Why can I not get these sharp??

[jrwillden]

I have taken many pictures lately that are not sharp. I have been using the automatic focus and waiting for the green light but this is how they turn out. They just are not very sharp. Is this operator error? Do I need a tripod? OR is the problem that I took them on a 35mm camera and had them put on a CD.

1.

2.

 

[randerson07]

In the first one it looks like the leaves just to the right of her are in good focus.

In the 2nd one I cant tell.

Have you tried to sharpen the images off the cd with Photoshop or something similar?

 

[tirediron]

Can you give us some more info: Camera, lens, settings...

 

[randerson07]

Its film, I highly doubt he remembers the settings.

I think you missed focus on the first, or your DOF was so small that you didnt get your subject completely in focus.

 

[reg]

Its film, I highly doubt he remembers the settings.

He can still tell us the camera, lens, film speed, and anything else worth noting.

 

[Sandspur]

Well, sometimes I just think that babies have relatively out of focus faces. They're so soft and curved, only the eyes sometimes appear to be sharp.

But in this case I suspect the quality of the CD. Exactly what is the scanned resolution? Size and PPI? I checked the first one and it's something like 8 inches by 5 at 96 ppi.

Which is useless for anything other than a small web image. Totally useless for printing!

Who did the CD?

I'm guessing Wally World or some drugstore. Right?

It would also be helpful to know the type of film used, the lens, and, of course, who developed the film.

 

[tirediron]

Its film, I highly doubt he remembers the settings.

Quite. I've never known any photographers who kept a small notebook in their gadget bags and entered "Roll X, <Date>, Frame Y, 1/125 @ f8".

 

[ann]

sorry, but a lot of photographers keep very detail notes.
neither good nor bad, just a personal method of working.

 

[jrwillden]

What I remember is Minolta HTsi, Kodak 70-120mm @ 135mm (likely), 400 ISO, in full automatic mode.

I don't know anything about the CD or how it was scanned but I would imagine either Snapfish or Walmart developed & scanned--Walmart only if really eager to see results (which I probably was).

I have done very little PP because the only program I have is Microsoft Digital Image Starter Edition which only gives me the very basic tasks. I looked into Photoshop which seems to be out of the price range of a larger family's budget. Is it really $600?? Maybe I misread the price tag...

 

[randerson07]

You could get the basic version, Photoshop elements
http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&ke...ware&hvadid=1142311481&ref=pd_sl_50afr0f5f2_e

It has most of the same features as the more exspension CS3 version.

 

[jrwillden]

You could get the basic version, Photoshop elements
http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&ke...ware&hvadid=1142311481&ref=pd_sl_50afr0f5f2_e

It has most of the same features as the more exspension CS3 version.

Thanks so much--that is very affordable. I appreciate the link.

 

[jrwillden]

This one I am also curious about--perhaps I need a new thread though...
This was taken on my digital (Kodak Z712 IS): Aperture priority, f8 @ 1/800 sec, 400 ISO, 19mm. Shouln't this have been in focus to the tractor & barn?
And, yes, would have been nice if she would have looked at me...stubborn cow.

 

[(Ghastly) Krueger]

I have taken many pictures lately that are not sharp. I have been using the automatic focus and waiting for the green light but this is how they turn out. They just are not very sharp. Is this operator error? Do I need a tripod? OR is the problem that I took them on a 35mm camera and had them put on a CD.

Maybe you can get a print from the negative and see if thatcomes sharp? That would confirm that the problem was transfering to the CD.

 

[Mike_E]

Hi, these are a bit pricey but well worth it if you are relying on the green diode to tell you if you are in focus.
http://www.katzeyeoptics.com/page--Custom-Focusing-Screens--store.html

The green light only tells you when you are close.

You might consider stopping down your aperture also.