Blurred Shots: Need Advise

[andreboy]

Hi:

I'm just new into photography and unfortunately on a budget. Originally I just had the kit lens for a Canon 450D, EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS. I was researching for a good second lens, and I read rave reviews about the EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS. And so about 2 weeks ago I was ble to buy the lens. Now I've been playing around with it and I always get blurred shots, whether handheld or tripod (though my tripod is a cheap generic tripod). I was hoping somebody can give me advise and tell me if I'm doing anything wrong.

The first 2 shot were taken at 55mm (using the kit lens). The next 2 shots taken at 250mm. All 4 shots taken on shutter priority mode, with shutter speed of 1/200, aperture of f/5.6 and flash exp comp at +2.

Looking forward to your advise.

Thanks!!!

You might have a soft version of that lens.... or the lens is just that soft.

[KRISHNAN]

The lens focus is varied. I have noted the following in yoru shots. I can provide you some advice but there are others who may be an expert. Let others respond.

Your white balance has to be set well. there is such thing as exposure compensation. If you have used auto setting. The white balance are adjusted by the camera. the camera assumed that your subject is all the background not the doll so The background seemt ot be slightly clearer. The dolls structure is blur no doubt.

what shoudl be done.

Set your white balance to custom. If you are not familiar with manual setting use AV it is best suited for those learners, Ensure that your camera is focussed on the doll not the background. get closer to subject. 55mm is still far. your flash has to be on, set ISO to 400
shutter speed to 1/65 and yoru apature should be f4. the photo will be very sharp. The camer will automatically know that the subject is the doll not the background. since U are using Canon there is one more item I can tell U. When U C thru eyepiece and press shutter halfway you will hear a beep followed by 7 light position. Ensure that all seven appear. try a a few times before you press shutter all the way. However you must understand that you are not in control when using auto or AV. manual is more prefarable.

Regards
krishnan
Freelance Photographer
www.krissubaphotography.blogspot.com

[autofocus]

..way too much data. Just use your center focus point to focus on the doll, do this while holding the shutter button half way down, recompose your shot (if you want) and finish by pressing the shutter the rest of the way. this should lock the focus on your subject, the doll...hope this helps, and good luck

[constructivecriticism]

I'm afraid I don't quite see the correlation between white balance and sharpness of the picture, but I do have a couple of pointers of my own.

First, as Auto-Focus mentioned, select the center focus by clicking the button on the top right of the backside of the camera, which has the magnifying glass with a plus sign in the middle. That should bring you to the 'AF Point Selection' screen. From there, click the navigational keys until you have selected the center point. Now, when you have the subject in your frame, make sure to put it dead center, and while Auto-Focus is turned on, click the shutter button halfway until the middle focal point blinks red once. Take the shot, see if it looks any better.

One other thing that may be causing this is if you have some residue on the sensor. You can go into the camera's menu and select 'Sensor Cleaning: Manual', after which you can take off the camera's lens (in a dust-free environment, or as close to it as you can get), and take a gander at the digital sensor itself. It should be not only dust free, but reflective and of consistent shine.

Another scenario would be to allow for greater depth of field - do so by increasing the aperature - up to 10 or more. See if this shot offers a clearer subject.

Worst case scenario, it could be the focal mechanism of the camera (the way the sensor determines when a picture is in focus) or of the lens (the mechanical part - electric motor that move the lenses inside).

Best of luck figuring it out. If you bought the latter lense from a B&M store, feel free to walk up to them with the lens and the body and tell them it's not working right - see if they have a spe******t at hand - but DON'T let them offer to service it for you for a fee.

Just my $.02

[autofocus]

...another quick thought, is your IS turned on? Hand holding a 250mm telephoto with that turned off, or even on a flimsy tripod could be the root of your problem. Maybe a double check is in order?

[OsmosisStudios]

They just look out of focus, as though the camera chose to focus slightly beyond the figure.

[AtlPikMan]

Id like too see the same shots taken outside in good light. Those kit lenses arent the best in dim light even with a tripod...

Andreboy, Do you have any pics taken outside or in good light?

[vandergus]

I'm gonna vote for a mis-calibration in your auto focus system. Try placing some objects in front of and behind the main subject. If one of them is sharper than your main subject, your auto focus is off. Take it to your local camera shop for a tune up.

[andreboy]

Originally Posted by maxharvard

You might have a soft version of that lens.... or the lens is just that soft.

Forgive my ignorance, but what do you mean by a soft version? Or a soft lens?