tillmanb

I have attached a one sample of several pictures which are blurry as opposed to out of focus. I say "blurry" as opposed to "out of focus" because there is no point in the photo which seems to be in focus. My reasoning is that an out of focus photo would have a point near or far at which focus was achieved. I called Canon and was told that focus was not achieved because I did not use the "One Shot" mode. I had used the "AI Servo" mode. I don't understand that reasoning. I have been experimenting with the "Electronic Shutter" lately. I don't see why that would have caused this. DP4 shows the focus point to be on the subjects head. It was taken hand held at 1/1000. Condition were overcast at 5:34 PM. Sunset about 7:42 PM. Thanks for looking. Any help will be appreciated. - Tillman

Attached file:
(Download)

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Picture????????

tillmanb

Is the attachment visible now?

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

If you attach a photograph using the "Add Attachment" button at the bottom of your post and check the (store original), we might be able to help you out.
--Bob

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

As a download only. I down loaded and looked at it. Considering the range (which magnifies camera movement) the face looks in focus to me.

Unless you really want the scene instead of the person I would recommend getting much closer and use a tripod or monopod.
And what they meant by use one shot is the AI Servo changes focus as the focal point moves around over various things (it is meant for moving subjects) - with one shot it focuses on what you pick and so long as you don't let off on the shutter before pressing all the way the focus stays locked. I do a lot of birds, butterflies etc and 99% of the time I use center point AF and even if I want my subject off center I focus on the most important part, hold the shutter at half and then recompose the framing before tripping the shutter.

tillmanb

Thanks Bob! I tried again.

tillmanb

Thanks Robert.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Consider getting closer to your subject, or using the maximum focal length.

When shooting in the Neutral picture style, notice the minimal sharpening applied to the image. Consider evaluating ‘sharpness’ after applying sharpening in the 3- to 5-range within DPP or corresponding digital editor.

Consider a brighter setting if only one (1) AF point can cover the intended subject. Or get closer, whenever possible.

The annotated screen-capture is the 1:1 pixel details in DPP.

Attached in UHH is a converted JPEG using picture style = Standard and some auto-toning in DPPv4. This screen capture is the original CR3 RAW before any edit actions.

(Download)


(Download)

tillmanb

Thanks CHG_CANON.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

It certainly looks blurry to me It sounds like the Canon rep was treating you like a newbie who didn't understand how to use AI Servo. As 1/1000 second it should have been tack sharp. Did this occur only for that single series of shots, or has it occured again since then? If you can't recreate the circumstances that caused this you may never know for sure what happened. Besides the extreme softness I noticed that the quality of the background seemed very unpleasant when zoomed in. You shot the image at f/2.8. I also noticed that in the same plane of your subject, at higher zoom levels, the right of the image seems much more out of focus then on the left. I would have expected everything in the plane to be similar. Is this a new lens? have you used it successfully before? Are you having these issues with other lenses?

tillmanb

Mwsilvers, Thanks for your reply. It is not a new lens. I have had it for a few years. That shoot was 2,500 photos at several different locations in the immediate vicinity. Most were soft. I have taken many photos since then at a variety of locations, both indoors and outdoors with much better results on average. I will try some prime lenses on my next shoot.
I did not have this issue until I tried the "electronic shutter" settings. The fact that I cannot see a plane that is in focus seems significant to me. I will likely return something to Canon for repairs. I'm not sure what.

AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

I get your last statement. Until you figure out if it's the camera or the lens, you don't now what to return. In my case (with a 1DXII, it is actually the combination. I would try a variety of lenses in the exact same situation and see if you get the same results. And try that lens with a different camera, if you have one, in the exact same situation. Then compare all of the results.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

I thinks the "electronic shutter" mode of shooting is an experiment and I'd simply avoid using it. There are warnings in the book about sharpness using this mode.

Mechanical

Shooting activates the mechanical shutter. Recommended when shooting with the aperture of a bright lens wide open. (This is what you were doing)

Elec. 1st-curtain

Shooting only activates the second-curtain shutter. Camera shake may be suppressed by [Mechanical] depending on the shooting condition. Note that in High-speed continuous shooting drive mode, mechanical shutter is used for the second and subsequent shots. (Warning you about camera shake and to use mechanical shutter settings)

Electronic

Enables you to shoot without a shutter sound. (You are not in a church, wo why use this mode.)

In continuous shooting, the camera always shoots at high speed (up to approx. 20 shots/sec.). Also during continuous shooting, the white frame is displayed repeatedly.


I hope those images weren't for a paying customer. Never experiment with settings unless you are just shooting for yourself.

The 1DX Mk (I,II,III) all have the very best focusing system Canon had at the time they were released. Also, using a tripod instead of hand holding will always net the best results especially if you aren't skilled at hand holding, have shaky hands, or if you are not as strong as you were when a young lad like me. I'm older and much weaker now.

TucsonDave Loc: Tucson, Arizona

I downloaded your raw photo, tweeked it a bit and you are correct. If the subject or camera moves while you're taking a photograph, then the image will turn out blurry. “Blur is caused by motion. Out of focus is caused by the distance between the subject and the camera changing.” Your photo is out of focus. Maybe you moved the manual focus ring while taking the photo.

rcarol

The download is a Canon CR3 raw file.