Comments on: The Secret to Ultra-Sharp Photos http://www.digital-photography-school.com/the-secret-to-ultra-sharp-photos Discover how to use your digital camera with our Digital Photography Tips. We are a community of photographers of all experience levels who come together to learn, share and grow in our understanding of photography. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 07:58:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Kokain http://www.digital-photography-school.com/the-secret-to-ultra-sharp-photos/comment-page-1#comment-178440 Kokain Mon, 16 May 2011 16:49:14 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/the-secret-to-ultra-sharp-photos/#comment-178440 I want to say the best advice here is from Phil. I got this shitty Panasonic FZ45 and it produce the same quality photos than a cheap point and shoot. After reading your post I bought a tripod, I stopped using F2.8 or F8.0 (F4.0 - F6.4 only), I zoomed a little so no more 24mm wide angle, and the results I got are astonishing every single time. The part that makes me angry is that I wanted purposely a wide angle camera that will make ultra sharp photos of either panoramic view or close objects like parked cars and group of people. Unfortunately the fixed lens on this camera can only produce quality using the steps Phil described above. I just hope this is not true at the high end lens photograpy. I want to say the best advice here is from Phil. I got this shitty Panasonic FZ45 and it produce the same quality photos than a cheap point and shoot. After reading your post I bought a tripod, I stopped using F2.8 or F8.0 (F4.0 – F6.4 only), I zoomed a little so no more 24mm wide angle, and the results I got are astonishing every single time. The part that makes me angry is that I wanted purposely a wide angle camera that will make ultra sharp photos of either panoramic view or close objects like parked cars and group of people. Unfortunately the fixed lens on this camera can only produce quality using the steps Phil described above.
I just hope this is not true at the high end lens photograpy.

]]> By: Claggy http://www.digital-photography-school.com/the-secret-to-ultra-sharp-photos/comment-page-1#comment-31954 Claggy Sat, 12 Jul 2008 15:46:08 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/the-secret-to-ultra-sharp-photos/#comment-31954 Also, keep in mind that using this technique will not always be what you want. For example, if you have a strong foreground subject, you of course want that to be sharp (most likely). If you were to use the hyperfocal distance, that subject may be soft... even with the rest of the photo being sharp. So what a smart thing would be to do would simply be to focus on that subject, since it is in the very front bottom of the frame. Or, you could even focus at the hyperfocal distance, then slowly focus back towards you 'til that foreground subject locks in focus. Hope this helps. Also, keep in mind that using this technique will not always be what you want. For example, if you have a strong foreground subject, you of course want that to be sharp (most likely). If you were to use the hyperfocal distance, that subject may be soft… even with the rest of the photo being sharp. So what a smart thing would be to do would simply be to focus on that subject, since it is in the very front bottom of the frame. Or, you could even focus at the hyperfocal distance, then slowly focus back towards you ’til that foreground subject locks in focus.

Hope this helps.

]]> By: Claggy http://www.digital-photography-school.com/the-secret-to-ultra-sharp-photos/comment-page-1#comment-31953 Claggy Sat, 12 Jul 2008 15:39:35 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/the-secret-to-ultra-sharp-photos/#comment-31953 First of all, thank you Sonal. 2nd of all, everyone needs to stop bashing this post, because it's a great post. Too many people have just been saying a tripod is the key to a sharp photo. Well it's the key to a SHARPER photo, I suppose you could say. But using the information given in this post, it'll give you even sharper results. If you really think that the author of this post had intended to teach us about hyperfocal distance WITHOUT using a tripod... then whatever. I'm pretty sure he would expect us photographers to already know the newbie stuff. Just because this is Digital Photography School doesn't mean some posts can be about slightly more advanced stuff past "omg use a tripod." And I second Sime.. grow up, kids. I, for one, found this post very useful and informative. And I had assumed using a tripod would already be covered by the noob knowledge already stuck in my head, and this post gave me even more knowledge as how to obtain a sharper photo, especially in the case of a landscape. Thanks, Jim! =) First of all, thank you Sonal.

2nd of all, everyone needs to stop bashing this post, because it’s a great post. Too many people have just been saying a tripod is the key to a sharp photo. Well it’s the key to a SHARPER photo, I suppose you could say. But using the information given in this post, it’ll give you even sharper results.

If you really think that the author of this post had intended to teach us about hyperfocal distance WITHOUT using a tripod… then whatever. I’m pretty sure he would expect us photographers to already know the newbie stuff. Just because this is Digital Photography School doesn’t mean some posts can be about slightly more advanced stuff past “omg use a tripod.”

And I second Sime.. grow up, kids.

I, for one, found this post very useful and informative. And I had assumed using a tripod would already be covered by the noob knowledge already stuck in my head, and this post gave me even more knowledge as how to obtain a sharper photo, especially in the case of a landscape.

