Help with next lens upgrade (inexpensive)

[patrickdio]

Here are my examples:

This picture is probably the sharpest pic I've taken with the kit lens.
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/39898355/DSC06087.jpg


This picture is pretty sharp but I'd like the people in the photo to be a little sharper.
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/39898355/DSC06090.jpg


This picture I'd like to be sharper overall.
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/39898355/DSC06090.jpg


Thanks

 

[PatrickJamesYu]

I heard from a pretty experienced photographer that the kit lens is pretty sharp
it's just far from being fast.

But looking through the example portfolio you posted, many of those look like it could be captured with a 50mm
more like a 35mm for you (if you have a crop sensor)

The 'goal' shots you posted have a very shallow depth of field
Your shots how ever do not
I think If you played with your aperture a bit you will be happier with your results and you will have a better idea as to what kind of lens you are needing.

 

[jmtonkin]

I agree about the aperature, if you shot at a smaller aperature (higher f/stop number) you would see more sharpness thoughout. In your second picture, the lack of focus on the people could very well be caused by motion blur (i.e. the people walking). How fast of a shutter speed were you using? Bumping your shutter speed up a little could help achieve the optimum sharpness.

 

[dxqcanada5]

Shoot at 100 ISO whenever you can ... like those nice sunny days.
Your shutter speeds are OK to eliminate camera shake.
f/8.0 seems to be the sweet spot for this lens.
Is the camera set to capture in JPEG or RAW ?

 

[patrickdio]

Thanks for all your input everyone. I'll definitely try and apply them on my next photo expedition.

My shutter speed for the second photo was 1/320sec at f/9. Is this too slow for people walking? I thought it would be sufficient.

I'll definitely try and take pics at f/8 now and a little bit faster shutter speeds. Going to need plenty of light for f/8 and 100 ISO. The kit lens at f/8 and 100 ISO should meet my landscape needs for now. Saving up for a good wide angle lens for landscapes is probably better in the long run.

I shot those pictures to RAW.

Those 'goal' pictures I posted before were chosen because of the quality of light in the pictures. I'm more of a wide landscape kind of guy; fields and mountain ranges and such.


And just noticed one of my examples above is a repeat! The third one is supposed this wider shot:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/39898355/DSC06129.jpg

But looking at the settings I used for it now, f/18 is probably not the sharpest aperture of the kit lens and I could of put the ISO to 100 instead of 200


Now to decide between 50mm f1.8 @$139.99 or a 30mm f2.8 macro @$219.99
I think money is going to be the deciding factor in this one. Scratch that, I like the professional look of the 50mm at f1.8. Most likely going to go with the 50mm
And after looking through some of my favourite photos I've taken, Most of them are either at 18mm or 50-55mm.

 

[Overread36]

Those photos look fine to me - 1/320sec should be more than enough for people at a normal walking speed.
I think its time to invest a bit of time into learning about sharpening, have a read of this here:
Sharpening in Photoshop -- Part I

part one of a several part article on sharpening options and ideas which should help you to unlock more from the photos you are currently getting from the kit lens.

In addition the comment about f18 is valid, diffraction is the effect that starts to kick in as you decrease the aperture further and further and results in softer details no matter your shutter speed or ISO. It's something like around f16 for most crop cameras of around the 1.5/1.6 crop factor from 35mm - smaller sensors the limit kicks in earlier (ie at wider apertures) and bigger sensors it kicks in at smaller apertures (eg on fullframe/35mm its about one stop down from f16).

The actual point will shift around a bit depending on ones lenses, editing style, presentation and also ones own standards so its not a hard fast line, but a good general point of reference.

 

[patrickdio]

Those photos look fine to me - 1/320sec should be more than enough for people at a normal walking speed.
I think its time to invest a bit of time into learning about sharpening, have a read of this here:
Sharpening in Photoshop -- Part I

part one of a several part article on sharpening options and ideas which should help you to unlock more from the photos you are currently getting from the kit lens.

In addition the comment about f18 is valid, diffraction is the effect that starts to kick in as you decrease the aperture further and further and results in softer details no matter your shutter speed or ISO. It's something like around f16 for most crop cameras of around the 1.5/1.6 crop factor from 35mm - smaller sensors the limit kicks in earlier (ie at wider apertures) and bigger sensors it kicks in at smaller apertures (eg on fullframe/35mm its about one stop down from f16).

The actual point will shift around a bit depending on ones lenses, editing style, presentation and also ones own standards so its not a hard fast line, but a good general point of reference.

Thanks for the link! Looks to be an in-depth guide. Will definitely help with my predicament, thanks again.

 

[PatrickJamesYu]

Thanks for all your input everyone. I'll definitely try and apply them on my next photo expedition.

My shutter speed for the second photo was 1/320sec at f/9. Is this too slow for people walking? I thought it would be sufficient.

I'll definitely try and take pics at f/8 now and a little bit faster shutter speeds. Going to need plenty of light for f/8 and 100 ISO. The kit lens at f/8 and 100 ISO should meet my landscape needs for now. Saving up for a good wide angle lens for landscapes is probably better in the long run.

I shot those pictures to RAW.

Those 'goal' pictures I posted before were chosen because of the quality of light in the pictures. I'm more of a wide landscape kind of guy; fields and mountain ranges and such.


And just noticed one of my examples above is a repeat! The third one is supposed this wider shot:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/39898355/DSC06129.jpg

But looking at the settings I used for it now, f/18 is probably not the sharpest aperture of the kit lens and I could of put the ISO to 100 instead of 200


Now to decide between 50mm f1.8 @$139.99 or a 30mm f2.8 macro @$219.99
I think money is going to be the deciding factor in this one. Scratch that, I like the professional look of the 50mm at f1.8. Most likely going to go with the 50mm
And after looking through some of my favourite photos I've taken, Most of them are either at 18mm or 50-55mm.

I think you camera has a crop sensor, if it does I just want to throw a friendly tip out there.
The 50mm will actually be more like 70mm (i think the math is x1.3 or 1.6 I forgot which)
But it might not be wide enough for you landscape stuff.

I think the 30mm will suit you better
and if you want to do some closer up/ of people walking it will help as it will be more close to "what your eyes see".

Goodluck with the lens purchase.

 

[patrickdio]

I think you camera has a crop sensor, if it does I just want to throw a friendly tip out there.
The 50mm will actually be more like 70mm (i think the math is x1.3 or 1.6 I forgot which)
But it might not be wide enough for you landscape stuff.

I think the 30mm will suit you better
and if you want to do some closer up/ of people walking it will help as it will be more close to "what your eyes see".

Goodluck with the lens purchase.

Thanks for the tip. I ended up purchasing the 50mm 1.8 and I'm loving the wide aperture for letting more light in and the very shallow depth of field. I also like the fixed focal length; adds some challenge to taking pictures and makes me move around.
I like really wide angles for my landscapes. Most of my landscape shots are at 18mm and sometimes I wish it was wider. I also like the distortion wide angle lenses make in small spaces--not as drastic as a fish-eye lens but just a little bit of unrealism. A sharp wide angle lens is next in line for purchase.

 

[PatrickJamesYu]

Okay sweet.

If you ever have a chance, post some examples with the new glass

 

[patrickdio]

Alright, will do!