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Help me focus please
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Oct 13, 2012 21:00:29   #
cameranut Loc: North Carolina
 
Marzee wrote:
Hi all, I don't know what to do. I took this photo yesterday, and a couple of others, but for some reason it just looks fuzzy or out of focus or like it has a lot of noise on it. The point is they are not clear at all. I haven't had this problem before, so not sure what happened. Whatever it might be, any suggestions on what I'm doing wrong please?


I have this little bridge camera & I have found the digital zoom is inferior. You can turn it off so it won't go past the 20x optical zoom, or you can just watch the bar at top of the viewfinder & STOP when it reads 20x. I left the digital zoom on for id purposes but I never use it. Sometimes the auto focus has fits & will go in & out of focus; being too far or too close to the subject will cause it. It looks like you pressed the shutter during the out time.

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Oct 14, 2012 02:02:57   #
mcveed Loc: Kelowna, British Columbia (between trips)
 
I'm not sure what 4.0 zoom means. If it means 4 times the stated focal length of 100mm, then your shutter speed is way too slow for a 400mm lens. If its digital zoom then the extreme enlargement is the problem.

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Oct 14, 2012 13:51:36   #
john clayton
 
None of the shot is in focus, so I think it is just a case of camera shake. You could always check the front to back autofocus error.

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Oct 14, 2012 14:10:47   #
john clayton
 
Make up a simple autofocus board. Autofocus on the board at fully open aperture (2.8) and check where the board and rule co-incide the focus is sharpest.

TEST BOARD
TEST BOARD...

Reply
Oct 14, 2012 14:12:47   #
dachs
 
Weddingguy wrote:
Checking both images as closely as possible without having the original, I personally don't think you have a "focus" problem other than the fact that with so many branches surrounding the birds could have grabbed the attention of your auto focus.

I think you have basically three problems showing up here that are making your images appear "unsharp"

1) Underexposure causing excessive noise
2) Too high ISO for the camera's ability causing more noise
3) Excessive cropping, mainly from using digital zoom, creating pixalization.

The combination of all three gives an overall fuzzy look. If it were just incorrect focus, something would be in sharp focus . . . nothing is!

Hope that helps . . .
Checking both images as closely as possible withou... (show quote)


^^ WHS ^^ NEVER use electric zoom; in fact unless you have a mega thousand buck movie zoom, don't use the full extent of your telephoto in optical zoom, unless you absolutely have to, either. Never crank your ISO past about half what the camera offers (pro models excepted). Use a shutter speed at least equal to the lens zoom (so if you have 150mm effective focal length, use a 1/250th shutter speed, or a tripod, or rely on image stabilisation if you have it but not too much)

Putting that all together for most nature shots, luck aside, you need in addition to skill and patience thousands of dollars of gear, as well as the eye to see it. You are asking too much of your camera here.

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Oct 14, 2012 17:23:08   #
gordnanaimo Loc: Vancouver Island
 
Looks more like camera shake to me. If you have a tripod turn your stabilizer off.

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Oct 15, 2012 01:20:23   #
NSWalter Loc: The West
 
You are trying to determine whether it is you or the camera right? Do some testing on a less busy subject. Like one branch - not the bird behind some branches. May eliminate some issues.

Could not tell if you used auto focus or manual?

Marzee wrote:
Hi all, thanks for looking at this for me. I guess it would help to supply the info. :) I shoot with a 35mm Canon Powershot SX20is. This photo was shot in manual mode at 1/160s, f/5., focal length 100mm, auto white balance, 4.0 zoom, ISO 400. I did crop it yes, and attached is the original version and seems I didn't keep the original version unfortunately, but the attached photo was shot with the same exposure. Used Picasa to fix the lighting a bit and sharpen a little. Hope that helps. Thank you.
Hi all, thanks for looking at this for me. I gues... (show quote)

Reply
 
 
Oct 15, 2012 16:59:37   #
Marzee Loc: Christchurch
 
oldtool2 wrote:
Marzee wrote:
Hi all, thanks for looking at this for me. I guess it would help to supply the info. :) I shoot with a 35mm Canon Powershot SX20is. This photo was shot in manual mode at 1/160s, f/5., focal length 100mm, auto white balance, 4.0 zoom, ISO 400. I did crop it yes, and attached is the original version and seems I didn't keep the original version unfortunately, but the attached photo was shot with the same exposure. Used Picasa to fix the lighting a bit and sharpen a little. Hope that helps. Thank you.
Hi all, thanks for looking at this for me. I gues... (show quote)


I am not familar with this particular camera but if shooting in manual mode try increasing the aperture to f8 to f11. This will give you a little more DOF. Also, what is 4.0 zoom? Is this an electronic zoom feature? If so try turning it off. Electronic zooms often cause focus problems.

Jim D
quote=Marzee Hi all, thanks for looking at this f... (show quote)


Thanks Jim D. The 4.0 zoom was just how much I zoomed in to get a closer pic, my camera has a 20x zoom.

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Oct 15, 2012 17:01:17   #
Marzee Loc: Christchurch
 
NSWalter wrote:
You are trying to determine whether it is you or the camera right? Do some testing on a less busy subject. Like one branch - not the bird behind some branches. May eliminate some issues.

Could not tell if you used auto focus or manual?

