Not as sharp as I'd like

daviddoria · May 3, 2014

Hi all,

I have a T3i with the Canon EF-S 55-250mm IS II. My results look decent as a small image, but when I zoom to 100% things are just not very sharp. Consider this picture, taken at f5.6, 1/200, 250mm, ISO 400. I used only the center AF point, which was on the bird. The picture looks reasonable (bird.jpg), but if I zoom in (head.jpg) you can see what I mean (I shot in RAW and exported these jpgs from Lightroom).

Should I expect better results than this with this gear? Is there something I am doing wrong to cause this?

Thanks!

David

KmH · May 3, 2014

The $300 Canon EF-S 55-250mm IS II is an entry-level consumer grade lens that will not deliver images a sharp as Canon's pro grade EF 70-200 mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens that costs $2500.

Some things you can do using image editing software is increase the mid-tone contrast, which adds some edged definition or clarity.
You can also sharpen the image. There are several ways to sharpen a photo and the subject is involved enough to be a book length subject.

The guys that wrote the software that is Adobe Camera Raw's Sharpening panel did just that - they wrote a book - Real World Image Sharpening with Adobe Photoshop, Camera Raw, and Lightroom (2nd Edition)

Photoshop Camera Raw and Lightroom's Develop module are both Adobe Camera Raw - ACR.

BillM · May 3, 2014

There are many factors that come into play when it comes to getting sharp pictures. I know this as i still do most of them wrong

How far were you from the Heron ? Distance can be a major factor. Handholding technique is a big factor too. To rule that out you can try a mono or tri pod. Front focus or back focus can cause issue too.

Derrel · May 3, 2014

Well, first off, it's a good "picture"! I see two things: a bit of sensor noise, no doubt due to the ISO 400 setting. And also, a somewhat less-than-state-of-the-art lens resolving ability. But also--keep in mind, on MANy days, there is a huge amount of airborne particulate...water...that moves along over ocean waves, four or five feet above the surface of the ocean. Over longer distances, like even 100 feet or so, that airborne water reallllllly cuts down on the ability of even the highest-grade lens to show fine details. Also, if your focus was off by even eight inches, it would show up as lessened detail, yet still "acceptable" when seen small.

I was at the beach last Friday, and OMG...there was a LOT of airborne mist, and on 400 yard shots up the beach, the amount of airborne water was KILLING my sharpness! ANyway, I like this photo. I think it would look sharper if you really "jacked" the clarity, as KmH mentioned...that would make it look "sharper", by a bit. Keep in mind, the light itself is flat, and low-contrast...soft...delicate..muted...and so the lens is showing that. The actual, on-the-beach light was FLAT. Flat as a pancake. And so the photo reflects that accurately. I would rotate the shot a tiny bit CCW, and level the horizon and maybe darken the exposure and boost the White Balance temp higher and shoot for a sort of "evening near Miami" look or whatever city this is, and call it a good frame!

TheNevadanStig · May 3, 2014

Looks pretty damn good to me. I think a lot of people have misconceptions about shooting wildlife, like you have some camera or lens were your getting pro-quality shots of birds at 500 yards because you have a long lens and can crop to nothing.
For a great shot you would have to get closer. I know most of MY best shots are at less than 30 yards. You may get better results shooting at somewhere near f/8 or so. I usually try to shoot wildlife at at least a shutter of 1/640 as well, but prefer 1/1000-1200, though I don't have any type of image stabilization.

Civchic · May 3, 2014

I have a T3 with that lens. Unfortunately ISO400 is edging on pushing it for sensor noise, especially for heavy cropping. Also when you say that your centre point was on the bird, was it on his eye? I have to select different points to get as close to eyeball as possible, especially at f/5.6.

Really for what it costs, once you figure out the limitations of your setup and work within them you'll be really happy. We aren't going to be able to whomp up the iso ever, but you can still get amazing shots.

and I agree with Derrell, it's a good picture!

coastalconn · May 3, 2014

One of the things that took me a long time to figure out, as others have said, if you really want that detail, you have to get really close. I think you are approaching the limits of your kit a little if you can't push above ISO 400. If you could have stopped down to F8 you would have gained some sharpness, but then you would either be at ISO 800 or your SS would be 1/100th which wouldn't help sharpness.. But, as others have said it is still a pretty cool shot

DLeeT · May 4, 2014

Welcome to the forum!

All the advice you are getting is excellent. This is a nice shot, but with the crop, I think you are expecting too much from your kit. It looks to me like you were too far away to expect much from a "portrait" crop, as in the second image. I also use a kit zoom and usually a TC. To get a decent portrait shot of a bird, I have to get in as close as 30 feet or so with my kit -- which means I don't post many bird portraits.

And of course, a kit zoom is just not going to compare with the more costly lenses. I keep drooling over the idea of the Tammy 150-600 which looks to be an amazing lens for 1100 bux.

There is also talent -- Danny, Kris, and some others shoot at the pro level, and no matter how expensive a kit I had, I know I would never equal their results. But there's room for us "duffers" too so have fun with your kit and post some more shots!

Regarding the first shot, it looks a bit washed out to me. In the edit I am posting, all I really did was tweak the levels and boost the contrast a bit. Lee

original

edit

Derrel · May 4, 2014

DLeeT's boost of the contrast and his adjustment of the levels really boosts the impression of "sharpness". Sharpness is caused by a number of things, not just one, single thing.

You could even take this image a whole 'nother direction, like this.

Vince00 · May 4, 2014

New here and just browsing the forumns looking for a photo to edit... Hope you don't mind me working on this one for you.

Replaced the city scape as well as I kind of like it without it. Sharpened it up, adjusted the blues, some radial shading and a few other modifications.

Hope you like it.