Why aren't these shots in focus?

[kathyt]

How do you read it out of the images I posted?

I have three EXIF readers installed on my browser.

well that's cool

Do you think that the T4i can take crisp pictures?
I am not sure anymore

The T4i is an AWESOME camera. I had the T2i and I loved it. Once you master the basics you will soon see the power of the Rebel.

 

[crotonmark]

I have three EXIF readers installed on my browser.

well that's cool

Do you think that the T4i can take crisp pictures?
I am not sure anymore

The T4i is an AWESOME camera. I had the T2i and I loved it. Once you master the basics you will soon see the power of the Rebel.

Thanks Kathy - I am trying

 

[480sparky41 40]

Thanks sparky, for realizing my oversights.

Which point did you use for the autofocus? If you used the center, which AF mode did you use?

Given the low light and knowing the possibility of such a low-contrast subject might cause this issue, I would do two things.

1. Enlarge the image in the monitor to check focus.
2. "Bracket" my focus point manually.

 

[crotonmark]

Thanks sparky, for realizing my oversights.

Which point did you use for the autofocus? If you used the center, which AF mode did you use?

Given the low light and knowing the possibility of such a low-contrast subject might cause this issue, I would do two things.

1. Enlarge the image in the monitor to check focus.
2. "Bracket" my focus point manually.

How do I bracket the focus point?

 

[KmH]

wait...f/2.8 lets in twice as much light as f/2? I thought it was the other way around? did I miss something?

Thanks for catching that. I fixed it

 

[JLMILLS]

Dude... can I give you a great piece of advice??? Pick up the book Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson... This book will explain the relationship between ISO, Shutter Speed, and Aperture, and it is worth every red cent. Read it from cover to cover, and I promise, you will come out a better photographer. I have read it three times, and I plan on reading it again, as a refresher... I have learned more from this single book, than probably the other 20 I have read on photography...

Yes I have this book and I am working my way thru it. The problem is I need to use the camera before I have gotten thru the book!!

If you have one hour, youtube search for one of the B & H videos on this. They are about 1.5hrs in length and free. I own this book as well and still haven't read it. I'm more of a "remember everything I hear" kind of person. My mind wanders when I read.

 

[Dubaiian]

I think that everyone has given you great advice on here and I have nothing additional to add about the technique.


One Thing i Would point out is that you have a great entry level DSLR (I started a couple of years ago with a T2i). In the early days I had many many failures but with a lot of reading and tons of help from people on here I progressed rapidly to taking what I now believe are relatively decent images and have even had some of my sports shots published in the local press. I have now progressed up to much higher levels of equipment, but often go back to my older cameras for family functions and trips out and I can assure you that these cameras get better as your knowledge increases.

Many times I was ready t confine my camera to the "old toys box" but stuck at it and and am now rarely seen without a camera within 10feet of my person. Don't give up, it's hard at the start but gets more rewarding with every session.

 

[crotonmark]

I think that everyone has given you great advice on here and I have nothing additional to add about the technique.


One Thing i Would point out is that you have a great entry level DSLR (I started a couple of years ago with a T2i). In the early days I had many many failures but with a lot of reading and tons of help from people on here I progressed rapidly to taking what I now believe are relatively decent images and have even had some of my sports shots published in the local press. I have now progressed up to much higher levels of equipment, but often go back to my older cameras for family functions and trips out and I can assure you that these cameras get better as your knowledge increases.

Many times I was ready t confine my camera to the "old toys box" but stuck at it and and am now rarely seen without a camera within 10feet of my person. Don't give up, it's hard at the start but gets more rewarding with every session.

Thanks Dubaiian.
What would be different if I bought a camera one step up (I'm not but I'm curious). What makes my T4i an entry level DSLR?


mark

 

[Dubaiian]

I think the term entry level is a marketing take (lower price point, more auto features etc) and you really should not get hung up on it as these rebels are way ahead of most non-DSLRs below them.

