Test my lens and solution required

[Yisehaq]

hey all,

After experiencing alot of problem on sharpness, I have decided to test my equipments. For now, I am testing my lens.

I used the following technique suggested by jlabel.

lens sharpness-how to test

The best way to check technical focus is using your camera on a tripod and focusing and shooting a ruler, chose a number and shoot it if the focus is misplaced it may be a lens problem, some newer cameras have the option to configure this kind of problem, also you will be able to see if your lens is sharp enought for you, you should also use f/5.6 or f/8 for this test.

Additional info.

I used a tripod, mirror was locked up and all shots were taken using a cable release. The focus point was [20] on all the shots.
No PP what so ever.

My lens is Sigma APO 70-300mm F4-5.6 DG MACRO
My camera is Canon 350D

what do you think?

[Marko]

To me the "20" does not look tack sharp.

What format were they taken in (RAW/JPG)

IF they were shot in RAW, did you sharpen them at anytime before you uploaded them?

IF they were shot in JPG, did you sharpen them at anytime before you uploaded them?

Thx - Marko

[Yisehaq]

Thanks for your reply Marko,

To me the "20" does not look tack sharp.

What format were they taken in (RAW/JPG)

IF they were shot in RAW, did you sharpen them at anytime before you uploaded them?

IF they were shot in JPG, did you sharpen them at anytime before you uploaded them?

Thx - Marko

It was shot in JPG. No post processing what so ever done on this pictures. They are just out of the camera. May be only cropped.

[tirediron]

The problem with this method is that the target, the [20] is not square to the film plane, so your images are suffering from a parallax error. The best way to do this would be to repeat it, using a series of vertical targets such as matchboxes in a staggered line.

[Marko]

Although T.I. is correct, it would have been better if both camera and subject were on the same plane, I'm not convinced that's the problem.

Do you know if your camera is sharpening the images? There should be a setting in the menu that tells you if any sharpening is going on.

If no sharpening is going on, that may be it. In my experience (though I only shoot RAW) digital images need to be sharpened.

any other opinions? Thx! Marko

[Yisehaq]

Thanks all of you.

Do you know if your camera is sharpening the images? There should be a setting in the menu that tells you if any sharpening is going on.

There is a setting parameter 1 which has sharpening scale +1. These days, I only use RAW for any purpose.

I tried to use Focus Test but couldn't get it exactly. I will give it a try once more.

[EJC]

Here is a more elaborate test with instructions. Focus Test

I hope this helps

cheers

[Greg_Nuspel]

Here is a more elaborate test with instructions. Focus Test

I hope this helps

cheers

You beat me to it

[Vladimir Naumoff]

Canon 350D has known issues for focusing. Your body needs to be calibrated most likely. The only thing is that calibration is going to cost you more money then your camera cost now. My friends tried everything and he will be buying a new camera soon. His 350 would do 8 out of 10 photos out of focus and he tried a lot of lenses because me and him like to rent and try different staff. So it wasn't a lens for sure. We found a few people on the net with the same issue and all of them got trapped with this Canon 350D.

Take that lens and put it in to different camera you will see what I am talking about.

My advise is start to save for a new body.

[Vladimir Naumoff]

I looked at the pictures again and I have bad news for you. My body thinks it's the same thing. APO Sigma should give you much better results then this. The only way to be sure you have to test your lens with the same or hight version of Canon's body, XTi or 40D would do for sure. Their is a chance that an other 350D would have the same issue. May be they all after certain amount of shots must be calibrated I wouldn't take a risk.