Soft Images

[Eventer]

Latly my camera seems to have been taking really soft looking photos and I have no idea why? :meh:
Im a photographer for horse events so my subject is always the same and it doesnt matter what light im in either.

I noticed it the last 3 times ive gone out (so a few weeks ago) and im sure its gotten worse since.
I went out yesterday and now its doing it to ALOT of photos.

It doesnt look like motion blur it looks more like OOF but then the background is still blown out nicley. I dunno what going wrong. cause its happening randomly, I'm not changing settings its happening on photos that vary in speed - Like galloping photos aswell and standing still photos. so Im thinking speed isnt the issue?

Looking at all the exif data the shutter speeds vary from 1/800 (which is a touch slow yes, so i thought well theres my answer) but identical soft photos have shutter speeds of 1/2000 +?

Ill post example now - Just uploading them.

 

[Eventer]

Also i started playaround with the ISO to see if it made a ddifference to the softness, but nope.

 

[RobNZ]

As you say your shutter speed is right up there, but you are also shooting at 800 ISO which is quite high, could the images be soft due to the added noise from the high ISO softening the sharp edges perhaps?

You really need to show an image at 100% because from the size you've posted they seem fine and we cant see the issue.

Levels and sharpened.

 

[Overread35]

My first advice is to dig out some of your older shots and compare them to the new (un-edited or edited) and make sure that your shots are actually showing softer compared to the older ones. (sometimes hindsight makes things seem better than they actually were - esp if you're always looking at old shots at websize and after sharpening etc...).

Secondly fully review your shooting and editing process - its very easy to get "lazy" and drop the bar on certain parts, which results in poorer performance. So make sure that you are shooting well (your shutter speeds sound good - ISO 800 is high and will affect the overall image quality, but if its what you've used in the past you should be used to it).

Also make sure you've not activated some mode or setting by accident - eg you've turned your exposure compensation on and are underexposing. If you shoot JPEG also check that you've not altered the in camera sharpening codes as that would give you softer out of camera shots.
If you shoot RAW check the sharpening tab in your RAW editor - almost all times by default a level of sharpening is added (RAW photos need sharpening) and if you've turned this off your shots out of the RAW processor will look considerably softer than they normally would. Of course normal sharpening practice will restore this lost sharpness of course.

 

[gsgary]

Not sure why you are shooting at ISO800 with a shutter speed of 1/2000 when 1/500 will work also the Sony A200 is one of the worst cameras when shooting high ISO so it is probably due to ISO

 

[mrpink]

Latly my camera seems to have been taking really soft looking photos and I have no idea why? :meh:

Why so quick to blame the camera?







p!nK

 

[Alter_Ego]

Thats how all my images come out but im guessing its cause of my settings.

 

[ababysean]

ISO 800 is your problem, well that and the lens, and the camera.
Probably some handling also, are you zoomed to the max in these photos?
do your lens have any image stablization?
The photos are not really decent anyways, the background with cars, and random people, egggggh?

 

[dylanstraub]

Latly my camera seems to have been taking really soft looking photos and I have no idea why? :meh:

Why so quick to blame the camera?p!nK

Pink has a good point. Are you using the same lens for each shot? You may be looking in the wrong place.

 

[Eventer]

ISO 800 is your problem, well that and the lens, and the camera.
Probably some handling also, are you zoomed to the max in these photos?
do your lens have any image stablization?
The photos are not really decent anyways, the background with cars, and random people, egggggh?

Ignore the actual subject i was just picking out random ones that are soft - okay to prove you you guys the ISO 800 isnt the issue (I only put it up to see if would have an effect on the sharpness but it didnt) Ill put some up at ISO 400 or 200 which is what i normally shoot on.
Yeah the a200 has a in built stabalisation thing thats always ON.
The zoom varies and i dont think its effecting the softness?
Ill post some more...:er:

 

[Eventer]

Overread - Ill get a couple of older sharper shots too campare - Also i wont resize them as its alot easier to see them big I guess. Also - whats the camera sharpening codes? Could be somthing to look into maybe? though i dont tend to play around with setting i dont understand really.
The reason I was "quick" to blame my camera as nothing ive done has changed - no setting have been altered and setting have always stayed the same. Im at a loss im played around with settings, if it was continous bad photos after a setting change then yes that would be the issue, but the frustrating thing is is that its happening "randomly" I dont even have to move spot, angle etc and one photo will be gopod and the next will be crap?

Just finding some photos..

 

[AgentDrex]

Clean your lens with soft cotten cloth...you're getting a "soft" look because you have finger "grease" all over that thing...I bet you ten cookies that there is a film all over it...

 

[Eventer]

Aperture 5.6
Exposure Time 1/1000 (0.001 sec)
Focal Length 135.0 mm
ISo 400

 

[Eventer]

Clean your lens with soft cotten cloth...you're getting a "soft" look because you have finger "grease" all over that thing...I bet you ten cookies that there is a film all over it...

Hmmm You could be right - I hope your right! but if thats the case why would some still be coming out really good?

 

[AgentDrex]

Lighting situations most likely...were the ones that come out better taken at midday or with the sun slightly behind you?