Ok, help me out here? I have this wonderful Canon 2Ti camera, a 70-300 lens, AND a tripod and I can't get a clear shot to save my life. I upped the F stop. Sped up the shutter speed. Auto focus. Manual focus. This is as good as I can get. What am I forgetting to do? Why can I get clear shot of the song birds on the feeder but if I want to zoom in even a tad, this is as good as I can get? I am so frustrated with this craptastic shittyliscious shot! If I can get some sound suggestions (pretty pretty pleeeeeeze), I'll go back out and try it again.
Is this the exact lens you have? Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM.
If so, it seems to get low marks in the sharpness ratings. Complaint is that the images aren't as sharp as they could be when compared with a different lens. Could just be your lens, unfortunately.
I have the same lens and have since abandoned it for the same reason. Curiously, I found the lens performed better on the tripod if the IS was turned off. Overall, though, I was not happy with the softness of the focus on that lens.
If you have Photoshop Elements, there are a few things you can try to recover an image like this:
1. Shoot in Canon Raw. Then in the Elements Raw dialogue, zoom to 100% and go to the sharpening tab (it's the middle of the 3.) Play with the sharpening and noise reduction until satisfied.
2. In elements, follow this to sharpen a bit as well:
A. Duplicate the layer.
B. Set blend mode to Soft Light
C. Select FILTER->OTHER->High Pass
D. Be sure "Preview" is checked.
E. Adjust the radius to a value between 1 and 10 pixels, until you're happy with the results.
@kannafoot I'll try turning off the IS! actually I think I've heard that somewhere before. Thanks....I wish I had photoshop and/or elements but I don't.
Well, I hope he doesn't mind me volunteering him; but Mike Fitzgerald @twofunlabs take the absolute best nature/wildlife photos!! He might have some pointers for you.
@kannafoot@msk1p2 Check the lens's manual. It usually specifies whether or not the IS should be on or off when the lens is used with a tripod. (I checked. Turn IS off when using a tripod.)
Sorry, I forgot to mention this in my previous comment.
Your other option to get a sharper shot is to shoot this handheld, on one foot, while holding a bucket of water in one hand, with a sack of potatoes tied around your neck, and balancing a jar of hornets on your head.
@lynne3804@gurry I will definately try again with the IS turned off...and a jar of hornets on my head. I totally can see how that might help! You just might be a genius Gary. Maybe.
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If so, it seems to get low marks in the sharpness ratings. Complaint is that the images aren't as sharp as they could be when compared with a different lens. Could just be your lens, unfortunately.
If you have Photoshop Elements, there are a few things you can try to recover an image like this:
1. Shoot in Canon Raw. Then in the Elements Raw dialogue, zoom to 100% and go to the sharpening tab (it's the middle of the 3.) Play with the sharpening and noise reduction until satisfied.
2. In elements, follow this to sharpen a bit as well:
A. Duplicate the layer.
B. Set blend mode to Soft Light
C. Select FILTER->OTHER->High Pass
D. Be sure "Preview" is checked.
E. Adjust the radius to a value between 1 and 10 pixels, until you're happy with the results.
(The pic may be shitty but the owls are super cute).
I have a friend who was getting blurry photos while on a tripod and he had forgotten to turn the IS off, once he turned it off, instant improvement
Also, do this lens really have a green ring?
http://gdlp01.c-wss.com/gds/2/0300003632/01/ef70-300f45-56doisusm-en.pdf
Your other option to get a sharper shot is to shoot this handheld, on one foot, while holding a bucket of water in one hand, with a sack of potatoes tied around your neck, and balancing a jar of hornets on your head.