topic Re: Sharpness on 6D in EOS DSLR & Mirrorless Cameras

EOS 6D Lack of Sharpness

RobRich — Tue, 05 Mar 2024 14:38:01 GMT

I am a novice but I notice my 6D images aren’t as sharp as my old EOS Rebel XSi. I’ve tried different lenses, tripods, etc. the image in the view finder even looks sharper to me. Has anyone noticed this before?Rebel xsi6d

Re: Sharpness on 6D

shadowsports — Sun, 03 Mar 2024 15:11:54 GMT

Greetings,

If you'd like us to evaluate your images, please post a link with RAW files uploaded to a sharing service such as OneDrive, DropBox, Google Drive, etc. We'd be happy to take a look.

Thanks in advance.

Re: Sharpness on 6D

rs-eos — Sun, 03 Mar 2024 15:17:35 GMT

What lens are you using?

Did you have any adjustments (e.g. added sharpness) being done on the Rebel XSi? Do you have those same adjustments on the EOS 6D?

Re: Sharpness on 6D

justadude — Sun, 03 Mar 2024 15:24:15 GMT

I noticed these are both JPEG images here. If you are shooting in JPEG mode instead of RAW, that could be part of the problem. Different processors in each camera could slightly change JPEG output. In addition, the two images here look like slight different edits as well. The first image has more punch to the colors and detail (clarity), the second image looks like the saturation is a bit lower, as well as the clarity... and the black and whites look a bit "washed" or "clipped".

Have you tried this type of comparison in RAW mode and unedited files? The 6D with a good lens should produce very sharp images. My 6D always did, so what you are seeing isn't something wrong with the camera model itself.

I agree with Rick - let us see a comparison with unedited RAW files, please.

Re: Sharpness on 6D

RobRich — Sun, 03 Mar 2024 17:47:11 GMT

I am only shooting in JPEG mode. Here is a link to 2 photos. https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/2eqh42ro1lb60thod6lkq/h?rlkey=nkufmnh73tmplwvk8uvlz1y0n&dl=0

Re: Sharpness on 6D

RobRich — Sun, 03 Mar 2024 17:50:24 GMT

I will have to look at my settings. I don't think I have any additional settings on either camera that would affect sharpness. As mentioned (not sure if it's my imagination) but the focus on the Rebel seems more exact when shooting the picture. The lens grabs the subject and it looks sharp in the view finder. The 6D doesn't have the same feeling. I thought I needed to adjust the viewfinder dioptrics but that didn't help.

Re: Sharpness on 6D

RobRich — Sun, 03 Mar 2024 17:51:44 GMT

I will do some raw files. Not sure if the old Rebel can do anything but jpeg. Thanks.

Re: Sharpness on 6D

rs-eos — Sun, 03 Mar 2024 18:27:53 GMT

What lens?

Re: Sharpness on 6D

jrhoffman75 — Sun, 03 Mar 2024 19:16:16 GMT

I took a quick look. I agree with your observation.

The EF-S 55-250 is a sharp lens. The EF 75-300 is not one of canon's better lenses. Do you have a different lens that you could use on both bodies?

Re: Sharpness on 6D

jrhoffman75 — Sun, 03 Mar 2024 19:41:46 GMT

I took a look at the JPEGs you linked in Lightroom.

The Rebel used AI Servo and looks like it locked on a multi-color area with contrast.

The camera also recorded data on distance to object.

The 6D reports One Shot focus on the white part of the cat, but that area has minimal contrast and the camera didn't record any distance info. I wonder if it is a focus issue more so than a sharpness issue?

Can you try a different subject and have the settings on both cameras the same?

Re: Sharpness on 6D

RobRich — Sun, 03 Mar 2024 21:28:12 GMT

On the 6D I was using a 70-300 EF lens. On Rebel I was using a 55-250 EF-S

I took some more shots using a 70-300 EF L lens now it looks pretty similar to my eyes.

Re: Sharpness on 6D

RobRich — Sun, 03 Mar 2024 21:28:58 GMT

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/2eqh42ro1lb60thod6lkq/h?rlkey=nkufmnh73tmplwvk8uvlz1y0n&dl=0

I used a better lens on the 6D now and used RAW on both cameras

Re: Sharpness on 6D

RobRich — Sun, 03 Mar 2024 21:30:31 GMT

I switched to a 70-300 L lens for the 6D and shot in raw

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/2eqh42ro1lb60thod6lkq/h?rlkey=nkufmnh73tmplwvk8uvlz1y0n&dl=0

Re: Sharpness on 6D

RobRich — Sun, 03 Mar 2024 21:33:53 GMT

I switched to a 70-300 L lens. The photos now look pretty much the same. But I still think the 6D doesn't focus as well as the Rebel. Maybe I'm imagining it.

Re: Sharpness on 6D

jrhoffman75 — Sun, 03 Mar 2024 21:39:23 GMT

You can evaluate that. Set up on a tripod. Focus on an object using the viewfinder in One Shot AF. Switch to Live View and see if the image is in focus. It is possible, though not likely, that the viewfinder focusing system needs to be calibrated.

Re: Sharpness on 6D

RobRich — Mon, 04 Mar 2024 11:34:44 GMT

Thanks - i will try that

Re: Sharpness on 6D

Peter — Mon, 04 Mar 2024 14:20:43 GMT

A good start https://support.usa.canon.com/resources/sites/CANON/content/live/ARTICLES/175000/ART175504/en_US/AF_MicroAdjustGuide_desktop.pdf

Especially the part preparation.

Also remember that the focus points are larger than they appear in the viewfinder http://www.phreekz.de/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Canon_6D_AF_points_v31.jpg

Re: Sharpness on 6D

RobRich — Mon, 04 Mar 2024 18:12:52 GMT

Peter - thank you. I will try that.