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what kind of lense would be better for Canon D40 to get pics clearer?
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Aug 24, 2014 16:29:56   #
CatMarley Loc: North Carolina
 
Merlin1300 wrote:
Nice shot illustrating part of the OPs problem. If I am taking those kind of high contrast shots - I usually auto-bracket at + 2eV and recompose with HDR in post.


Well, yes all those subjects were backlit. The camera has a hard time with those, especially if you are using a wide area metering. For backlit shots you have to use spot metering on your skin tones. The camera is trying to achieve medium gray with it's metering, and when you tell it to average the whole photo to medium gray, that's what you get - mud. But I don't think that is all that is going on with these. They are all out of focus in addition to the skin tones being underexposed.

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Aug 24, 2014 16:37:25   #
Merlin1300 Loc: New England, But Now & Forever SoTX
 
CatMarley wrote:
They are all out of focus in addition to the skin tones being underexposed.
Hi - - Cat: I agree with you - - I think the OP needs to check her setup for front or back focusing in a controlled environment using single-center-point focus mode at several different distances. I forget if Micro-adjust is available on the 40D - but IF her lens tests good on her friend's camera - then Micro-adjust might be useful if there is only a minor problem.

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Aug 24, 2014 17:31:56   #
mickeys Loc: Fort Wayne, IN
 
brightened using corel paintshop pro



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Aug 24, 2014 17:57:48   #
davidk2020 Loc: San Diego
 
Merlin1300 wrote:
Hi - - Cat: I agree with you - - I think the OP needs to check her setup for front or back focusing in a controlled environment using single-center-point focus mode at several different distances. I forget if Micro-adjust is available on the 40D - but IF her lens tests good on her friend's camera - then Micro-adjust might be useful if there is only a minor problem.


I think the problem is simpler than that: the OP needs to learn how to focus. The photo with the two children facing away from us is focused on the shady side of the boy's black head of hair, and the solo girl facing us is, well, the focus point is somewhere above the child's head. Neither uses the only cross-type AF point in the 40D. The OP might be locking focus and recomposing; if so, it's not well done.

(Thanks, Merlin, for the tips on my photo. It's part of a composition exercise, so B&W, lo-res jpg, SOOC. I'll tuck the HDR approach away for another field trip, which now I can't wait to try. I was mostly trying to show that the EOS 40D is a quite capable camera for the type of use the OP is after.)

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Aug 24, 2014 17:59:55   #
davidk2020 Loc: San Diego
 
Oh, and no, the EOS 40D does not have micro-adjust.

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Aug 24, 2014 18:07:57   #
Merlin1300 Loc: New England, But Now & Forever SoTX
 
davidk2020 wrote:
Oh, and no, the EOS 40D does not have micro-adjust.
Foo - - guess I've been spoiled by my 7D - which is what replaced my 40D. HDR is really FUN - and will provide a whole 'nother dimension to what you can do with your camera! Again - I forget if the 40D will autobracket (another thing I didn't play with until I got the 7D) - but I am pretty sure it will. Photomatix is a GREAT HDR program (you can use it free - but it watermarks the result until you enter the registration code) that will adjust the bracketed images to remove any jitter that may have occurred between the autobracketed shots - so you can shoot the burst handheld. NIX makes another HDR program that many like - but I've not played with that one.
-
OP should adjust her camera to use ONLY the center-point focus, then half-press, recompose, and shoot. We'll talk about back-button focus later :lol:

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Aug 24, 2014 19:22:20   #
Kuzano
 
Without dealing with other obstacles to sharpness, but just talking about the lens and making a suggestion on lens, I would suggest the Canon 28-135mm which is image stabilized. It came as a kit lens on Canon semi pro and pro models, during the 5D full frame era, and some other crop pro Canons.

I used it on a 5D, a 30D, and a 40D (which by the way your proper designation should be at 10.1 megapixel and a great semi pro model)

Walkaround lenses like your long focal length zoom lens are often suspect on sharpness and lens abberation when in third party (less expensive) manufacture. Many are so particular on sharpness and image quality, they won't use the cheaper third party lenses. Mostly shapshot quality, requiring a more aggressive post processing to satisfy.

