Bad image quality (amateur hour )

MattCatHat · Jan 24, 2014

I am a complete amateur, so if I sound inexperienced, I am..
Okay so ever since I really took an interest in photography I have just not being hitting the mark in image quality and sharpness and even just nice full rich colours. I think I kind of know the answers to my problems but would love to know some more from the community.
Camera body: I have a cannon 500d (bought second hand with a relatively high shutter count)
Lenses: first of all I have two lenses I got from my dads old collection they are probably 10years old, one is a kit lens 18-55mm f3.5 and the other is a cannon 90-300mm f 4.5-5.6 and lastly I bought an old school prime lens by yashica it's a 50mm f2

The yashica has a few spots and specks on the inside of the lens so I will be dismantling it when my cleaning kit arrives but is by far my favourite lens, of course I had no idea about crop sensors or anything when I bought it so it's more like a 70 something mm so I would like to maybe get a 28mm next probably a "vintage" lens again. the kit lens seems to be the one I have the most trouble with as I use it quiet a lot for its wider angle range. I've never thought the af was any good on it and it's just horrible lens to use. If I replaces it with an almost bran new kit lens do you think I would se a difference ? Or do you think I can get something else like a cannon 35mm lens for relatively the same cost ? I actually enjoy my 90-300 as it's a usm it has quite a nice and accurate feel to it. I don't have much use for a big lens like it but it nice to know its there.
Could part of my problem be with my camera body, should I get it professionally cleaned and calibrated as I feel there is a lot of noise in my photos especially if it's anything but ISO 100 ,or is it all simply not worth it?
So I have so many questions and they are all hidden in really long boring stories.

tirediron · Jan 24, 2014

The 18-55 kit lens is actually a pretty decent lens as long as you don't need to use it in demanding circumstances. Generally speaking, most issues relating to exposure, saturation, etc, etc are due to inexperience and NOT to equipment deficiency. How about posting a couple of images with specific questions and maybe try doing some reading here.

remylebeau · Jan 24, 2014

Are you able to post some sample images? They may honestly be fine or just need a few tweaks here and there...we can't know without a point of reference.

robbins.photo · Jan 24, 2014

Ok, well just in general. When you can, stop down the lens. By this I mean increase the aperture number - this actually closes the aperture and lets in less light. Yes, I know it sounds backwards but actually it's not, apertures are expressed as fractions so the larger the number the less light your letting into the lens. By stopping down the lens you increase the depth of field and the overall sharpness of the photo. In addition most lenses do not produce the best images when shot "wide open" or at the maximum aperture aailable to the lens. So when you can, stop down at least a bit.

Second, increase your shutter speed. The faster your shutter speed the less you have to worry about camera shake or motion blur from a moving subject being introduced into the image and the more likely your going to get a good, sharp image.

Derrel · Jan 24, 2014

My advice: do NOT disassemble and clean the Yashica 50mm lens!!!! A lens can have TONS of gunk inside of it, and it will barely affect picture quality at all. Google "Ken Rockwell + flashlight test" and see for yourself. Simply clean the front and the rear elements, but please do NOT tear into the lens.

As for a lens adapter for the Yashica lens...the $14 Chinese-made Yashica/Contax to Canon EF lens adapters work just fine. No need to spend a ton of money on an adapter.

Light Guru · Jan 24, 2014

MattCatHat said:
I am a complete amateur, so if I sound inexperienced, I am..
Okay so ever since I really took an interest in photography I have just not being hitting the mark in image quality and sharpness and even just nice full rich colours. I think I kind of know the answers to my problems but would love to know some more from the community.
Camera body: I have a cannon 500d (bought second hand with a relatively high shutter count)
Lenses: first of all I have two lenses I got from my dads old collection they are probably 10years old, one is a kit lens 18-55mm f3.5 and the other is a cannon 90-300mm f 4.5-5.6 and lastly I bought an old school prime lens by yashica it's a 50mm f2

The yashica has a few spots and specks on the inside of the lens so I will be dismantling it when my cleaning kit arrives but is by far my favourite lens, of course I had no idea about crop sensors or anything when I bought it so it's more like a 70 something mm so I would like to maybe get a 28mm next probably a "vintage" lens again. the kit lens seems to be the one I have the most trouble with as I use it quiet a lot for its wider angle range. I've never thought the af was any good on it and it's just horrible lens to use. If I replaces it with an almost bran new kit lens do you think I would se a difference ? Or do you think I can get something else like a cannon 35mm lens for relatively the same cost ? I actually enjoy my 90-300 as it's a usm it has quite a nice and accurate feel to it. I don't have much use for a big lens like it but it nice to know its there.
Could part of my problem be with my camera body, should I get it professionally cleaned and calibrated as I feel there is a lot of noise in my photos especially if it's anything but ISO 100 ,or is it all simply not worth it?
So I have so many questions and they are all hidden in really long boring stories.

All of this info is nice but you have yet to tell us why you think your images are "just not being hitting the mark in image quality"
What exactly about your images makes you say that?

Image quality is more about execution then gear.

Bossy · Jan 24, 2014

Post some pics!! It could be a settings problem and not a gear problem

Or a processing issue.

MattCatHat · Jan 24, 2014

Okay what is the best way to post photos here
I use photobucket for other forums non related to photography but the image quality of photo bucket is really crap
I haven't got many photos anymore and my computer got "cleaned up" and a lot of photos got deleted

As for what bad points I'm talking about is mainly semi washed out photos lacking deep rich colours and grainy'ness when cropping too much.
I completely agree that it is probably more down to me not knowing what I'm doing. Rather than just my kit

I love the feed back guys this has definitely being the best response I've gotten on a forum considering how I only posted this this morning!! I will try get some photos soon but I'm pretty busy this weekend being Australia Day long weekend there is a lot of BBQ's to attend and many beers with my name on them.

Quick thought; maybe I also just suck at the post production elements of photography??

Bossy · Jan 24, 2014

Cropping too much will definitely lower your quality, quit cropping

I've never had a problem with photobucket, but you can try flickr.

minicoop1985 · Jan 24, 2014

Derrel said:
My advice: do NOT disassemble and clean the Yashica 50mm lens!!!!

Take it from an expert in screwing things up: DON'T DO THIS. I've done it. It was not a good idea. I HAVE had success cleaning out rangefinder lenses, but not cleaning out SLR lenses. Basically, my advice is don't take it apart unless there's fungus, and if there is, send it to someone with experience dealing with lenses.