Marzee wrote:
Hi all, thanks for looking at this for me. I guess it would help to supply the info. :) I shoot with a 35mm Canon Powershot SX20is. This photo was shot in manual mode at 1/160s, f/5., focal length 100mm, auto white balance, 4.0 zoom, ISO 400. I did crop it yes, and attached is the original version and seems I didn't keep the original version unfortunately, but the attached photo was shot with the same exposure. Used Picasa to fix the lighting a bit and sharpen a little. Hope that helps. Thank you.
Hi all, thanks for looking at this for me. I gues... (show quote)
You are trying to determine whether it is you or t... (show quote)


Thanks NSWalter, I used manual mode.

Reply
Oct 15, 2012 17:03:06   #
Marzee Loc: Christchurch
 
gordnanaimo wrote:
Looks more like camera shake to me. If you have a tripod turn your stabilizer off.


Hmm I was wondering about that. I wasn't using a tripod, it was one of those spur of the moment things.

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Oct 15, 2012 17:10:48   #
Marzee Loc: Christchurch
 
LoneRangeFinder wrote:
Bmac wrote:
Bmac wrote:
On this shot your camera may have focused on the branch in front of the bird depending on what focusing mode you are using and what focus points.

The bottom line is people in here can help you better if you supply information regarding camera, lens, ISO, etc. A larger photo may help also (choose the download original box).


Thanks for supplying the info although it is hard to tell what's going on with the thumbnail size. It may be, as I originally stated, the camera focused on that branch in front of the bird. 8-)
quote=Bmac On this shot your camera may have focu... (show quote)


I think it's focus + asa + what I understand to be the utilization of 4x electronic zoom. I used to have this camera-- and there is a definite drop in optical quality when magnifying this way-- essentially it's a form of cropping
quote=Bmac quote=Bmac On this shot your camera m... (show quote)


Oh right, so it won't make a difference whether I'm shooting Small or Large print photos or even wide?

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Oct 15, 2012 17:15:08   #
NSWalter Loc: The West
 
Can you try auto focus?

Maybe an issue like I have - manual not so accurate some times. My eyes aren't what they use to be.

Marzee wrote:
NSWalter wrote:
You are trying to determine whether it is you or the camera right? Do some testing on a less busy subject. Like one branch - not the bird behind some branches. May eliminate some issues.

Could not tell if you used auto focus or manual?

Marzee wrote:
Hi all, thanks for looking at this for me. I guess it would help to supply the info. :) I shoot with a 35mm Canon Powershot SX20is. This photo was shot in manual mode at 1/160s, f/5., focal length 100mm, auto white balance, 4.0 zoom, ISO 400. I did crop it yes, and attached is the original version and seems I didn't keep the original version unfortunately, but the attached photo was shot with the same exposure. Used Picasa to fix the lighting a bit and sharpen a little. Hope that helps. Thank you.
Hi all, thanks for looking at this for me. I gues... (show quote)
You are trying to determine whether it is you or t... (show quote)


Thanks NSWalter, I used manual mode.
quote=NSWalter You are trying to determine whethe... (show quote)

Reply
Oct 15, 2012 17:15:31   #
Marzee Loc: Christchurch
 
cameranut wrote:
Marzee wrote:
Hi all, I don't know what to do. I took this photo yesterday, and a couple of others, but for some reason it just looks fuzzy or out of focus or like it has a lot of noise on it. The point is they are not clear at all. I haven't had this problem before, so not sure what happened. Whatever it might be, any suggestions on what I'm doing wrong please?


I have this little bridge camera & I have found the digital zoom is inferior. You can turn it off so it won't go past the 20x optical zoom, or you can just watch the bar at top of the viewfinder & STOP when it reads 20x. I left the digital zoom on for id purposes but I never use it. Sometimes the auto focus has fits & will go in & out of focus; being too far or too close to the subject will cause it. It looks like you pressed the shutter during the out time.
quote=Marzee Hi all, I don't know what to do. I... (show quote)


That also makes sense, thanks.

Reply
Oct 15, 2012 17:18:05   #
Marzee Loc: Christchurch
 
dachs wrote:
Weddingguy wrote:
Checking both images as closely as possible without having the original, I personally don't think you have a "focus" problem other than the fact that with so many branches surrounding the birds could have grabbed the attention of your auto focus.

I think you have basically three problems showing up here that are making your images appear "unsharp"

1) Underexposure causing excessive noise
2) Too high ISO for the camera's ability causing more noise
3) Excessive cropping, mainly from using digital zoom, creating pixalization.

The combination of all three gives an overall fuzzy look. If it were just incorrect focus, something would be in sharp focus . . . nothing is!

Hope that helps . . .
Checking both images as closely as possible withou... (show quote)


^^ WHS ^^ NEVER use electric zoom; in fact unless you have a mega thousand buck movie zoom, don't use the full extent of your telephoto in optical zoom, unless you absolutely have to, either. Never crank your ISO past about half what the camera offers (pro models excepted). Use a shutter speed at least equal to the lens zoom (so if you have 150mm effective focal length, use a 1/250th shutter speed, or a tripod, or rely on image stabilisation if you have it but not too much)

Putting that all together for most nature shots, luck aside, you need in addition to skill and patience thousands of dollars of gear, as well as the eye to see it. You are asking too much of your camera here.
quote=Weddingguy Checking both images as closely ... (show quote)


Wow this a lot of information from both of you, but all very informative to take note of. Much appreciated. Thanks.

Reply
Oct 15, 2012 17:20:08   #
Marzee Loc: Christchurch
 
john clayton wrote:
Make up a simple autofocus board. Autofocus on the board at fully open aperture (2.8) and check where the board and rule co-incide the focus is sharpest.


Thanks John, that's a sharp idea, I will do that. But now the question for me on this is what distance from the board to take and would that be the sharpest focus on only that distance?

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