out of focus (Page 2): It confounds me the way members send in questions like this without one or more samples images. How can we possibly tell what's going on without them?

aellman Loc: Boston MA

alaaan wrote:

I've been reading the Ugly H for quite some time and find it extremely helpful.

I have a Canon Rebel 3 and have had issues with pictures being out of focus. I took some of the pictures to my local camera store and he told me the issue was camera shake since nothing in the picture was in focus. Having taken pictures at 1/1000 and higher I didn't think there could be camera shake. Your thoughts? I'm looking to trade up to the Canon EOS R if this will make a big difference. Thanks.

It confounds me the way members send in questions like this without one or more samples images. How can we possibly tell what's going on without them?

Don, the 2nd son Loc: Crowded Florida

alaaan wrote:

I'm using a 24-105mm IS with the stabilizer on. The diopter is set correctly I think and the pictures were taken with auto focus. The mashing is possible. Thanks.

Mashing/jabbing is a double fault I've committed on occasion, it can overpower image stabilization and may not allow the camera's "brain" time enough to achieve pin point focus. I have found a monopod to be very helpful as age overtakes my youth.

rick_n_wv Loc: Charleston WV

The bricks at the very bottom are much more in focus than anything else. It could be you lens is bagly front focusing. Usually they are not that bad. Might not be but trying manual focus would be a quick easy way to find out. If you have another lens try it both auto and manual as well.

SonyBug

toxdoc42 wrote:

when I downloaded it and zoomed in, the pavers seemed to be in better focus than the bricks on the all. I get the feeling that your autofocus focused correctly, but on where you aimed it, not where you want it to focus on. I would have expected a decent depth of focus with f:7.1, but it doesn't seem to have been the case. I often bracket my focal point and see which final shot I preferred. With digital you can shoot tons of photos and then cull them.

I agree with the focus being on the pavers in front of the shot. Maybe a "focus point" issue, or the lens needs to be calibrated to the camera.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Put the camera on a tripod in good light and shoot a high contrast subject. Try different distances and both manual and automatic focus. Use the camera's timer or a remote control, too.

here are some links. Spend a few hours playing with focus. : )

Focusing Charts
http://mansurovs.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Siemens-Star-Focus-Chart.pdf
http://mansurovs.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Focus-Test-Chart.pdf
http://regex.info/blog/photo-tech/focus-chart

How to Check Focus
http://photographylife.com/how-to-quickly-test-your-dslr-for-autofocus-issues
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/essays/are_your_pictures_out_of_focus.shtml
http://regex.info/blog/photo-tech/focus-chart#features
https://photographylife.com/how-to-quickly-test-your-dslr-for-autofocus-issues
http://cameralightlens.com/newsblog/?p=264

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

It looks to me that you are focused just a bit in front of the man on the bench, take a close look at the pavers as suggested above. I don't know what kind of photography you do, but I am not sure that the EOS R will be your best choice, if you shoot action/wildlife the EOS R is not a good choice, for everything else it will do just fine and when you put your lens in manual focusing mode you have some aids that help you to achieve exact focus.

Jimmy T Loc: Virginia

LFingar wrote:

Do you have a tripod? How about a remote shutter r... (show quote)

Chuckwal Loc: Boynton Beach Florida

Just got the Rp with 24 240mm kit kens yesterday took pic already
and really like more experience necessary check out post
chuck

(Download)

TGanner Loc: Haines, Alaska

Is it possible you have stacked filters?

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

Take a picture with good contrast in good light and a tripod using auto focus then manual focus. Then compare the results at 100% on your monitor. That should tell you something.

PGHphoto Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

alaaan wrote:

Here's an image that was taken with an 18-55 lens at 55mm f/7.1 and 1/400 sec

I would check what focus point you are using. If using single point focus, it is possible that you have inadvertently moved the focus point off the center spot. Quite easy to do accidentally.

If you are focusing and then moving to get a better composition, when you press the shutter, the camera refocuses. If you want to focus and recompose, the best practice is to use back button focus or focus on the subject and then switch your lens to manual focus, recompose and shoot.

fetzler Loc: North West PA

toxdoc42 wrote:

when I downloaded it and zoomed in, the pavers seemed to be in better focus than the bricks on the all. I get the feeling that your autofocus focused correctly, but on where you aimed it, not where you want it to focus on. I would have expected a decent depth of focus with f:7.1, but it doesn't seem to have been the case. I often bracket my focal point and see which final shot I preferred. With digital you can shoot tons of photos and then cull them.

Have you checked your focus point. Where is the camera focusing? It should be on the man in the photo. If you are moving around before the shot then using continuous focus mode would be helpful.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

After looking at the CR2 passed via dropbox, the suggestion is to change back to either One-Shot AF or to the most advanced AI Servo AF. The Canon manual reads like AI Focus AF is the "best of both worlds". Alas, from my experience and many others, this is the worst AF setting of the three Canon provides.

In the Dropbox communication, our OP provided a 2nd example from moments before that is in perfect focus, showing the camera and lens are just fine. But, the two images combined serve to demonstrate the weakness of AI Focus AF: it does not respond as advertised in the documentation.

In the example below, the camera did the selecting for the AF points. In the sharper example, the AF points were better positioned, including one directly on the man's head. In this example, the selection was more haphazard, and worse, nothing is sharp even where the AF points were positioned.

(Download)

John N Loc: HP14 3QF Stokenchurch, UK

Using a tripod take a shot of something having manually focused. Put something with plenty of contrast adjacent your photo and focus on that. Then make the same shot on AF. Download and compare the two.

saxman71 Loc: Wenatchee

CHG_CANON wrote:

After looking at the CR2 passed via dropbox, the s... (show quote)

I don't see how anyone could possibly be more helpful with providing an accurate answer. An excellent analysis and remedy prescription.