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Not as sharp as I would like
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Dec 25, 2022 18:41:53   #
junglejim1949 Loc: Sacramento,CA
 
Orphoto wrote:
Not only are some of the stamens in focus, there is no sign of motion blur. The light is quite pleasing. While a flash would relax exposure constraints be careful it's not too harsh.


Thanks for taking a look Orphoto. I will experiment with the flash

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Dec 25, 2022 18:50:00   #
robertjerl Loc: Corona, California
 
junglejim1949 wrote:
I too have the back issues, which can be an issue. Extreme narrowing of L4 & 5.


Ah So! My Ls are all messed up in some way.

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Dec 25, 2022 19:45:49   #
amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA
 
You are using the EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM lens at 70mm and, I presume, in it's macro mode. It's one of the closest focusing zooms avail., able to do 0.70X magnification on it's own.

However, you used the lens wide open at f/4. Depth of field is very thin at higher magnification. You need to stop down. Try f/8 or even f/11. You'll lose a little fine detail to diffraction, but desperately need greater depth of field.

Also watch your point of focus. In your image it appears to be on the stamen in the center. Note that the flower petal a few mm behind them is out of focus! That's how thing DoF is at higher magnifications!

You also might have gotten better results by not getting so close, then cropping the image a little in post-processing. With a 32.5MP sensor, some cropping shouldn't be a big problem.

You used ISO 800 and 1/250 shutter speed. That ISO should have been fine, though you might have gained a little with 400 or 200.

The shutter speed might have been a bit of a problem, but I don't think it's the primary reason for the image softness. Between the lens' IS and your camera's IBIS, 1/250 should have been pretty easily hand held, even at higher magnification with a 70mm focal length (equal to approx 112mm full frame, so with care and practice might be hand holdable at 1/125... at non-macro distances).

If you have a filter on the lens, try shooting without it to see if it makes any difference.

Flash might have helped by creating some shadows and giving the subject some depth, accentuating details. I would have tried a diffused flash held off to one side or the other. Alternatively, you might have been able to use a reflector to bounce more light onto the subject. (Note: Flowers out in strong, full sun also don't photograph well. Sometimes shade is better... or at least a diffusing panel held over the subject.)

But, in the end, I come back to shallow depth of field and the fact that focus is on the closest part of the subject. A smaller aperture would have created more DoF, while focusing slightly farther away would have optimized the plane of focus for the subject. (Google and read up on hyperfocal focusing distance.)

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Dec 25, 2022 19:47:23   #
CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City
 
The issue(s) would not be resolved with a faster shutterspeed. Rather, consider:

1, A slower shutterspeed and / or added external light to lower the ISO.
2, A smaller aperture, say in the f/5 to f/8 range for this lens and composition.
3, A smaller and more precise AF point. See how the box covers nearly half the center of the flower. And yet, the sharp details are missing on all the stamens in the AF box.
4, Using a tripod.
5, Using a flash.
6, Your RAW processor. This image reports "PhotoScape". Is that the best choice for an EOS R7?


(Download)

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Dec 25, 2022 20:18:29   #
junglejim1949 Loc: Sacramento,CA
 
robertjerl wrote:
Ah So! My Ls are all messed up in some way.


That, old age, and the cold lets you know you are alive.
Hope it eases up on you Robert!
Stay healthy and warm

Reply
Dec 25, 2022 20:26:37   #
junglejim1949 Loc: Sacramento,CA
 
amfoto1 wrote:
You are using the EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM lens at 70mm and, I presume, in it's macro mode. It's one of the closest focusing zooms avail., able to do 0.70X magnification on it's own.

However, you used the lens wide open at f/4. Depth of field is very thin at higher magnification. You need to stop down. Try f/8 or even f/11. You'll lose a little fine detail to diffraction, but desperately need greater depth of field.

Also watch your point of focus. In your image it appears to be on the stamen in the center. Note that the flower petal a few mm behind them is out of focus! That's how thing DoF is at higher magnifications!

You also might have gotten better results by not getting so close, then cropping the image a little in post-processing. With a 32.5MP sensor, some cropping shouldn't be a big problem.

You used ISO 800 and 1/250 shutter speed. That ISO should have been fine, though you might have gained a little with 400 or 200.