I am talking about a Canon OEM lens that is good quality, albeit a shorter focal length. I found mine to be quite good on a number of Canon camera's.

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Aug 24, 2014 20:27:24   #
imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida
 
c1licata wrote:
I have a new to me preowned Canon D40 with a Tamron Af Aspherical LD 28-200mm . I need pics to be much clearer. What lens would you recommend not too pricey? Thank you to anyone that helps.


If there is any kind of filter screwed onto the front of the lens - take it OFF ......

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Aug 24, 2014 21:47:12   #
Kuzano
 
I have two suggestions for you.....

I think you need some more consistent help than you are getting, Or Can Get, from an internet Forum. You should have access to local people for the situation you are dealing with.

First Suggestion... If you have an active camera club in your area, find out their schedule and join... NOW! These people will be helpful to you, and not shame you in any way. The people here are trying, but the input from you is spotty, which is OK and to be expected if you are new at this.....

A good camera club will have typically a night for showing images, and a night for programs (educational likely) each month. Furthermore they will often have "photography walks" or even field seminars.

Second, check your local community college. Most have classes at a low price that will deal with the situation you present. In fact there should be entry level, intermediate, and more advanced as you develop.

Me, I teach a class JUST for file management that teaches JUST the downloading, uploading and folder management of files. (6 hours of time split into two classes. It's a well attended class, because that is an important function most never get lessons on, and a big problem if you have not mastered how to manage you image files.

So.... Camera Club and Community Education photography lessons. The faster route to your evolution, and far more accurate than this or any other forum except a learning forum, WHICH THIS IS NOT!!!

Many of us are confused by your explanations of what is happening, starting with your camera model number, which it appears we have sorted out. And even that is important as some of us have owned your camera, and some of us haven't the slightest idea of it's capabilities.

GOOD LUCK!

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Aug 24, 2014 22:10:25   #
Merlin1300 Loc: New England, But Now & Forever SoTX
 
Kuzano wrote:
If you have an active camera club in your area, find out their schedule and join... NOW!
And even that is important as some of us have owned your camera, and some of us haven't the slightest idea of it's capabilities.
#1 - a good suggestion
#2 - we used to know - - but that was 5 years ago
Suggestions are based on remote memories - some may hit, some may miss.
And some are based on newer models we now own that MAY have had similar capabilities.
The OP needs to become familiar with the equipment she now owns.
I think we are ALL in agreement that IF the camera body she now owns is working properly
THAT should be capable of excellent images.

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Aug 24, 2014 22:35:24   #
c1licata Loc: West Babylon NY
 
Hey Everyone ! Thanks for all your suggestions and help. I borrowed a Canon Rebel and put my lens on it and the pictures came out super clear. I'll attach some. So I think its my camera. It wasn't set on a single focus point. I changed that, but the photo's with it still aren't the clarity that I am trying to achieve. I joined up with a local camera club. I got new editing software. I think the D40 might just be too much for me. I'm thinking about trading it in for a Rebel.


(Download)


(Download)

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Aug 24, 2014 22:37:14   #
c1licata Loc: West Babylon NY
 
imagemeister wrote:
If there is any kind of filter screwed onto the front of the lens - take it OFF ......


Nothing on there.

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Aug 24, 2014 22:45:19   #
Merlin1300 Loc: New England, But Now & Forever SoTX
 
c1licata wrote:
I borrowed a Canon Rebel and put my lens on it and the pictures came out super clear. I think the D40 might just be too much for me. I'm thinking about trading it in for a Rebel.
IF the 40D is working right - it SHOULD perform better than the Rebel. The basic controls are similar - before you give up on it, have someone check out the 40D to see if there is a simple problem.

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Aug 24, 2014 22:57:35   #
c1licata Loc: West Babylon NY
 
Here's a couple more with the Rebel. Just so much easier and clearer.


(Download)


(Download)

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Aug 24, 2014 23:01:32   #
c1licata Loc: West Babylon NY
 
Merlin1300 wrote:
IF the 40D is working right - it SHOULD perform better than the Rebel. The basic controls are similar - before you give up on it, have someone check out the 40D to see if there is a simple problem.

I'm going to have it checked. TY Merlin for all your help.
:D

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