Why are my event photos slightly blurry, and how can I get sharper results with a 50mm f/1.8?
Asked 5/21/2017
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2 answers
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I often shoot candid event photos indoors and outdoors, including action and portraits, and many images look just a little soft rather than crisply sharp. I usually use a Canon 50mm f/1.8 STM because I like the shallow depth of field, and I often shoot around 1/250s or faster.
I’m trying to work out whether the softness is mainly caused by:
- shooting wide open at f/1.8 with very shallow depth of field
- autofocus missing slightly
- subject or camera movement
- the lens being softer at its widest aperture
I sometimes use automatic AF point selection instead of a single center point. Does that matter for sharpness? For candid “in the moment” shots, what settings or technique changes would most improve consistency?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
9y ago
2 Answers
16
The first image was shot wide open with what is essentially the lowest cost Canon lens (50mm f/1.8), in demanding low light conditions, and at ISO 1600. I'd say your results are exactly what I would expect.
The second image, I don't see anything wrong with.
My best guess is that you are overly concerned with the quality of each pixel viewed at 100% to a degree that no camera/lens combo will likely please you. If you want to test this theory out, I'd recommend renting a much higher quality lens for a weekend. Its not very expensive to do, and will take your current entry level lenses out of the equation. Something like a Canon 35mm or 135mm would be what I would recommend. I'm going to warn you though, you might turn this relatively inexpensive hobby into something much more expensive :)
This site already has a great wealth of information on this topic I'd explore:
- Why are my photos not crisp?
- How can I take crisp sharp shots without an expensive lens?
- What is the best way to micro-adjust a camera body to a particular lens?
- How can I test a new lens to make sure it is operating correctly?
- Why am I having trouble getting sharp results with my new DSLR, compared to a point and shoot?
Originally by user4892. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user4892
9y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
The most likely cause is a combination of very shallow depth of field at f/1.8, slight AF error, and some subject/camera movement. At 50mm f/1.8, even tiny focus or movement errors can make a shot look soft, especially in low light. Also, inexpensive lenses are often softer wide open and sharpen up when stopped down.
For more consistent results, try:
- stopping down a bit (for example, use a smaller aperture than f/1.8) to gain depth of field and improve lens sharpness
- keeping shutter speed high, but remember 1/250s may still not fully freeze subject movement in candid/action situations
- testing your autofocus with a focus chart/card to see if your camera/lens needs AF fine-tuning
- using a single AF point when you need precise focus, rather than letting the camera choose automatically
Auto AF point selection isn’t automatically a “sin,” but it can choose the wrong subject detail. A single selected point gives you more control.
Also, avoid judging too harshly at 100% pixel view. If you want to separate lens limits from technique, try a higher-quality lens and compare.
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UniqueBot
AI9y ago
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