As many on here will tell you, only upgrade when you find something missing from your existing equipment. Based on advise from here primarily, I firstly upgraded some lenses as I was doing a lot of low light photography and needed wider apertures. Next I started to shoot a lot of sports and got longer telephoto lens and only then did I realise that I needed faster shutter speeds and somewhat better focussing systems so I went to the 7D.

Very recently I started to understand the benefits of full frame (as opposed to cropped sensor) so I upgraded to a 5d3. Many will say that I am flippant and spend to much on kit but photography is a passion along with technical innovation (read, I like new toys). Sometimes you get features that you did not even buy the camera for originally like the near silent shutter on the 5d.

Photography can be a hugely expensive hobby if you allow it to be, but amazing images can also be taken with "entry level" kit.

 

[crotonmark]

I think the term entry level is a marketing take (lower price point, more auto features etc) and you really should not get hung up on it as these rebels are way ahead of most non-DSLRs below them.

As many on here will tell you, only upgrade when you find something missing from your existing equipment. Based on advise from here primarily, I firstly upgraded some lenses as I was doing a lot of low light photography and needed wider apertures. Next I started to shoot a lot of sports and got longer telephoto lens and only then did I realise that I needed faster shutter speeds and somewhat better focussing systems so I went to the 7D.

Very recently I started to understand the benefits of full frame (as opposed to cropped sensor) so I upgraded to a 5d3. Many will say that I am flippant and spend to much on kit but photography is a passion along with technical innovation (read, I like new toys). Sometimes you get features that you did not even buy the camera for originally like the near silent shutter on the 5d.

Photography can be a hugely expensive hobby if you allow it to be, but amazing images can also be taken with "entry level" kit.

Thanks again Dubaiian.
Of course the camera I have is clearly too much for me today
I am encouraged that people think it is a good camera - for me now i get worse results with it than I do with my iPhone camera

 

[rambler]

Rule of thumb: To avoid blur when the camera is handheld, do not use a speed slower than 1/30.

Check your manual and look for something called ISO sensitivity. You can set the camera to not take shots slower than a certain speed (one you choose), or at an ISO number higher than one you choose. For example, set the aperture minimum at 1/125 and the ISO number at 1600. You will avoid blurs caused by a handheld camera.

Getting a sharp focus is one of the difficult tasks of taking an image. With landscapes, take the same image using different focus points close, near and far, and hope one is correct! (Or try using a DOF Calculator App on you iphone - see link below) Taking photos of a face? Focus on the eyes!

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/simple-dof/id412384880?mt=8

 

[480sparky41 40]

Rule of thumb: To avoid blur when the camera is handheld, do not use a speed slower than 1/30....

Fine... If you're using a 28 or 35mm lens. You can go slower with a wider lens, but 1/30 sec would utterly fail with a 200 or 300mm.

...... For example, set the aperture minimum at 1/125.....

Where will I find an aperture setting of 1/125?

 

[John27]

I use a Rebel T1i and have taken some pretty good pictures. I have seen some INCREDIBLE shots taken with these Rebel Cameras.

Would a professional charging $400/hr use a Rebel? Probably not. Is it a darn good camera capable of taking excellent shots? You bet. Especially with better lenses in the future.

Here's two of my favorite shots I took with my T1i and the KIT LENS, and being quite mediocre myself;



View attachment 26688

And, there are plenty of things wrong with both of these images! I didn't post those to show you what perfect shots look like, I just took those to show you what a guy who shot images that look like what you posted, progressed to a couple months beyond that. And it got better after that, and hopefully, it'll continue to get better. It just takes time. None of these incredible shots on this forum (photo of the month winners, etc.) were done with inexperienced folks. There is a lot of talent, but also a lot of know how and experienced involved here.

Point is, I haven't nearly outgrown my T1i. The Camera is still more capable than I am, I haven't 'maxed it out'. Once you have, THEN you can worry about a better Camera body, but a great camera doesn't take great pictures. Take a 1DX and start firing away with the pop up flash and poor settings, and you'll take poorer pictures than an experienced photographer would with a 5 year old Rebel. For a beginner, there are much more important things than the Camera body.

