Soft images from my new camera

[Whiskeyjack]

I got a barely used 5D MII and I'm a little frustrated that it consistently doesn't seem to be getting the same color or sharpness that my 60D did. Here is an example.

5D MII Image

IMG_5378 by Throwcherrybombs, on Flickr


60D Image

IMG_5980 by Throwcherrybombs, on Flickr



These were taken a day apart so the settings aren't exactly the same but that's about right for the difference I'm seeing. The ISO on the 60D image is higher as is the shutter speed (I was shooting in AV). Is it a calibration issue? I've got a dozen more examples of the 60D being sharper with 3 different lenses. Frustrating and I don't know if I should return it or send it to Canon.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Another example...

5D

IMG_5283 by Throwcherrybombs, on Flickr


60D

IMG_5888 by Throwcherrybombs, on Flickr

 

[Murray Bloom]

A lot of what you're seeing is a depth of field issue. You have to remember that, all else being equal, a crop sensor camera will always deliver wider depth of field than a 'full frame' camera.

 

[gsgary]

User error, a full frame camera will have less depth of field than a crop sensor at the same aperture

 

[AlexanderB]

If you are still not sure what to do from the above replies, you need to close the aperture somewhere about a stop to get similar results as with cropped camera.

 

[B52]

OP - I downloaded both images and zoomed in, you right, the 60D is significantly sharper...and, it doesn't appear to be a front/back focussing problem on the 5D either. The 5D ''in focus'' area is ''terribly'' softer in comparison. Moreover, the colours rendered from the 60D appear way better too.

The depth-of-field ''answers'' is not what the issue is, as far as I can tell.

 

[Murray Bloom]

To know for sure, use a test target like the one in this thread. Print out a few and shoot the array with each lens at the same framing. That should answer any in-focus acuity question.

Here's the link: Camera Lens Testing- Sharpness, Chromatic Aberration and Distortion - Bob Atkins Photography

 

[Tinderbox (UK)]

I like photo 2, the center is sharp and the outside edges are blurred, has anybody checked the focus points.

John.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

If you are still not sure what to do from the above replies, you need to close the aperture somewhere about a stop to get similar results as with cropped camera.

I'd agree with you except even at f/8 or f/11 my results are the same. Slightly softer images from the 5D when compared to the same image taken with the 60D. Or is it simply an issue that the 60D will perform better at the same apertures as the 5D all the time?

 

[KmH]

Exif shows the first 5D MKII image was made at f/5.6 but the first 60D image was made at f/8.

Another variable is the aggressiveness of the AA/Low Pass filter in front of the image sensor in each camera model.

 

[Gavjenks]

Since these are both canon bodies, you can use the EXACT same lens to compare, set to manual focus, without touching the focus dial at all. Get a zoom lens ideally, that works on full frame.

1) Set up a tripod, shoot one body, switch bodies, put the lens on the new one, shoot the same exact shot with the same settings without adjusting the lens at all.
2) Then do the same thing as #1, but let each camera do its own autofocusing on the same point of the image this time.
3) Then do the same as #2, but prior to autofocusing, zoom in/out the second lens so that the framing of the shots are equal. If you don't have a FF zoom lens, then move the tripod to get the same framing. Less controlled experiment that way though.

4) Post the results from all 3 tests


(Do all of these tests at about f/8 or f/11)

 

[Derrel]

Gotta agree with Murray...a larger-sensor camera gives less depth of field than a smaller sensor camera gives when the pictures have the same angle of view...

For example, with a "normal lens" angle of view, a Canon 6D or 5D Mark II, simply yields less depth of field than a shorter lens on a smaller sensor, like a T3i, would give.

For this reason, a LOT of street shooters, and candid shooters, and so on, prefer to work with a camera that has a much,much smaller sensor, like say a micro 4/3 size sensor, since it uses very short focal length lenses, which offer hyperfocal distance depth of field when shot in normal, everyday, real-world situations inside restaurants, or homes, and on the streets.

FX digital is not really the best format for deep depth of field close-up work. But it is wonderful when you want to control depth of field in portraiture or wedding type photo situations, and show a sharp foreground with an out of focus background. There is NOTHING wrong with your new camera. But it IS a camera of a "different format".

 

[matthewo]

Is this jpg, if shooting jpg the cameras might have different price control settings.

 

[BanditPhotographyNW]

Id say for the comparison to be accurate the settings on camera would need to be equal as well as the framing and content. Having 2 shots from 2 angles also changes the light and since color is simply refracted light the change in angle or view can change the visual color. So put this in a controlled environment and make both shots as exact as possible. I am no expert by any means but it will at least kill many of the variables you are experiencing currently.

 

[Murray Bloom]

Part of the problem here is that there's no effective way to do an A-B comparison.

For example, if the EXIF data quoted above is accurate, the lens on the full-frame body was set at f5.6. The setting on the crop sensor body was set at f8. The crop sensor camera would already have more apparent sharpness because of the increased depth of field due to the difference in sensor sizes, then add the fact that the aperture was smaller. Result - even greater depth of field and even more apparent sharpness.

Also, even if using the same lens on both cameras, the comparison is still not equal. If you adjust for the same field of view (framing), the focal lengths will be appreciably different, something on the order of 60mm for the small sensor, and 100mm for the larger one. Assuming you're using a zoom lens, optical performance will almost certainly vary at different focal length settings. If you're using the same focal length (zoom or prime), then moving the camera to get the same framing, you'll be dealing with different focusing distances, another area where lens performance can differ.

Having said all that, if it were me, and I'm noticing gross differences in acuity across several lenses and in different shooting situations, I'd be looking into a problem with the full frame camera body.

Finally, I may have missed it somewhere above, but are you shooting RAW or .jpg? If it's the latter, then all bets are off, because the two cameras may be using different versions of the JPEG converter, or different implementations of the same one.