So confused.... I DO NOT agree with the man at the camera store

[sma200]

I have been experiencing issues with sharpness and focusing.
I use a Canon rebel XS and the kit lens that came with it.

Today I went into a camera store and he also had the same issue. So he put a macro lens on the camera, and it produced incredible pics, but only if I was close up to the subject. I posted two pictures below, first is a close up and the second I was about 5 feet away. Well I shoot portrait, would a macro lens be beneficial for portrait photography?

Im at a loss here. Some people say that there is not a lens or filter that will produce sharp, crisp images. That it is all in the ability of the one holding the camera, and then some say a better quality lens will help do the job.

(The lens he had me try today was a Canon EFS 60mm f/2.8 macro USM)


IMG_8631 - Copy | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
IMG_8632 - Copy | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
IMG_8633 - Copy | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

[sma200]

I know the lighting in this pics aren't great, but I was just taking a quick snap when I was testing out the lens.

He also changed the AF to center focus only.

Another thing, the only time my camera will produce fully focus, sharp images is when I use the flash (which I hate using). I usuallly shoot outdoors, and with natural light.

[sk66]

Th problem with the two blurry images isn't focus, it is camera shake. Your shutter speed is too low.
A different lens isn't going to get sharper images with the wrong settings/technique...

[cphoniball]

sk66 is right. Take a look at the EXIF (on flickr, go to actions, the view exif). The shutter speed on the sharp picture is 1/640 - the shutter speed on the blurry pictures is 1/30. For a 60mm lens the general rule of thumb would say that you need a minimum of 1/60 to avoid blur from camera shake (the rule is 1/focal length - so if you have a 100mm lens you'd need a minimum shutter of 1/100).

Try putting your camera in shutter priority or manual and trying those same types of shots again with a higher shutter speed.

[m.c.adams]

Camera shake. Try raising your ISO or using a tripod.
Mark

[KansaiGreenie]

Hi sma200,

I have the EF-S 60mm Macro lens (I bought it to take portraits just like you) and have had great results. It is my sharpest non "L" series lens that I own. Everybody's advice is correct. The problem is not focus but camera shake. You need to use a faster shutter speed.

cphoniball is right; the minimum shutter speed for a lens is 1/(focal length) but keep in mind that you need to also account for the crop factor. Canon APS-C cameras (which is what you have) crop at x1.6 so the minimum shutter speed for the EF-S 60mm is 1/100 (60 x 1.6 = 96). However, I usually use this lens at 1/125.

The same thing goes for your kit lens. I assume that it is the EF-S 18-55mm. The minimum shutter speed for that lens is 1/30 at 18mm to 1/90 at 55mm.

Hope that helps.

KG

[sma200]

Thank you so much!! I am going to mess around with it some more tomorrow. What do you think about Canon EF 50/1.8 II as a temporary solution? I just can't afford the Canon EFS 60mm f/2.8 macro USM

[LeeR]

I would strongly urge you to master what you have before investing in more equipment. You are still wrestling with some very basic concepts here. Adding more complexity will only confuse the issues. New equipment will not fix these problems; spending more time with what you have will.

[Henry Wilt]

Originally Posted by KansaiGreenie

Hi sma200,

I have the EF-S 60mm Macro lens (I bought it to take portraits just like you) and have had great results. It is my sharpest non "L" series lens that I own. Everybody's advice is correct. The problem is not focus but camera shake. You need to use a faster shutter speed.

cphoniball is right; the minimum shutter speed for a lens is 1/(focal length) but keep in mind that you need to also account for the crop factor. Canon APS-C cameras (which is what you have) crop at x1.6 so the minimum shutter speed for the EF-S 60mm is 1/100 (60 x 1.6 = 96). However, I usually use this lens at 1/125.

The same thing goes for your kit lens. I assume that it is the EF-S 18-55mm. The minimum shutter speed for that lens is 1/30 at 18mm to 1/90 at 55mm.

Hope that helps.

KG

60mm is 60mm whatever sensor the camera has. The crop factor relates to the field of view not the focal length.

[cphoniball]

And let's not also forget that this will vary greatly based on how steady one's hand is, how far away the scene is, the pixel density of the sensor, how large the image will be displayed, etc. There's a lot of theory behind it, but the basic rule of thumb is 1/focal length. Play around with it until you find what works for you. Don't buy a new lens yet.