Why aren't my photos getting that "crisp" feel to them?

KBM1016 · Jun 18, 2012

I don't know what it is but I don't feel like my photos are getting a very "crisp" feel to them. I have seen a lot of great photos where they are sharp as a tack but for some reason I can't grasp it. Anyone have any ideas on how to improve in this area other than monopod or tripod?

Majeed Badizadegan · Jun 18, 2012

Post examples.

480sparky · Jun 18, 2012

Post an example, preferably with exif data attached.

Kerbouchard · Jun 18, 2012

Good lenses, tripod/appropriate shutter speed, appropriate DOF/focus, and proper exposure are what you do in camera.

My guess is your problem is on the post processing side. All digital files need to be sharpened...either you can let the camera do it through picture controls, or you need to do it manually in post processing. Manual will get you better results.

KBM1016 · Jun 20, 2012

Ok here is my attempt to "sharpen" the image up.

Original

Canon MKII
f 2.8
1/100
ISO 2500
50mm

_MG_1406 by Autumnlightsphotos, on Flickr

The sharpened photoshop version

_MG_1406sharp by Autumnlightsphotos, on Flickr

My biggest fear is them wanting to blow one of these photos up and it just be so horribly grainy and not sharp. Any suggestions would be awesome. I am going to walk away from editing for awhile before I jump off a cliff.....

amandamartin · Jun 20, 2012

Well, an ISO that high is most likely giving you some added noise issue, which will hinder your sharpness. I keep my own geenral rule of not going over 600 on ISO unless it's necessary and pitch black dark.

Getting good glass in a lens is crucial, too. I am dealing with a crappy lens and going through a similar situation as well.

2WheelPhoto · Jun 20, 2012

amandamartin said:
Well, an ISO that high is most likely giving you some added noise issue, which will hinder your sharpness. I keep my own geenral rule of not going over 600 on ISO unless it's necessary and pitch black dark.

Getting good glass in a lens is crucial, too. I am dealing with a crappy lens and going through a similar situation as well.

Not with that body he is using. And the 24-70 lens is nice too, did you even look at the exif data?

amandamartin · Jun 20, 2012

Well, obviously I did, or I would not have seen the ISO. I don't know anything about the lens, but I do know that jacking up that ISO is bad.

cgipson1 · Jun 20, 2012

amandamartin said:
Well, obviously I did, or I would not have seen the ISO. I don't know anything about the lens, but I do know that jacking up that ISO is bad.

Only if you don't use it correctly! Or if you don't have a body that handles high ISO, with low noise, well!

2WheelPhoto · Jun 20, 2012

Mach0 · Jun 20, 2012

I cant see the images that well since they seem small but the wall behind them looks pretty decent. What did you focus on? On the small image, it looks to be the wall.

Ernicus · Jun 20, 2012

Do you have Imagenomic Noisware professional adding for photoshop? It is a phenomenal tool for fixing noise issues...especially high iso noise.

Ernicus · Jun 20, 2012

your photos are "not ok to edit" so no one can show you how to help you.

Robin Usagani · Jun 20, 2012

Ernicus said:
Do you have Imagenomic Noisware professional adding for photoshop? It is a phenomenal tool for fixing noise issues...especially high iso noise.

How would a noise removal software make a picture sharper?

JG_Coleman · Jun 20, 2012

KBM1016 said:
My biggest fear is them wanting to blow one of these photos up and it just be so horribly grainy and not sharp. Any suggestions would be awesome. I am going to walk away from editing for awhile before I jump off a cliff.....

I looked at the largest version of the image that is available on Flickr (both the original and the sharpened), and it doesn't really look too bad. I would make a 100% crop of one of them to show what I'm looking at, but I'm guessing that's considered "editing" so I'll hold off. I'm looking at certain things like the crispness of the outline of the man's tux, the detail in the flowers, etc, etc... it really doesn't look too bad. So, I'm not really sure how much sharper you want it to be...

Also, looking at a 100% crop of the sharpened version of the photo, it seems like you've sharpened the noise a bit. As a result, the original version actually looks a bit better to me at 100%.

It seems like what is really bothering you is the noise. As others have mentioned, the 5D Mark II is a great camera with good high-ISO capabilities. But the fact of the matter is that ISO 2500 is still ISO 2500, no matter what camera you're using. Sure, using ISO 2500 on a 5D Mark II will produce a much better picture than using ISO 2500 on a Rebel T1i. Nonetheless, the fact remains that using ISO 2500 on a 5D Mark II will definitely produce a noisier photograph than using, say, ISO 200 on a 5D Mark II. There's really no way of getting around that fact.

Given the high-ISO you've used, though, I really don't think that the noise level in this photograph is nearly as bad as you seem to think. Nor do I think that the sharpness is nearly as bad as you think. That's just my two cents after seeing the 1067x1600 versions on Flickr.