How can I keep people sharp when photographing them from farther away with more scenery included?
Asked 10/24/2015
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I’m happy with the sharpness of my close-up portraits using a 50mm prime, but when I step back to include more scenery or more people, my subjects don’t look as crisp. Do I need a different lens for this, or is it more likely a shooting-technique issue? What settings or approach help keep distant subjects sharp while still showing the environment?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
10y ago
2 Answers
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There could be any number of factors coming into play here. Lack of sharpness is many times due to how you captured the image and not what lens you are using. It is not impossible for the lens to be at fault, but if you have a 50mm prime lens already - I would be willing to bet you can achieve very sharp images with it if it is used properly.
Some of the possible culprits include:
- Capturing your subject at the edges of the frame(such as in the second image) vs the center(such as in the first image)
- Selecting too wide of an aperture for the number of subjects(and their varying distances from the camera)
- Using the widest aperture that your lens is capable of (i.e f/1.4 with a 50mm f/1.4 lens is going to produce the least sharp results typically compared to f/5.6 or so)
- Poor autofocus technique, such as the "focus and recompose" technique with the center AF point only.
- Selecting an aperture beyond the diffraction limit such as f/16 on most modern DSLRs.
- Too slow of shutter speed to remove handshake
- One of your lenses may need microadjustment to accurately focus.
Without more information such as the aperture, camera, lens, and full size images - I can't be more precise. But those are some of the things to look into and consider at a high level.
For more information, see:
Originally by user4892. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user4892
10y ago
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A new lens may not be the main fix. Based on the answers, your 50mm prime should be capable of sharp results, and the softness is more likely caused by technique and shooting conditions.
Things that commonly reduce sharpness in wider, more distant people shots:
- Subjects placed near the edges of the frame, where lenses can be less sharp
- Aperture too wide for a group or scene with subjects at different distances
- Using the lens wide open, which is often less sharp than stopping down
- Shutter speed too slow, camera shake, or subject movement
- Autofocus limitations
To improve results:
- Stop down the lens instead of shooting wide open; a smaller aperture increases depth of field and often improves lens sharpness
- Use a faster shutter speed, especially if people are moving or it’s windy
- Stabilize the camera with a tripod or solid handholding technique
- Use good light whenever possible
- Keep important subjects closer to the center of the frame if you can
Also, when you include lots of scenery, people occupy a much smaller part of the image, so they naturally show less detail. If you want them to look larger and sharper, you may simply need to get closer or compose tighter.
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