topic Re: EOS R7 Blurry images up close in EOS DSLR & Mirrorless Cameras

EOS R7 Blurry images up close

jesthepirate — Fri, 20 Oct 2023 21:10:06 GMT

I've started to teach myself manual mode. I've been practicing on dogs at the dog park. I prioritize high shutter speed (1500+), low aperture (3.5-6), and I try to keep my ISO low. My photos look great on the camera but once I download them and zoom in, they're blurry.

I've formed a full list of settings I've learned through different YouTubes but I still haven't seemed to figure out why they're blurry up close. This is even with dogs 3 ft away and hardly moving.

It's either my skill in getting the right combination between the 3 or there's a setting I haven't discovered I need to change. Any ideas?

My lens is 18-150

Re: EOS R7 Blurry images up close

rs-eos — Fri, 20 Oct 2023 21:19:27 GMT

When subjects are that close, depth of field (what will be in focus) can be narrow. Thus, if you and/or the subjects are moving (especially if the distance between the camera and subject changes), that can be leading to the blurry images.

You probably need to experiment with different focusing modes such as Servo AF. See page 442 in the User Manual for details.

Re: EOS R7 Blurry images up close

BurnUnit — Fri, 20 Oct 2023 21:47:15 GMT

To test out rs-eos' theory try stopping down the aperture another step or two and dropping the shutter speed to compensate. This should at least tell you if you're fighting a narrow depth of field problem. If you need more shutter speed you might consider bumping up the ISO a step or two.

I don't know what, if any, editing you're doing. But when viewing your shots on the monitor make sure to not view them at more than 100% or maybe 200% magnification. "Pixel peeping" at more than that can make you a little crazy!

Also, posting a sample pic here might help us figure out what's going on.

Re: EOS R7 Blurry images up close

Waddizzle — Fri, 20 Oct 2023 22:18:32 GMT

You have great gear. How much experience do you have cameras?

There are two learning curves to climb to use a camera effectively. The first learning curve is learning how cameras work. The second learning curve is learning the basics of photography.

I would compare it buying a guitar and learning how play. If you have never played a musical instrument before, then it is unlikely that you will be able to play it well when you first get it. You need to learn the basics of music theory before you can ever play it well.

Notice how the dog’s head is in focus, but everything else is not. This is an example of shallow depth of field the Ricky was describing above.

“Depth of Field” and “Exposure Triangle” are two of the most essential basics of photography that anyone using a camera should know. If you like YouTube, then these are two topics worth exploring and investigating further.

Finally, pixel peeping. Even the sharpest looking photos look soft and fuzzy when viewed zoomed in too far. The camera wasn’t that close to the subject, and neither was your eyeball. Pixel peeping can lead to many incorrect conclusions. Here is the photo video that came when I did a search on YouTube for “pixel peeling cameras”

https://youtu.be/mB9Qzyq0af4?si=Y2KIMNkT6NZcYelZ

Re: EOS R7 Blurry images up close

jesthepirate — Sun, 29 Oct 2023 00:54:43 GMT

That makes a lot of sense!

Re: EOS R7 Blurry images up close

jesthepirate — Sun, 29 Oct 2023 00:55:15 GMT

I didn't know there was a thing as pixel peeping! I'll post a few pics I took today

Re: EOS R7 Blurry images up close

jesthepirate — Sun, 29 Oct 2023 00:58:34 GMT

I've gone through a few photography classes. I do know depth of field and the exposure triangle. I've read the manual and watched many YouTube vids.
I have a learning disability that includes dyslexia and basically dyslexia hearing (CAPD). So asking questions and hands on is my way to go.
I'll post a few pics of the ones I took today.

Re: EOS R7 Blurry images up close

jesthepirate — Sun, 29 Oct 2023 01:04:24 GMT

So some questions I have...
I understand "golden hour" but I've been trying to go to the park when I know there'll be some dogs there.
1, Do I use spot af or should I start with whole area and subject tracking (what I tried today). I've tried to keep my shutter speed at at least 1500 but man, it can be hard to keep my ISO down. Which from what I understand, the higher the ISO the more grainy it looks.

