tack sharp images - help needed to save sanity.

[tomorrowstreasures]

subject: tack sharp images.


Those of you who are active on here know that I am yearning to take tack sharp images.

This is what I have to work with.
Canon 5D, Canon 40D
some off brand memory cards (will fill in brand name when i get home)
Canon L series lenses - prime 85mm f/1.2; zoom 70-200mm f/2.8 IS; zoom 70-200mm f/2.8; 10-?mm f/3.5? wide angle
Canon 50mm f/1.8
canon 70-300? f 4.5
canon 2x580II flash heads + sensor thingie for remote wireless flash
tripod

(I am terrible at remembering what i have.)

Psp X2
Picasa
PS Cs3

books, books, books, did i mention books on all of the above minus the lenses.
scott kelby training videos (4 of those puppies) titles?

any way -

the point is, i read, read, read, but am not getting the results i want.
i want to pp like Ed- my new bff, and have tack sharp output like Michael.

I am not asking too much am i????

any one who may want to make and upload training videos to link from here to youtube - PLEASE, PLEASE do!!!!

[tirediron]

Sharpness isn't something that happens in post; sharpness is captured in the original image. You've definitely got the gear, no question, so if you're not getting sharp images, it's either a fault with the gear (Unlikely IMO) or an issue with technique. Can you post one or two of yours which you feel aren't sharp enough for viewing?

[Travis]

Yes... you definitely have the gear...

If you are mostly shooting soft the problem is either -

1. Your hand holding technique

2. Your selection of aperture/shutter/iso

3. Your focal selection

and if your still shooting jpeg then also -

4. Your in camera sharpness settings are too passive

Post some examples with exif if you really want if pinned down..

[Marko]

My instinct is shutter speed and how you are holding the camera.
BOTH make a monster difference.

I've said this several times but in my experience I was able to shoot slower on film. I find that 1/60 is often too slow for shots I had no trouble with with film.

I'd recommend experimenting with faster shutter speeds to see if it helps.

[tomorrowstreasures]

ok. so it IS me - THAT is a a huge relief!!!! i would MUCH rather it be my fault than the gear!!! with the amount i have invested in equipment, i was terrified that i went the wrong direction. i will upload some images here in a bit to see if they can be pp to clean them up.... at which point, maybe a few more hints?

[kat]

ok. so it IS me - THAT is a a huge relief!!!! i would MUCH rather it be my fault than the gear!!! with the amount i have invested in equipment, i was terrified that i went the wrong direction. i will upload some images here in a bit to see if they can be pp to clean them up.... at which point, maybe a few more hints?

You are not alone! I'm glad you asked this question!!! Can't wait to see how this thread progresses because it will be great info to me!!!

[tomorrowstreasures]

how do i do that >>>>> Post some examples with exif if you really want if pinned down

[tirediron]

how do i do that >>>>> Post some examples with exif if you really want if pinned down

Best thing would be to post a couple of hi-res examples (full resolution images) on say PhotoBucket or Flickr and just post the links here. That way we can look at them in detail.

[JAS_Photo]

Not sure about photobucket but flickr shows all the exif data. For example:

All that happened with this old truck

[tomorrowstreasures]

Best thing would be to post a couple of hi-res examples (full resolution images) on say PhotoBucket or Flickr and just post the links here. That way we can look at them in detail.

http://flickr.com/photos/34356955@N08/3310020296/

http://flickr.com/photos/34356955@N0...n/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/34356955@N08/3310019994/

i uploaded person, animal and thing... no plants .... these are all shot camera raw - and no pp... i want them to look like michael's do. would some one be willing to make a tutorial video to help the rest of us out? i tried to pick one's that were reasonably sharp. sigh.

thanks in advance for help! this has been a huge issue for me - i have spent countless hours, $$$$, books, videos and i still do not get it.

a prize goes to the person who can break through tt's daft mind! Hmmm what should that prize be????