soft photos
Jun 7, 2014 07:06:49 #
I have a 100mm f/2.8 macro lens on a Canon 7d. Just got a Polaroid ring flash. My photos are sharper at f/9 than at 2.8 or 3.5. I want good bokeh but I can't get bokeh AND a sharp photo with a more open aperture.
Jun 7, 2014 07:35:51 #
Lens should be as sharp or very close to the same at f2.8 as it is at f9 in the center. Corners may be a little softer at wider aperture but not much. Depth of field is much shallower at 2.8 so the softness you are seeing may be due to missing critical focus. Here is the specs on the lens:
http://www.photozone.de/canon_eos_ff/458-canon_100_28is_5d?start=1
Non L has similar specs.
http://www.photozone.de/canon_eos_ff/458-canon_100_28is_5d?start=1
Non L has similar specs.
Jun 7, 2014 08:07:08 #
A-PeeR wrote:
Thank you very much, A-PeeR. I don't really understand those graphs, but I saved the link for future reference. Am sending example of shots at 3.5 and 7.1. I was using a Polaroid ring flash; don't know if that is relevant.Lens should be as sharp or very close to the same at f2.8 as it is at f9 in the center. Corners may be a little softer at wider aperture but not much. Depth of field is much shallower at 2.8 so the softness you are seeing may be due to missing critical focus.
taken at f/3.5
f/7.1
Jun 7, 2014 12:03:08 #
I think the background (the leaves) is simply too close to the subject (the blossom) for you to achieve the the desired background blur AND overall subject sharpness, at least with the particular lens you are using. You may be looking to achieve the impossible here. There are times one simply needs to compromise a little.
Jun 7, 2014 12:28:30 #
Jun 7, 2014 13:44:03 #
We cannot compare your image at f/3.5 to your image at f/7.1 because you have changed the Working Distance, which also changes the DoF. You need to set-up on a tripod, so that you can take two identical photographs, changing ONLY the aperture between photos. If you set your camera to Aperture Priority mode, then the camera will change the shutter duration to make identical photo exposures.
Jun 7, 2014 15:50:15 #
Nikonian72 wrote:
Thank you. I realized that after I had posted the photos.We cannot compare your image at f/3.5 to your image at f/7.1 because you have changed the Working Distance, which also changes the DoF.
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