Refurbished 80d...blurry out of focus photos.. HELP!

[KevinG1]

Im new to photography, started this year with a rebel t6 that I outgrew fast. I seemed to learn pretty quick and have always shot in manual mode. Quality of my t6 photos are great! Clear, crisp, and so on.

decided to upgrade to a 80d, and picked one up through canon refurbished. Well the majority of my shots come out blurry. For example, i do car photography {stills} and lets say the wheels are out of focus, or the lights... cant seem to get consistent clear crisp photos.

Not sure if its me, or the camera. Seems all of my lenses will do it. Mostly shoot with the canon 50mm 1.4 and nothing comes out clear under f2.8. Best around 4.

Ive tried everything. Tripod, high shutter speed, manual focus.. live view, view finder, tried all different focus point methods. The one wierd thing I noticed is when i used live view today, it showed the image on the screen perfectly in focus and crisp. As soon as the shutter went of it became blurry. That was on a tripod, using 2 sec delay.

Hope someone can help me...

[KevinG1]

I get the same results using different lenses. I tried micro focus adjustments with my canon 50mm 1.4 and it just seemed to get worse

[TTMartin]

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@KevinG1 wrote:

I get the same results using different lenses. I tried micro focus adjustments with my canon 50mm 1.4 and it just seemed to get worse

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Please take the time to review the links I provided, even if they don't solve your problem, they will make you a better photographer.

[KevinG1]

Another weird thing that i just noticed... not sure if its normal or i have a setting off?

Took the same photo, same settings, one using the view finder, one using live view.

When im in live view, the shutter speed sound is much slower then when using the view finder. When using the view finder my image comes out blurry. When in live view, image is clear.

[KevinG1]

Yes ill definitely take a look at those links you posted! Appreciate all the help i can get

[jrhoffman75]

If you are getting sharp images in LiveView but unsharp through viewfinder with more than one lens it is very likely a camera problem. LiveView focuses right on the sensor. The viewfinder uses an indirect ethod of focusing (as discussed in the links).

It should be sent back.

[KevinG1]

Thanks for the help! Im really struggling with this camera, and feel like it shouldn't be this difficult to use

[ScottyP]

1/60 is a slow shutter for handholding a 50mm lens on a crop sensor. The general rule of thumb for full frame sensors would be a shutter speed at least as fast as the reciprocal of the focal length. On a crop sensor you must multiply the minimum speed x 1.6. So a 50mm lens on a crop needs at least 1/80 second or faster. A 100 mm lens on a crop needs at least 1/160 second or faster.  At 200mm you'd need 1/320 or faster shutter. 

Here it is front focusing though. It could be the AF system making a wrong guess.  See if the AF system can focus right by simplifying things. Use your f/2.8 again but go into the AF point selection and select ONLY the center af point to be active so you can tell the camera what to focus on. Either use a tripod or use a plenty fast shutter speed (1/100 minimum or if possible faster like 1/200 or 1/400 if there's enough light). Place that selected af point on the subject and take the picture. See if it focused where you told it to.  If it just can't do that then you probably have a problem with the camera.  If it does focus you know the problem is not the camera. 

[ScottyP]

One other thing is do the test on a non reflective surface. If the car has a nice mirror finish then the camera may try to focus on a reflection instead of the car.  Use something non shiny and something with clear contrast and edges (not a plain smooth wall) as the subject. 

[KevinG1]

I did know that rule about shutter speed, but didnt think of it as a 1.6 multiplier. The photo i just posted wasnt the best choice in showing the problem im having. Its been raining for 3 days and been very dark. I usually shoot with fast shutter speeds.

Even on a cloudy day it still cant get focus. Ive been using single point and putting it rite in the middle of the car, and tried moving it to the hood, or the wheels same outcome.

[Waddizzle]

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@KevinG1 wrote:
I did know that rule about shutter speed, but didnt think of it as a 1.6 multiplier. The photo i just posted wasnt the best choice in showing the problem im having. Its been raining for 3 days and been very dark. I usually shoot with fast shutter speeds.

Even on a cloudy day it still cant get focus. Ive been using single point and putting it rite in the middle of the car, and tried moving it to the hood, or the wheels same outcome.

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Your shutter speed is WAY too slow, IMHO.  Do not be afraid to raise the ISO some., like to 400 or 800.  I’m guessing that it may start to show too much noise by ISO 3200.   The camera could be bad, but I would look at yourself as being at fault before you blame the camera.  Put a priority on using as fast a shutter speed as what is practical. 

Also, use One Shot focusing mode until you become more familiar with the camera, and general photography as a whole.  Learn how to properly hold the camera.  Read up on “ Exposure Triangle “ and “ Depth of Field “.  Read the camera’s instruction manual.  You can download a PDF from Canon Support.

I hate to say it, but you really do not know what you are doing, besides pressing the shutter button.