topic Re: why does my camera (EOS REBEL XS) take blurry pictures in EOS DSLR & Mirrorless Cameras

why does my camera (EOS REBEL XS) take blurry pictures

plc4d — Tue, 27 Aug 2013 01:54:44 GMT

why does my camera (EOS REBEL XS) TAKE BLURRY PICTURES?

Re: why does my camera (EOS REBEL XS) take blurry pictures

ScottyP — Tue, 27 Aug 2013 10:05:54 GMT

My guess would be too slow a shutter speed. Does it happen a lot less if you are out in bright sunshine? Are you using the auto settings (auto or P)?

Re: why does my camera (EOS REBEL XS) take blurry pictures

Skirball — Tue, 27 Aug 2013 15:03:35 GMT

Either it's slow shutter as mentioned above, or you accidently moved the switch (ON THE LENS) that turns it to manual focus. If you post up a photo we could probably tell you which it is.

If using a semi-auto setting like Av the camera will use long shutter speeds if needed to get proper exposure. If you're trying to take shots indoors, then this is probably what's happening.

Re: why does my camera (EOS REBEL XS) take blurry pictures

TCampbell — Tue, 27 Aug 2013 15:42:13 GMT

There are a few reasons you can end up with a blurry image:

1) Improper camera settings based on the type of image you were taking (mostly due to the shutter speed being too slow to be a hand-held shot, or the subject was moving too fast for the shutter speed you set.) If the subject isn't moving and also if the camera isn't moving, then the shutter can be open as long as necessary to get a great exposure with no blur -- which means you'd want to use a tripod (or other device that prevent the camera from moving.)

This is usually the most likely reason for the issue you describe. If you're new to photography with a DSLR camera, a highly recommended book is "Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson. It's written for beginners so he's careful to explain concepts using terms that everyone would understand. The Scott Kelby Digital Photography series is also popular (I think that's up to four books now.)

2) The camera didn't focus on your intended subject. There can be a lot of reasons why this happens. It's possible there wasn't enough light to allow the auto-focus system to get a lock. It's possible there was a distracting element in the frame which was closer than your intended subject. It's possible the camera AF mode was set to AI Servo and you didn't wait for the camera to finish focusing before fully pressing the shutter button. It's possible the AF/MF switch on the lens was set to the MF position so the camera didn't even try to focus. The list goes on.

If this is the issue, then there's a series of videos by Canon's Rudy Winston did at B&H Photo. These are all posted to YouTube and free. It's in three parts and is well worth the investment of time -- once you watch it, you'll understand WHY the camera behaves the way it does when it comes to focus and everything will finally make sense.

Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAx86nblZ2g

Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_F7lCvp5DI

Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WTWiN9kLts

3) Lastly... it's possible that a camera or lens could be damaged and incapable of focusing. This is usually the least likely reason but it's possible.

If you can post an image showing an example of what you mean and, VERY important... please DO leave the EXIF data in the image. The EXIF data is hidden information in your image that the camera records. It tells us information about the camera model, lens model, exposure information, and other settings. That info is very useful as we can usually quickly tell if your exposure settings were adequate.

Regards,

Tim

Re: why does my camera (EOS REBEL XS) take blurry pictures

Lizcannon — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 02:08:21 GMT

My AF mode is set to one shot and I have the center focus point set. When taking a picture with a single persone I focus the center point on the subjects eye, press halfway down focus and shoot. Where do you place the focus point when you are shooting two people and you want both subjects to be sharp and in focus?

Re: why does my camera (EOS REBEL XS) take blurry pictures

ebiggs1 — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 13:07:37 GMT

That depends how they are positioned. Are they side by side or one in front of the other?

All lenses have a given DOF (depth of field). So not just the "eye" is going to be in focus in most situations. Also as the aperture gets smaller (a larger number f2--->f8) will have more of the subject(s) in focus.

Re: why does my camera (EOS REBEL XS) take blurry pictures

Lizcannon — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 15:43:18 GMT

If They are side by side where would I put the focus point so both subjects are sharp?

Re: why does my camera (EOS REBEL XS) take blurry pictures

ebiggs1 — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 18:00:16 GMT

You can focus on either and hold the shutter button 1/2 way than recompose the shot to where you want it.

Re: why does my camera (EOS REBEL XS) take blurry pictures

ScottyP — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 18:50:38 GMT

Set a higher f/number, like f/8 or f/11 if there is enough light to stop it down like that. It will give you more depth of field to work with. Then focus on the nearer face and recompose, or maybe you can even get away with letting the camera pick the AF points.

Re: why does my camera (EOS REBEL XS) take blurry pictures

Mindylee22 — Mon, 29 Dec 2014 04:01:08 GMT

How would I change the f/number? I don't see an option for that on my canon rebel xsi. I am getting blurry pictures on all setting except the TV setting. Shutter speed sounds extremely slow

Re: why does my camera (EOS REBEL XS) take blurry pictures

TCampbell — Mon, 29 Dec 2014 05:21:10 GMT

The "f/number" is sometimes called the "f-stop" or "focal ratio". On your camera, it's labeled "Av" for "Aperture value".