I also have some images that I WISH I could take credit for, taken with the exact same camera, by a relative of mine who is a professional photog. He shoots a 5D Mk II. He stuck one of his L lenses, a 580 EX II flash unit, and a monopod on it and shot some INCREDIBLE shots of my aunts garden. In capable hands with good glass, the Rebel series is capable of great things.

Truth is? And I can say this to ya because I'm in the same shoes as you. Those images would have looked the same with a 5D Mk III or even Canons flagship 1DX. (And your 18-55 kit lens). They just weren't setup right. That's okay! You'll learn over time.

Also, don't be afraid of full auto mode or the program modes if you aren't quite sure. They do a decent job, and the rebel DSLRs are also excellent point and shoot cameras. A lot of times at family events, where I'm just shooting memories not portfolio pieces, I just stick it on full auto. I get great memorable shots to post on facebook for everyone to remenise over. And, when possible, I stick it on full manual mode and spend time learning to shoot better by trying to re-create and then improve on some of those same auto shots using manual mode. It's a great way to learn!

 

[crotonmark]

I use a Rebel T1i and have taken some pretty good pictures. I have seen some INCREDIBLE shots taken with these Rebel Cameras.

Would a professional charging $400/hr use a Rebel? Probably not. Is it a darn good camera capable of taking excellent shots? You bet. Especially with better lenses in the future.

Here's two of my favorite shots I took with my T1i and the KIT LENS, and being quite mediocre myself;

View attachment 26687

View attachment 26688

And, there are plenty of things wrong with both of these images! I didn't post those to show you what perfect shots look like, I just took those to show you what a guy who shot images that look like what you posted, progressed to a couple months beyond that. And it got better after that, and hopefully, it'll continue to get better. It just takes time. None of these incredible shots on this forum (photo of the month winners, etc.) were done with inexperienced folks. There is a lot of talent, but also a lot of know how and experienced involved here.

Point is, I haven't nearly outgrown my T1i. The Camera is still more capable than I am, I haven't 'maxed it out'. Once you have, THEN you can worry about a better Camera body, but a great camera doesn't take great pictures. Take a 1DX and start firing away with the pop up flash and poor settings, and you'll take poorer pictures than an experienced photographer would with a 5 year old Rebel. For a beginner, there are much more important things than the Camera body.

I also have some images that I WISH I could take credit for, taken with the exact same camera, by a relative of mine who is a professional photog. He shoots a 5D Mk II. He stuck one of his L lenses, a 580 EX II flash unit, and a monopod on it and shot some INCREDIBLE shots of my aunts garden. In capable hands with good glass, the Rebel series is capable of great things.

Truth is? And I can say this to ya because I'm in the same shoes as you. Those images would have looked the same with a 5D Mk III or even Canons flagship 1DX. (And your 18-55 kit lens). They just weren't setup right. That's okay! You'll learn over time.

Also, don't be afraid of full auto mode or the program modes if you aren't quite sure. They do a decent job, and the rebel DSLRs are also excellent point and shoot cameras. A lot of times at family events, where I'm just shooting memories not portfolio pieces, I just stick it on full auto. I get great memorable shots to post on facebook for everyone to remenise over. And, when possible, I stick it on full manual mode and spend time learning to shoot better by trying to re-create and then improve on some of those same auto shots using manual mode. It's a great way to learn!

thanks!

 

[binga63]

Listen, try , fail fail fail, try, fail fail, try, fail, try, succeed... try, fail, try succeed.... what I am trying to say is keep trying .. shoot pics but listen to others, read, if you cannot shoot a pic without blurring it, don't blame the tools you are using it is your fault...don't be afraid of failing.... buy a tripod...I have Parkinson's and have learned when I need to shoot with a tripod or when I can go without.. the majority of my flower pics are handheld... but I know my limitations...... your task is to learn yours and then adjust your thinking to overcome them..but don't give up...
“Your first ten thousand photos are your worst.” – Henri Cartier-Bresson
I have still got at least another 6000 to go but it is a start