Thanks, Jim! =)

]]> By: Sahul http://www.digital-photography-school.com/the-secret-to-ultra-sharp-photos/comment-page-1#comment-31668 Sahul Mon, 07 Jul 2008 15:00:47 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/the-secret-to-ultra-sharp-photos/#comment-31668 There are many ways to sharp photography and the above is one of them. And Dave this isn't some clap trap. Thank you for your time and effort, Jim. :) There are many ways to sharp photography and the above is one of them. And Dave this isn’t some clap trap. Thank you for your time and effort, Jim. :)

]]> By: Phil http://www.digital-photography-school.com/the-secret-to-ultra-sharp-photos/comment-page-1#comment-31642 Phil Sun, 06 Jul 2008 17:47:33 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/the-secret-to-ultra-sharp-photos/#comment-31642 Hi Chuck, from my own experience the IS should definitely be switched off when the camera is tripod mounted. As an example, try a night shot (longer exposure) using tripod and leaving IS switched on. You should see swirls on the image due to the gyroscope inside the lens. Hi Chuck, from my own experience the IS should definitely be switched off when the camera is tripod mounted.

As an example, try a night shot (longer exposure) using tripod and leaving IS switched on. You should see swirls on the image due to the gyroscope inside the lens.

]]> By: Chuck Dyer http://www.digital-photography-school.com/the-secret-to-ultra-sharp-photos/comment-page-1#comment-31619 Chuck Dyer Sat, 05 Jul 2008 18:16:46 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/the-secret-to-ultra-sharp-photos/#comment-31619 I disagree with some of the comments about turning off the IS when a using a tripod. IS works as closed-loop system - When a camera is mounted on a tripod there is minimal shake and as a result, the IS affects will be minimal to none. I agree with people that mention the use of Live-View to achieve optimal focus. I use Live-View with a magnified view of the section of the photo that I want optimal focus - I use manual focus in live-view to adjust the focus - I find that even after I achieve good focus with the viewfinder, the magnified live-view reveals that optimal focus can be improved. This technique is especially useful with macro work. I disagree with some of the comments about turning off the IS when a using a tripod. IS works as closed-loop system – When a camera is mounted on a tripod there is minimal shake and as a result, the IS affects will be minimal to none.

I agree with people that mention the use of Live-View to achieve optimal focus. I use Live-View with a magnified view of the section of the photo that I want optimal focus – I use manual focus in live-view to adjust the focus – I find that even after I achieve good focus with the viewfinder, the magnified live-view reveals that optimal focus can be improved. This technique is especially useful with macro work.

]]> By: CHThomson http://www.digital-photography-school.com/the-secret-to-ultra-sharp-photos/comment-page-1#comment-31608 CHThomson Sat, 05 Jul 2008 14:09:55 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/the-secret-to-ultra-sharp-photos/#comment-31608 Dave Yuhas needs to chill out Dave Yuhas needs to chill out

]]> By: crusher28 http://www.digital-photography-school.com/the-secret-to-ultra-sharp-photos/comment-page-1#comment-31566 crusher28 Fri, 04 Jul 2008 15:49:47 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/the-secret-to-ultra-sharp-photos/#comment-31566 What really need a good lens. OH yes and know how to use your camera's settings (DUH WHATS THAT) What really need a good lens. OH yes and know how to use your camera’s settings (DUH WHATS THAT)

]]> By: sime http://www.digital-photography-school.com/the-secret-to-ultra-sharp-photos/comment-page-1#comment-31538 sime Fri, 04 Jul 2008 06:56:07 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/the-secret-to-ultra-sharp-photos/#comment-31538 Play nice folks... If you're just here to flame people, I'm going to have to get my big admin flavoured stick out... Photography forum, not playground. Grow up. Thanks, Sime (admin pre coffee.. Be warned) Play nice folks… If you’re just here to flame people, I’m going to have to get my big admin flavoured stick out… Photography forum, not playground. Grow up.

Thanks,
Sime (admin pre coffee.. Be warned)

]]> By: aussi-photographer-chikky-babe http://www.digital-photography-school.com/the-secret-to-ultra-sharp-photos/comment-page-1#comment-31536 aussi-photographer-chikky-babe Fri, 04 Jul 2008 06:26:10 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/the-secret-to-ultra-sharp-photos/#comment-31536 i was just reading some of the comments and saw u'rs sonal good going that guy is soooo rude he thinks he owns the world for goodness sakes obviously not oh and i love the word TOOL it says so much about the david dude ha and seriously david should get a life and stop mimikin the words we say coz we r wise and thats right get ova u're self mr david yuhas i was just reading some of the comments and saw u’rs sonal good going that guy is soooo rude he thinks he owns the world for goodness sakes obviously not oh and i love the word TOOL it says so much about the david dude ha and seriously david should get a life and stop mimikin the words we say coz we r wise and thats right get ova u’re self mr david yuhas

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