Am I expecting too much out of my equipment . . . or is it me?
Apr 21, 2018 18:28:29 #
I need advice again . . . I am shooting an Canon Rebel SL1 with a Canon EF 70-300 4 - 5.6 IS USM lens. I am just not happy with how soft the focus is. I'm posting some examples so you can see. The only one that seems sharp to me is the Thrasher. All four pictures were taken on the same day. The egret and the thrasher required only limited cropping so I suppose that's part of the issue but the egret isn't sharp either.
Does it look like there may be something wrong with my lens or me . . . or am I expecting too much from my equipment? And if that's the case, I'm guessing that a better quality lens is probably more important than a new camera body. Am I correct? And in that case, please give me your recommendations for a zoom. I take almost exclusively wildlife pictures so need to be able to reach out a bit. I should add that my shooting partner is a pro with thousands invested . . . makes for an unhappy comparison. Thanks for your help.
Does it look like there may be something wrong with my lens or me . . . or am I expecting too much from my equipment? And if that's the case, I'm guessing that a better quality lens is probably more important than a new camera body. Am I correct? And in that case, please give me your recommendations for a zoom. I take almost exclusively wildlife pictures so need to be able to reach out a bit. I should add that my shooting partner is a pro with thousands invested . . . makes for an unhappy comparison. Thanks for your help.
Apr 21, 2018 18:39:45 #
What shutter speed, aperture, and focus mode did you use? was the camera hand held or on a tripod?
Apr 21, 2018 18:42:05 #
Sally D wrote:
I need advice again . . . I am shooting an Canon R... (show quote)
So here is the trick. Put the focus point on your subject and don't take the picture until the subject is in focus.
Apr 21, 2018 18:45:37 #
In addition to Mac's questions, what focal length did you use?
Apr 21, 2018 18:49:37 #
Sally D wrote:
I need advice again . . . I am shooting an Canon R... (show quote)
I think you may be expecting too much of yourself. Better equipment always helps, but shooting moving targets at equivalent of 450mm hand heldmay be pushing it to the limit of your skill sets.
Apr 21, 2018 18:51:27 #
Same lens and camera as for your Cuba pics, right? It could be that you've developed the habit of moving the camera just as you press the shutter, so you're getting motion blur. Image stabilizer is on if shooting handheld? How many focus points do you have in the autofocus setup? Try single, center.
I had that lens and enjoyed it very much. The below was f/8, 1/1000 sec, but fairly close. Canon T3i (similar to the SL1)
I had that lens and enjoyed it very much. The below was f/8, 1/1000 sec, but fairly close. Canon T3i (similar to the SL1)
Apr 21, 2018 18:52:02 #
The last shot looks like slow shutter speed. Use the rule of one over the mm to get your slowest shutter speed. If in flight, need faster shutter speed.
Apr 21, 2018 18:55:57 #
Mac wrote:
What shutter speed, aperture, and focus mode did you use? was the camera hand held or on a tripod?
I'm using auto focus. The light flashes when it is in focus. I always wait for that.
Apr 21, 2018 18:57:58 #
repleo wrote:
I think you may be expecting too much of yourself. Better equipment always helps, but shooting moving targets at equivalent of 450mm hand heldmay be pushing it to the limit of your skill sets.
You could be right . . . that would explain why the Thrasher is focused. . . he was still.
Apr 21, 2018 19:00:22 #
Longshadow wrote:
In addition to Mac's questions, what focal length did you use?
I have to admit I don't understand the question . . . help please!
Apr 21, 2018 19:02:54 #
Sally D wrote:
I'm using auto focus. The light flashes when it is in focus. I always wait for that.
Where is/are your focus point(s) located?
Apr 21, 2018 19:05:18 #
Longshadow wrote:
Where is/are your focus point(s) located?
I was using a single center focus, attempting to put it on the bird's head.
Apr 21, 2018 19:06:10 #
Sally D wrote:
Focal length - from 70 to 300 mm. Those you posted here are all at the longest focal length, 300 mm. You could back off just a bit, usually will find sharper around 270 mm. But that isn't the issue with these, I don't think. You also might try f/8 rather than f/5.6, which these were.I have to admit I don't understand the question . . . help please!
Apr 21, 2018 19:09:01 #
Sally D wrote:
I'm using auto focus. The light flashes when it is in focus. I always wait for that.
Were you using single point focus, evaluative focus or center weight focus? Was your aperture small enough (f/11, f/16) to give you deep Depth of Field? Was your shutter speed fast enough to freeze movement?
Apr 21, 2018 19:09:27 #
Mac wrote:
Aperture was f/5.6 on all.Were you using single point focus, evaluative focus or center weight focus? Was your aperture small enough (f/11, f/16) to give you deep Depth of Field?
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