Blurry

[IndyMX]

I am having a real problem with most of my photos being very blurry. I just can't seem to get the AF to work for me.

My setup is: Canon 20D / Canon 75-300mm 4-5.6 (USM) / Canon 18-55mm 3.5-5.6


I shot about 500 frames this weekend at a local track, and tried various settings, and couldn't seem to find anything
that helped me very much. I tried Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority, and Manual and can't find a good solution.

The conditions were overcast to rainy. I set white balance to "Cloudy" and ISO to 400.

Are there any suggestions that anyone can give me that might help me figure out what I can do to get pictures that are sharper?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Tony Eeds]

Can you post an image for people to look at with all the data from the photo?

I had the same problem with my d20 at Dirtweek year before last. It boiled down to me just needing to get more time in shooting moving objects. I was also confounded by shadows.

The gurus can give you far more help than I can.

It isn't your equipment.

 

[Okiewan]

Can you post an image for people to look at with all the data from the photo?

+1

 

[Green Horn]

It isn't your equipment.

I HATE it when I can't blame it on the camera. :|

 

[IndyMX]

Here is one example.. It doesn't look too bad at this resolution, but at 3504x2336 it sucks.

I know its not the equipment. It is definately a loose nut behind the viewfinder. I have taken some really killer shots with this gear, but I am having a horrible time taking anything with less than bright sunlight or completely motionless.

Thanks for the help.

 

[Squid31]

I don't think your focus is off, but your shutter is way too slow. The shot you posted was at 1/125 @ f/13 shooting in TV mode. Try upping your shutter speed to 1/1000 - 1/2000 and you will see a huge difference.

 

[Okiewan]

Well.. 1/125th (you picked) is too slow, you've got some motion blur going on, not so much oof. Considering f/13 and 125, you could have gone much faster.

 

[IndyMX]

Ok.. I'll give that a shot... Perhaps I should switch to Av?

 

[Okiewan]

Tough call. On bad light days, unless you really know the game, it may be easier to pick shutter speed and let the cam do the rest. Like the man said, on tv go 1,000 and let the camera pick the aperture. A decent shot is better than no shot, right? So DOF isn't optimal, at least you'll have some keepers.

Tip #2: Always take Squid31's advice before Okie's. :cool:

 

[Kawidude]

A good rule of thumb is to always have your shutter speed set AT LEAST the same, if not higher, than your focal length. For example, if you're using your 75-300mm lens (I have the same one, see my other thread for sample shots) and you're zoomed in all the way to 300mm, you'd want your shutter speed to be at least 300, or more likely 400-500, depending on the amount of blur you want on the wheels and dirt.

 

[Okiewan]

Yes, that's a general rule to avoid camera shake (applies to full frame tho as do focal length numbers of lenses) ... 300mm x 1.6 crop of the 20D, ie; 1/500, which is the minimum I'd shoot moto, still allows for some motion blur. But, if you are are 70mm? 1/70th (or whatever is closest) is not even in the ball park, so that rule doesn't really apply to action shots, rather stationary subjects.

 

[IndyMX]

Now I can't wait to get back out to the track to try some of this stuff out.

 

[Rich Rohrich]

This Kirk strap-pod helps me in low light settings when I can't shoot with a fast enough shutter to be perfectly stable.
http://www.kirkphoto.com/accessories.html#strappod

 

[Kawidude]

This Kirk strap-pod helps me in low light settings when I can't shoot with a fast enough shutter to be perfectly stable.
http://www.kirkphoto.com/accessories.html#strappod

That's pretty cool. Looks a heck of a lot easier to lug around than a monopod.

 

[Okiewan]

Oh and don'[t feel bad about any C&C offered, I just got turned down by Shutterstock (my 10 images it seems were out of focus :whoa: , lol). 7 of 10 images were rejected as " Not to our focus standards" .... uh... okay, so I won't allow my stuff to be used for .25 :laugh:

 

[IndyMX]

That's pretty cool. Looks a heck of a lot easier to lug around than a monopod.

I believe I could make one for the price of the shipping...

 

[Okiewan]

I believe I could make one for the price of the shipping...

Yup...

 

[oldguy]

Oh I thought she came with it to do the shooting

That really is a lot better then the monopod I was lugging around for a while it just got to awkward and ended up staying in the trailer

 

[IndyMX]

Oh and don'[t feel bad about any C&C offered, I just got turned down by Shutterstock (my 10 images it seems were out of focus :whoa: , lol). 7 of 10 images were rejected as " Not to our focus standards" .... uh... okay, so I won't allow my stuff to be used for .25 :laugh:

The bas****s!

 

[IndyMX]

Oh I thought she came with it to do the shooting

That really is a lot better then the monopod I was lugging around for a while it just got to awkward and ended up staying in the trailer

Hey, if she came with it, I might go for it..

 

[Okiewan]

Seems the folks at Shutterstock think shallow DOF is out of focus :p

 

[Rich Rohrich]

I believe I could make one for the price of the shipping...

Not if you have an ARCA quick release plate on your camera body. ;)

 

[IndyMX]

Not if you have an ARCA quick release plate on your camera body. ;)

Nope. Don't have one. So, I guess I'm in luck!! WHOOT!

 

[Chili]

What AF mode are you using? To shoot action you will want to be in Ai Servo mode. I've also been less than impressed with servo on my 20D's unless I use the center focus point for sports.

 

[IndyMX]

What AF mode are you using? To shoot action you will want to be in Ai Servo mode. I've also been less than impressed with servo on my 20D's unless I use the center focus point for sports.

I have tried AI Servo and Single shot.. But, with some of the tips I have gotten from this thread, I am going to go out and see what happens this weekend.