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Sharpness
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May 19, 2023 20:06:23   #
dsims1960 Loc: Texas
 
Can these pictures be sharper with a different setting. I’ve been setting my SS between 1/1000 to as far as 1/3200 and my Aperture as low as I can, but the sigma 150-600mm does not go below f/5. I adjust my ISO a little but scared to adjust it to high because I don’t want my picture grainy.


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May 19, 2023 20:47:35   #
PoppieJ Loc: North Georgia
 
the first and fourth look like you have a depth of field issue. They look sharp to me with some softness/blurry in the leaves in the background.

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May 19, 2023 21:04:18   #
CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City
 
I'd try a few things, keeping in mind that these are differences others are making / doing when you view their processed results as posted to UHH / online.

1, Process your images with commercial-grade software.

2, Shoot in RAW rather than JPEG, especially for options in sharpening and noise processing.

3, Step-down the aperture from wide-open, when possible.

4, Use a single, selective AF point directly on the eye of the animal.

5, Shoot in short bursts (3- to 5-, no more than 10). Select the best of the results later for processing, discard the inferior.

6, Turn off HIGH ISO NR and address noise later in your digital editing software.

7, Turn off Active-D Lighting, especially if changing to RAW.

8, Get closer to your subjects so your can keep this lens in the 500mm range, or less, especially if shooting wide-open rather than in the f/8 - f/11 range. If you need to 'reach' all the way out to 600mm, consider the exposure parameters that step-down the aperture.

For the images where the birds are facing the camera, I see more opportunities in the processing than the exposure / shooting technique. Always shoot only as fast as you need to, where the first image at 1/3200 sec in bright light gives plenty of room for a smaller aperture and / or still lower ISO from ISO-320.

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May 19, 2023 22:30:27   #
Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona
 
To add to what CHG_Canon said: Be careful with post processing. DeNoise programs can cause loss of detail and sharpen programs can produce unrealistic results

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May 20, 2023 07:16:19   #
Delderby Loc: Derby UK
 
dsims1960 wrote:
Can these pictures be sharper with a different setting. I’ve been setting my SS between 1/1000 to as far as 1/3200 and my Aperture as low as I can, but the sigma 150-600mm does not go below f/5. I adjust my ISO a little but scared to adjust it to high because I don’t want my picture grainy.


Hello dsims
As an amateur shooter for many years, I conclude that ALL digital pics will benefit from some PP. There are so many facets to the hard/firmware of even the latest cameras and lenses that, given the experience you have, to obtain max sharpness some PP will provide improvement - and this will best be performed on individual pics rather than batch processing.
I downloaded your #4 pic and PP'd it in four different apps using a High Pass Filter Layer. Best result was with Serif's PhotoPlus X8, the fore-runner to Affinity. Close second was EasyPhoto Unblur. Attached is the PhotoPlus X8 version for your interest.


(Download)

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May 20, 2023 10:51:40   #
imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida
 
dsims1960 wrote:
Can these pictures be sharper with a different setting. I’ve been setting my SS between 1/1000 to as far as 1/3200 and my Aperture as low as I can, but the sigma 150-600mm does not go below f/5. I adjust my ISO a little but scared to adjust it to high because I don’t want my picture grainy.


Well, you do not say what camera you are using - and that matters ! In general, I think you are seeing the limitations of this particular lens - especially if you are using a mirror less with no need for micro-focus adjust. If using a camera that can MFA - make sure it is adjusted as good as can be.
The Imatest numbers I have seen for the Sigma C lens suggest it is really best wide open ! - but may be a bit sharper @ 500mm instead of 600mm - try yours and see. "Comfortable" ISO for you will depend on your specific camera but yes, LOWER is always better.
.

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May 20, 2023 12:08:05   #
larryepage Loc: North Texas area
 
imagemeister wrote:
Well, you do not say what camera you are using - and that matters ! In general, I think you are seeing the limitations of this particular lens - especially if you are using a mirror less with no need for micro-focus adjust. If using a camera that can MFA - make sure it is adjusted as good as can be.
The Imatest numbers I have seen for the Sigma C lens suggest it is really best wide open ! - but may be a bit sharper @ 500mm instead of 600mm - try yours and see. "Comfortable" ISO for you will depend on your specific camera but yes, LOWER is always better.
.
Well, you do not say what camera you are using - a... (show quote)


In the OP's original post in the main section, we learned that the camera is a D5600.

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May 20, 2023 21:06:40   #
dsims1960 Loc: Texas
 
OH WOW! That’s pretty!

Delderby wrote:
Hello dsims
As an amateur shooter for many years, I conclude that ALL digital pics will benefit from some PP. There are so many facets to the hard/firmware of even the latest cameras and lenses that, given the experience you have, to obtain max sharpness some PP will provide improvement - and this will best be performed on individual pics rather than batch processing.


I downloaded your #4 pic and PP'd it in four different apps using a High Pass Filter Layer. Best result was with Serif's PhotoPlus X8, the fore-runner to Affinity. Close second was EasyPhoto Unblur. Attached is the PhotoPlus X8 version for your interest.
Hello dsims br As an amateur shooter for many year... (show quote)

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May 21, 2023 09:46:20   #
dsims1960 Loc: Texas
 
Can you tell me what PP is? I feel like it’s kinda like Lightroom and Photoshop.

Delderby wrote:
Hello dsims
As an amateur shooter for many years, I conclude that ALL digital pics will benefit from some PP. There are so many facets to the hard/firmware of even the latest cameras and lenses that, given the experience you have, to obtain max sharpness some PP will provide improvement - and this will best be performed on individual pics rather than batch processing.
I downloaded your #4 pic and PP'd it in four different apps using a High Pass Filter Layer. Best result was with Serif's PhotoPlus X8, the fore-runner to Affinity. Close second was EasyPhoto Unblur. Attached is the PhotoPlus X8 version for your interest.
Hello dsims br As an amateur shooter for many year... (show quote)

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May 21, 2023 15:07:42   #
Delderby Loc: Derby UK
 
Hi dsims
PP is photographic short form for "Post-Processing" (after the shot) but is sometimes used for "Pre-Processing" (before the shot). In either event, it describes digitally adjusting a photograph.
Best, D.

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May 21, 2023 16:19:55   #
terryMc Loc: Arizona's White Mountains
 
Curmudgeon wrote:
To add to what CHG_Canon said: Be careful with post processing. DeNoise programs can cause loss of detail and sharpen programs can produce unrealistic results


Boy, are you gonna piss off the "Topaz is God-like" people...

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May 21, 2023 17:27:27   #
Heather Iles Loc: UK, Somerset
 
Curmudgeon wrote:
To add to what CHG_Canon said: Be careful with post processing. DeNoise programs can cause loss of detail and sharpen programs can produce unrealistic results


Can you please explain what is the alternative?

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May 22, 2023 14:39:55   #
Abo
 
Get closer and use wider lenses:


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May 22, 2023 17:03:20   #
Delderby Loc: Derby UK
 
Abo wrote:
Get closer and use wider lenses:


You could do even better with Post Processing.


(Download)

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May 22, 2023 17:04:45   #
joecichjr Loc: Chicago S. Suburbs, Illinois, USA
 
Delderby wrote:
You could do even better with Post Processing.


Dazzling splendor 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆

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