Sharpness

[crum]

I'm just starting out learning product photography and struggling as you'll see from the photo I have uploaded.
My question mainly is what I am doing wrong with the sharpness on the edges to left & right please? Also, any other criticism welcome

 

[Braineack]

don't shoot at f/22 and expect sharpness and detail. The image also appears to have had Noise Reduction run through it.

 

[crum]

After this photo I did 1/125 and f.10, still same blur to edges after manually focusing. Using a fuji 60mm macro

 

[john.margetts]

When you ask for help here you are going to be asked for exposure details so you might as well supply them without being asked.

What aperture did you use? It makes a very big difference.

Secondly, sharpness is nowhere near as important as some will have you think. We also need to think what sharpness actually means - theoretically there is no such thing. Resolution (one aspect of sharpness) is set by your sensor and your lens. Focus you can control, partly by using the appropriate aperture. The focus in your picture is fine. The beaker is three dimensional so it will not all be in absolute focus, and neither should it be.

I think it is fine.

 

[goooner]

Which raw converter are you using? I know some of them have trouble with the x-trans sensor. Does it look similar when you shoot in Jpeg? What is your light source(s)? Was that shot in a tent, or did you drop in the white background?

 

[Braineack]

After this photo I did 1/125 and f.10, still same blur to edges after manually focusing. Using a fuji 60mm macro

can you post an example? You'll have inherently limited DOF when shooting so close to a subject and stacking will be required. But that first image you posted lacks any detail whatsoever.

 

[crum]

Light source: 3 light set up, strobes, with translucent umbrellas. One either side and the 3rd above. Natural light on 2 sides.

Raw converter - not sure of the answer to this? I use Lightroom to process them and hop over to Photoshop when needed.

John Margetts - thanks for your comments, and i'll remember to provide full info next time

 

[fmw]

It looks OK to me. Certainly it is more than adequate for an internet image. My standard setup for small object internet pics like this is f20 which provides a perfect exposure with my strobes. I'm impressed by how thin the wood is at the lip of the cup. Very sharp lathe chisels required for that.

 

[astroNikon]

Can we see a Straight Out Of Camera image.
Maybe your lights are too hot too, thus causing the edges to white out.

You need to calculate your entire Depth of Field to understand your exact FOcus Point and depth of focus from that point.
==> A Flexible Depth of Field Calculator

You should learn more about lighting to make everything more even. Unfortunately it's no a simple thing to learn in 5 minutes.

 

[Braineack]

It looks OK to me. Certainly it is more than adequate for an internet image.

this is not adequate:

unless the cartoon filter in PS was utilized...

 

[crum]

Can we see a Straight Out Of Camera image.
Maybe your lights are too hot too, thus causing the edges to white out.

You need to calculate your entire Depth of Field to understand your exact FOcus Point and depth of focus from that point.
==> A Flexible Depth of Field Calculator

You should learn more about lighting to make everything more even. Unfortunately it's no a simple thing to learn in 5 minutes.

Thank you, very useful. Good job I'm just mucking around with pictures of my father's creations at the moment.

 

[goooner]

Ok, I've heard that LR has/had problems converting the Fuji raw files. Maybe shoot in RAW and Jpeg and see if you have the same issue with the Jpegs that come from the camera.

 

[john.margetts]

It looks OK to me. Certainly it is more than adequate for an internet image.

this is not adequate:

View attachment 123017

unless the cartoon filter in PS was utilized...

Yes it is. Unless the photographer is intending to print the picture several feet across, of course.

 

[crum]

Ok, I've heard that LR has/had problems converting the Fuji raw files. Maybe shoot in RAW and Jpeg and see if you have the same issue with the Jpegs that come from the camera.

I'll try that next time, thank you

 

[Braineack]

Yes it is. Unless the photographer is intending to print the picture several feet across, of course.

Might as well be shooting a cell phone with IQ like that.

I'd also argue that the picture is better setup for a large scale print in the current state.