The value is a ratio... specifically it's the ratio of the focal length of the lens (in millimeters) divided by the diameter of clear aperture (also in millimeters). e.g. if you had a 50mm lens with a 25mm wide aperture, then that would be "f/2" because 25 divides into 50 twice. If you had a 100mm lens and the aperture was still 25mm then that would be f/4... 25 divides into 100, four times.

The smaller the opening (relative to the focal length of the lens), the higher the ratio, the smaller the opening. This is one of several factors that influence the range of distances at which a subject will appear to be more-or-less in acceptable focus.

E.g. suppose I focus the camera for a subject which is 10' away. It turns out things which are only 9' away or as far as 11' away might also appear to be focused. That range is called the "depth of field".

If we happen to be using a 50mm lens and f/4... that above example (focus at 10' get a depth of field from roughly 9' through 11') is what we'd get.

BUT... if we increase the "f/number" (Av) to, say, f/11... then the depth of field increases to about 8' through 13.5'. At f/16 it increaases even more... 7.3' to 15.7'.

Alas there is no free lunch. Everything is a trade off. In this case, the trade-off caused by decreasing the size of the aperture opening (and thus increases the depth of field) is that you also reduce how much light can enter the camera when the shutter is open and that means you'll either need to shoot at a slower shutter speed (possibly too slow for hand-held shots) -or- you may need to increase the ISO sensitivity of the camera (which increases the amount of "noise" visible in the image).

This concept of balancing the ISO, shutter speed, and aperture size is all part of understanding "exposure" values.

The book "Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson might be especially helpful to you in understanding how to know what camera setting you might change to get the results you want.

Re: why does my camera (EOS REBEL XS) take blurry pictures

SquatchTech — Tue, 14 Mar 2017 15:39:15 GMT

When i take a picture indoors the picture looks good. But when i zoom it in to look at it it is blurry.

I have the camera set on full auto.

It is the Cannon EOS Rebel XTI.

I am new to this and don't understand a lot about the Camera.

I also got a 75-300mm Tramron lens and it will only shoot to 200mm.

Anything above that the camera shows ERROR.

Weird

Is it something i am doing wrong.

Please E-Mail me as i won't find this page again

My E-Mail is [MOD NOTE: Email address removed per FORUM GUIDELINES] all lower case

Thank You So Much

Jan Allen Sr

Re: why does my camera (EOS REBEL XS) take blurry pictures

ebiggs1 — Tue, 14 Mar 2017 15:53:20 GMT

"I also got a 75-300mm Tramron lens and it will only shoot to 200mm."

The Tamron is probably not compatible with your Rebel. That is the chance you take when you buy third party lenses and gear.

"But when i zoom it in to look at it it is blurry."

I would bet they are blurry even when you don't zoom in. You just don't notice it as much. The biggest cause of blurry indoor photos is not enough light which slows the SS down too much. More light or a real flash are two remedies if a higher ISO doesn't help.

Re: why does my camera (EOS REBEL XS) take blurry pictures

Waddizzle — Tue, 14 Mar 2017 16:46:19 GMT

"I also got a 75-300mm Tramron lens and it will only shoot to 200mm."

If it stops working above 200mm, what is the range of "f/stops" listed on the lens? It might be written as a ratio like this " 1:4.5 - 1:6.3 ".

The built in flash on your camera is fairly weak. It has a range of 10 feet, or less. And, because the built-in flash is so small, and does not raise up very high, some long lenses will cast a shadow into the photo, which I suspect your 70-300mm lens may do.

Your 70-300mm lens is fairly "long", which refers to the focal lengths, for your camera body. That range of zoom is considered to be medium telephoto I would suggest getting a "standard" range of zoom lens, which for your camera body are focal lengths ranging roughly from about 18-55mm.

Re: why does my camera (EOS REBEL XS) take blurry pictures

Brayden1301 — Mon, 05 Jun 2017 02:11:26 GMT

I also need help mine is blurry also

Re: why does my camera (EOS REBEL XS) take blurry pictures

Billyboiam14 — Wed, 18 Mar 2020 23:30:02 GMT

Re: why does my camera (EOS REBEL XS) take blurry pictures

ebiggs1 — Thu, 19 Mar 2020 15:35:38 GMT

Your picture if simply out of focus. Make sure the lens is on AF and not MF.

Re: why does my camera (EOS REBEL XS) take blurry pictures

kvbarkley — Thu, 19 Mar 2020 16:17:41 GMT

It might have been hard to tell because at that party it looks like the photographer might have been out of focus, too. 8^)

Re: why does my camera (EOS REBEL XS) take blurry pictures

ebiggs1 — Thu, 19 Mar 2020 16:22:12 GMT

Re: why does my camera (EOS REBEL XS) take blurry pictures

RobertTheFat — Fri, 20 Mar 2020 00:22:48 GMT

@ebiggs1 wrote:
Your picture if simply out of focus. Make sure the lens is on AF and not MF.

I've had that happen to me. Not a pleasant sensation. Fortunately, the one time it really mattered, I was working with a backup photographer.

It brings up an interesting question: How hard would it be to have the lens tell the camera whether it was set to AF or not? The lens already communicates with the camera in more complex ways than that. The camera could then warn the photographer that the lens wasn't able to respond. For that matter, how come the camera doesn't infer it anyway? It has to be able to recognize that the image isn't coming into focus. Am I missing something obvious?