sharp picture question

[boostedb16]

ok i used to have a d40 with the 18-55mm kit lens and all of my picture's were "tack sharp". i have a d80 now with a 50mm 1.8 and the 18-105 kit lens and i cant get them that sharp anymore. is there some setting on my camera i have set wrong or what. i was told the memory card could have something to do with it. if anyone could help, it would be appreciated. here are some picture's from both camera's. #1 is from the d40 and #2 will be from the d80.

1
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3081/3146814788_5d419e2e3d_b.jpg
2
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3238/3146652148_8186e7e368_b.jpg

[Mr. Clean]

yeah i can't ever get my pictures crispy either. shit pisses me off.

[boostedb16]

mine used to be. now i cant get them right.

[EJ_Allmota]

that shit happens to me too from time to time.. i always have to add a tad bit of sharpening in photoshop.. i know the 50mm is a sharp lens so im not sure what ya issue is there.. I know i have a 24-120mm and i get wicked lens flare with the lens wide open at a low f-#.. Adjusting your aperture helps from time to time.. you might want to check the in camera setting under shooting menu and see what you have your "optimize image" set on..

[umairejaz]

Interested.

[boostedb16]

its set on vivid.

[DinanM3atl]

Please post some photos. We can take a look and view the EXIF data.

[boostedb16]

i added some picture's to the first post.

[DinanM3atl]

No EXIF Data?

Shot settings on both?

[r0bb86]

shots look pretty crisp to me, esp the first one.

[Dirty Octopus™]

shots look pretty crisp to me, esp the first one.
that was taken with the old camera. he wants to know how to get old camera results from the new camera.

Jason i actually REALLY like the look of picture #2
it may not be as sharp as 1 but the DOF puts more attention on the car making it seem outstanding.

[umairejaz]

Your aperture is set too low, making your debt of feild shorter and thus less area in focus.

[imbosile]

Your aperture is set too low, making your debt of feild shorter and thus less area in focus.

Bingo. :goodjob:

[DinanM3atl]

MOST(not always) of the time you want a shallow depth of field on a car shot. IE shoot 'wide open'. Something like f/2.8-f/4 is usually a good starting point. When the car is super sharp and the background is blurred out(bokeh) it automatically pulls you into the focal point(the car).

The first shot needs LESS depth of field because the buildings look very sharp. I bet that was shot ~f/8 and it takes away from the photo.

If I had to take a stab in the dark(no exif data) I bet shot 2 was shot with the 50mm f/1.8(very sharp lens for the money) and was shot close to or wife open. Maybe f/1.8. Thus with that SHALLOW depth of the field the front grill and lip area are very sharp but the back of the car is not.

[boostedb16]

MOST(not always) of the time you want a shallow depth of field on a car shot. IE shoot 'wide open'. Something like f/2.8-f/4 is usually a good starting point. When the car is super sharp and the background is blurred out(bokeh) it automatically pulls you into the focal point(the car).

The first shot needs LESS depth of field because the buildings look very sharp. I bet that was shot ~f/8 and it takes away from the photo.

If I had to take a stab in the dark(no exif data) I bet shot 2 was shot with the 50mm f/1.8(very sharp lens for the money) and was shot close to or wife open. Maybe f/1.8. Thus with that SHALLOW depth of the field the front grill and lip area are very sharp but the back of the car is not.yes you are right on the money with the second picture being shot at 1.8. so i should just up the app and i should be good. i dont really what the first one was shot at but it was with the d40 18-55mm kit len's.

[imbosile]

yes you are right on the money with the second picture being shot at 1.8. so i should just up the app and i should be good. i dont really what the first one was shot at but it was with the d40 18-55mm kit len's.

If it was with the kit lens then it was shot at 3.5 or higher. Most likely higher because that shot doesn't look wide enough to be shot at 18mm. The aperture is definitely what you need to change to get the look you are going for.

[boostedb16]

thanks guy's. i will rep all of you asap but hell you cant check them lol.

[DinanM3atl]

No problem.

Shoot around 2.8 to 4 and report back with results :)

You can use 1.8 if you are shooting head on as the side of the cars is hidden. What you physically see of the car is very shallow.

[boostedb16]

everyone has been repped.

[A.P. Photography]

No problem.

Shoot around 2.8 to 4 and report back with results :)

You can use 1.8 if you are shooting head on as the side of the cars is hidden. What you physically see of the car is very shallow.

I would open it up more than 2.8. I would say more like 3.5 to 5.6 depending on how far off your subject is from the background and the lens you are using.

[A.P. Photography]

Your aperture is set too low, making your debt of feild shorter and thus less area in focus.

Sorry that just cracked me up. :lmfao:

[DinanM3atl]

I would open it up more than 2.8. I would say more like 3.5 to 5.6 depending on how far off your subject is from the background and the lens you are using.

Some of the best are at 2.8! ;)

You are probably right. Depends on the angle of the car if 2.8 is going to work for you.

[A.P. Photography]

Some of the best are at 2.8! ;)



Free advice, don't try it with a FF. I didn't realize how a lens is supposed to act until I got the 5D. WOW. 2.8 on a FF acts like a 1.8 on a crop body. :crazy:

[imbosile]

Free advice, don't try it with a FF. I didn't realize how a lens is supposed to act until I got the 5D. WOW. 2.8 on a FF acts like a 1.8 on a crop body. :crazy:

Wow, weird. I had no idea that even made a difference.

[A.P. Photography]

I didn't think it would either but it does.

[CHADbee]

Free advice, don't try it with a FF.
i wish i could say fuck you and try it anyways, but i cant :(

[A.P. Photography]

i wish i could say fuck you and try it anyways, but i cant :(
Ask Chang, he will tell you the same thing. lol

And go vote on ATL punk. I made a meet for ya :goodjob:

[CHADbee]

Ask Chang, he will tell you the same thing. lol

And go vote on ATL punk. I made a meet for ya :goodjob:
voted

:ninja:

[boostedb16]

ok i messed with a few settings and i think i have what i am looking for. here are a couple of quick shots i took about 5 minute's ago. picture #1 is no editing and #2 is edited in lightroom2. let me know what you think.
1
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3214/3154785390_640efbb6df_o.jpg
2
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3239/3154785154_36b13a9b4d_b.jpg

[DinanM3atl]

Well I have no full frame :)

No timeframe to get one...

[boostedb16]

????

[A.P. Photography]

????

Looks like you need to bump your Aperture up. Other then that looks good. :goodjob:

[boostedb16]

yea that was shot at 2.8. so my you think my sharpness is good?

[A.P. Photography]

Yeah, you might have the in camera sharpness turned down but the PP'd version looks good

[boostedb16]

well i turned the in camera sharpness to + 2 and the contrast to +2 and it made a daylight/dark difference from what it was before.