights are blown but considering all aspects of the frame, I think it is exposed well.

Happy shooting,
Yakim.

Yes, it was a joke. I forgot the smileys. The black splotch (instead of the spots) and the blown highlights (instead of white spots) have been a running joke in other threads. There is also another member of the board who questions "samples" as "bad images".

My bad.

Dec 18, 2008 at 06:19 PM

Yakim Peled
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p.1 #25 · 40D soft on people sharp on objects

Got it. I wasn't aware of that.

Happy shooting,
Yakim.

Dec 18, 2008 at 08:14 PM


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