p.1 #1 · Sony A7R5 with Tamron 50-400 soft results with distant subjects
Two pronghorn both 1/1000 with sun behind me. First image 20 yards ISO 800 400mm focal length. Handheld from seat of pickup window open later in the the afternoon. Eye detection on. Second about 120 yards ISO 100 400mm focal length. Camera supported on truck bed rail with small beanbag mid morning. Eye detection on . Cropped to make the two animals about the same sizeThe distant image looks quite soft. BTW pronghorns are quite small - average about 36" at the shoulder. Technique or expecting too much from the lens.
p.1 #3 · Sony A7R5 with Tamron 50-400 soft results with distant subjects
Looks a bit like atmospheric conditions playing a role to me, is that heat haze I'm seeing in background of the photo? Shooting over long distances can wreak havoc on sharpness.
Is this a consistent issue, or just an initial test?
p.1 #4 · Sony A7R5 with Tamron 50-400 soft results with distant subjects
I feel like I am seeing heat haze in the second image, but it's hard to tell.
If this is a new lens or camera, I would definitely test it away from a vehicle. The heat from the vehicle can definitely affect image quality. I ended up learning this by chance this winter, trying to photograph some ducks with my 200-600mm out the window of my running Jeep. Every photo was soft when I checked them on my computer.
p.1 #8 · Sony A7R5 with Tamron 50-400 soft results with distant subjects
50 F no wind. Taken from the rear of the vehicle. I have seen the same issue using a tripod (with image stabilization turned off on lens). Have had the camera and lens for six months.
p.1 #9 · Sony A7R5 with Tamron 50-400 soft results with distant subjects
Almost certainly atmospheric conditions, especially the second one. You can see it above the first rise, before the second hill.
Shooting from a car is often bad whether the car is running or not. Shooting over open fields can be bad. It can happen at any temperature. It can happen at very close distances. It can even happen on overcast days.
Lookup the Backcountry Gallery YouTube videos for more info on long lenses with atmospheric conditions and heat haze.
p.1 #10 · Sony A7R5 with Tamron 50-400 soft results with distant subjects
The title of your thread screams heat haze, atmospheric distortion, whatever term you like.
50F is irrelevant. The often mentioned 'heat haze' can occur shooting over snow if the air is cooler than the snow. "No wind" is relevant, increases likely hood of atmosphere problems.
p.1 #13 · Sony A7R5 with Tamron 50-400 soft results with distant subjects
TGPhotography wrote:
Almost certainly atmospheric conditions, especially the second one. You can see it above the first rise, before the second hill.
Shooting from a car is often bad whether the car is running or not. Shooting over open fields can be bad. It can happen at any temperature. It can happen at very close distances. It can even happen on overcast days.
Lookup the Backcountry Gallery YouTube videos for more info on long lenses with atmospheric conditions and heat haze.
Bingo. Learned a lot from that video. Seems like heat was the issue. Thanks very much for the tip!
p.1 #14 · Sony A7R5 with Tamron 50-400 soft results with distant subjects
kdviner70 wrote:
Bingo. Learned a lot from that video. Seems like heat was the issue. Thanks very much for the tip!
Glad I could help. Those are not my videos. Steve Perry has some of the best explanations I have found anywhere. I learned the same way you did.
I just realized your first post mentioned 120 yard distance. That is a lot of air between the lens and subject plus a crop of the final image. That is tough conditions regardless of the gear used.
p.1 #15 · Sony A7R5 with Tamron 50-400 soft results with distant subjects
100% sure you had it to animal eye-detect? Any issues with shooting that lens State-side on other wildlife? Regardless, it is most likely atmospheric conditions in this case.
p.1 #16 · Sony A7R5 with Tamron 50-400 soft results with distant subjects
patotts wrote:
100% sure you had it to animal eye-detect? Any issues with shooting that lens State-side on other wildlife? Regardless, it is most likely atmospheric conditions in this case.
p.1 #17 · Sony A7R5 with Tamron 50-400 soft results with distant subjects
It is very hard to detect this an the back of the small and (relatively) low-res back LCD in the field, especially when you are seeing good subjects and get excited about it. As such, it is a good practice to have laptop with you on trips to at least review images in the evening. Or learn to chimp in the field (I'm not great at this).
p.1 #18 · Sony A7R5 with Tamron 50-400 soft results with distant subjects
patotts wrote:
It is very hard to detect this an the back of the small and (relatively) low-res back LCD in the field, especially when you are seeing good subjects and get excited about it. As such, it is a good practice to have laptop with you on trips to at least review images in the evening. Or learn to chimp in the field (I'm not great at this).