The shutter speed might have been a bit of a problem, but I don't think it's the primary reason for the image softness. Between the lens' IS and your camera's IBIS, 1/250 should have been pretty easily hand held, even at higher magnification with a 70mm focal length (equal to approx 112mm full frame, so with care and practice might be hand holdable at 1/125... at non-macro distances).

If you have a filter on the lens, try shooting without it to see if it makes any difference.

Flash might have helped by creating some shadows and giving the subject some depth, accentuating details. I would have tried a diffused flash held off to one side or the other. Alternatively, you might have been able to use a reflector to bounce more light onto the subject. (Note: Flowers out in strong, full sun also don't photograph well. Sometimes shade is better... or at least a diffusing panel held over the subject.)

But, in the end, I come back to shallow depth of field and the fact that focus is on the closest part of the subject. A smaller aperture would have created more DoF, while focusing slightly farther away would have optimized the plane of focus for the subject. (Google and read up on hyperfocal focusing distance.)
You are using the EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM lens at 7... (show quote)


Great info amfoto1. I will try out all suggestions. Happy Holidays

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Dec 26, 2022 01:36:48   #
robertjerl Loc: Corona, California
 
junglejim1949 wrote:
That, old age, and the cold lets you know you are alive.
Hope it eases up on you Robert!
Stay healthy and warm


I am in Southern California and Christmas Day we had mid 80s at my house. Tomorrow is predicted to be 80 then back to normal for winter here, low 60s to upper 50s with showers and maybe a real rain or two for the next 10 days.

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Dec 26, 2022 06:04:37   #
junglejim1949 Loc: Sacramento,CA
 
robertjerl wrote:
I am in Southern California and Christmas Day we had mid 80s at my house. Tomorrow is predicted to be 80 then back to normal for winter here, low 60s to upper 50s with showers and maybe a real rain or two for the next 10 days.


We are still a lot cooler here in Northern California. High today in low 50°s. Then due for some rainy days starting Tuesday.

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Dec 26, 2022 08:17:57   #
agillot
 
F4 is your problem , you can see some part of the picture is in focus , some not . I almost never go below f8 .Shoot same pic at f16 , and you will see .

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Dec 26, 2022 09:02:38   #
Bayou
 
It's the wide open aperture. f8 or f11 would be much better.

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Dec 26, 2022 09:15:03   #
TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC
 
I’m seeing a DOF/focus issue (unless the lens is bad; which is doubtful) instead of 1/250 (with a 70mm lens) and f4, I’d suggest 1/60 @ either f5.6 (ISO 400) or f8 (ISO 800)

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Dec 26, 2022 10:15:40   #
fetzler Loc: North West PA
 
There are several possible reasons for the blur.

1. Wind motion of the flower and your body motion if you are handholding. Increasing shutter speed or using a tripod to can help to eliminate motion blur.

2. Your focus point appears to be in the upper right. Using a single point or small group of focus points can help.

3. Use continuous auto focus and allow shutter activation when focus is acquired only. Body or flower motion due to the wind can shift focus quickly. Depth of field is rather small in close up work. Use a small aperature (e.g. f11)

I find that using a tripod is essential to eliminate body motion. It is just too hard to hold very still in awkward positions. I do this type of photography often.

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Dec 26, 2022 10:27:44   #
frankraney Loc: Clovis, Ca.
 
junglejim1949 wrote:
I am learning my R7 and was in search of something to shoot. Very cold and foggy this morning but I did find some color. The photo was softer than I wanted and would appreciate any suggestions. I hope I wasn't shaking due to the cold. I will increase shutter speed next go around and see if that helps.

Thank you,
Jim


What I see is only depth of field is too shallow.

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Dec 26, 2022 10:35:15   #
Frayud Loc: Bethesda,MD
 
It is a focus problem. A few stamens on the right side are in focus as evidenced by the sharp dots. f8 or f16 may have been a better bet.

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Dec 26, 2022 10:45:16   #
junglejim1949 Loc: Sacramento,CA
 
agillot wrote:
F4 is your problem , you can see some part of the picture is in focus , some not . I almost never go below f8 .Shoot same pic at f16 , and you will see .


Thanks agillot

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