2, My camera switched to mf without the option of switching back (for the second time). I did the reset but my best guess as to why it's happening is that a dog nudges the focus ring on my lens. Could this be right?

Re: EOS R7 Blurry images up close

jesthepirate — Sun, 29 Oct 2023 01:06:11 GMT

These are ones I practiced editing today...

Re: EOS R7 Blurry images up close

jesthepirate — Sun, 29 Oct 2023 01:07:36 GMT

This is an example of when I used one point focus rather than whole area with subject tracking.

Re: EOS R7 Blurry images up close

stevet1 — Sun, 29 Oct 2023 02:06:21 GMT

jeswyoming,

There is absolutely nothing wrong with the last set of pictures you posted.

Use single point focusing, focus on their eyes, and use a medium depth of field like f/5.6 to f/8 and you can't go wrong.

I don't think you need a shutter speed as high as 1500. When you go that high, the camera is going to need to raise the ISO to compensate.

Find some shutter speed charts to guide you in what shutter speeds to use in different situations.

If the dogs are moving, put your camera in Servo mode.

If you use back button focus, it will make your life a whole lot easier. You can press down with your thumb and focus continuously while you shoot.

Steve Thomas

Re: EOS R7 Blurry images up close

jesthepirate — Sun, 29 Oct 2023 22:43:35 GMT

Thank you thank you! This helps me so much.

I have started using back button focus and do see a huge difference.

Thank you, Steve

Re: EOS R7 Blurry images up close

stevet1 — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 00:54:25 GMT

jeswyoming,

You're welcome.

I hope you have nothing but joy and happiness in your photography.

Steve Thomas

Re: EOS R7 Blurry images up close

BurnUnit — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 04:23:40 GMT

It's interesting that when looking at all the pics you posted you can see at least some general improvements progressing from the first to last photo. Be sure to post a couple more samples when you start to feel like you're getting comfortable with your results. I especially liked the shot of the flying black dog, even if everything didn't seem as sharp as you'd hoped.

It looked like most or all of these shots were taken zoomed out as wide as possible with your 18-150 lens. I know nothing about this particular lens but you may find that some zooms aren't always their sharpest at the absolutely shortest or longest focal length. Zooming in just a bit from the fully wide setting may make some improvement.

And you learned a little about "pixel peeping". Now are you familiar with the term "chimping"?

Re: EOS R7 Blurry images up close

Tintype_18 — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 11:45:09 GMT

Those are cute photos. I found your request to be informative from the answers. BTW, when in the dog park...watch where you step. 😉

Re: EOS R7 Blurry images up close

jesthepirate — Sun, 05 Nov 2023 20:13:01 GMT

Hey thank you for the feedback! I am not familiar with chimping...

Re: EOS R7 Blurry images up close

jesthepirate — Sun, 05 Nov 2023 20:17:25 GMT

A couple more questions for you guys...

1, Do I use subject tracking With one point focus or should I keep it off?

2, How do you know when your work is quality enough to offer photography publicly? Especially as far as knowing it will turn out clear if a customer were to order a large sized print.

Re: EOS R7 Blurry images up close

BurnUnit — Sun, 05 Nov 2023 22:11:55 GMT

This, from Wikipedia:

"Chimping is a colloquial term used in digital photography to describe the habit of checking every photo on the camera display (LCD) immediately after capture.

Some photographers use the term in a derogatory sense to describe the actions of amateur photographers, but the act of reviewing images on-camera is not necessarily frowned upon by professional or experienced photographers."

Sadly, if you search the term online, you'll likely find that it's also been adopted to mean something much less appropriate. I'll stick with Wikipedia's definition. 🤔

Re: EOS R7 Blurry images up close

jesthepirate — Mon, 06 Nov 2023 14:17:05 GMT

Makes sense! I'd say I probably do that a little too much... I'm trying to knock my perfectionism back a couple of pegs. Everything seems to take me way too long. Plus it's odd but they don't ever show up the exact same on my computer. I also have to keep turning the brightness on my computer screen all the way up as it dims on its own even though I have that feature shut off. When my sister sees the images on her screen after I edit them, they're way too bright.