12 (Potential) Reasons Your Photos Are Soft
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 3 มิ.ย. 2024
- One of the most common questions we get asked is "why aren't my photos sharp?!" So today I'm giving ALL the possibilities so you can determine why you might have soft images!
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0:00 Intro
0:13 Slow Shutter Speed
0:50 Focusing and Recomposing Incorrectly
1:43 Using the Wrong Focus Mode
2:25 Too Shallow Depth of Field
3:01 Poor Lens Quality
3:28 Lens Needs to Be Serviced or Calibrated
4:03 Using the Wrong Focal Point
4:36 Haze from the Sun
5:08 Camera/Lens Struggle in Low Light
6:01 Plane of Focus Issues
7:19 Dirty Lens or Sensor
7:58 Missed Focus
9:34 Wrap Up
Thank you for not charging to genuinely serve our industry! You’re incredible!!!
Thanks so much!!
This is a very helpful video for us "video guys" who want to learn more about how to pew pew with our cameras :) Thanks!
Love it!!
Great video but your hands and arms flapping about are a bit off putting!
@@briangriffiths7141 You may want to comment on the video it self rather than replying to my comment…
@@TheKidsDaaaaad sorry thought that was what I was doing, my mistake!
Excellently done. Thank you
such a useful video, wow. thanks!
I love how straight to the point your videos are! New favorite channel
Awesome!! Thanks Anna!
Thank you so much Katelyn! This is so helpful! 😄
Glad it was helpful!
i truly appreciate you and all your knowledge. thank you for being so kind.
I like how clean and straight to the point this was! Good Job!
Thanks I am trying!!
thank you KJ for the great tips
Thanks for watching!!
This is was so helpful!!!!
I would love to see the bts of the creation of this video. I love your lighting here.
Thank you so much for this and all your wonderful content ❤
Glad you enjoy it!
By now I've done every last one of these! Thank you so much for sharing these tips!
You're so welcome!
Amazing explanation.. Straight to the point without any drama.
That is what I am trying to change about youtube haha!!
This is awesome..and HELPFUL!
Glad it was helpful Camille!
Another reason why images can come out soft, could just be from incorrect technique, from people not locking in focus by pressing the shutter button halfway before taking the photo. On smart phones it's not really an issue (as long as you don't move), but on cameras it can be. Trust me I did that myself too.
Hello there, love your style, lots of great info's... I have so much to learn... Congrats.
Thanks so much!
This is really helpful thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Your video quality is so awesome! Tyler is a beast!
Couldn't agree more!
Great tips thank again!
Happy to help!
Sooo good. Thank you
Glad you like it!
Awesome advice, hoping you make a video for understanding back button focus. I’m having a difficult time back button focusing as opposed to shutter button focusing.
We Will add it to our list!
This was vary helpful thanks 🙏🏾
Glad it was helpful!
Great information sis!! GOD bless!! 📷
Thanks for watching
@@KatelynJames Absolutely thank you for sharing!!
I absolutely love your videos and this one really hit home for me. I really appreciate your simplistic way of describing issues. One thing I really struggle with is wildlife photography focusing through trees to get that bird shot without the branch being in focus but the bird not. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Keep up the good work….. PS, love my R6
Thanks so much for watching Larry!
wonderful tips
Glad you think so!
Again, Excellent!
Thanks for watching!
Earlyyyy crowd! Adore you Katelyn and all you do for others 🥰💗
Thanks for watching!!
Love this.
Thanks for watching!
Can't stress enough how usefull this video is. I used to press the shutter like a BEAST, and that was my main error, thank you !
Glad it helped!
Great contents. Practical tips.
thanks so much!
Love this! Also, the background in this video is really nice :)
Yay, thank you!
Wow...my brain is officially broken. I knew that the plane of focus goes backward, but for some reason, I hvaen't been applying that to my group shots!!! I was just upping my aperture but still focusing on the main or middle subject, without considering where those on the edges might be. HUGE forehead-slapping moment, thank you!!
Thanks for watching Andrew!!
I love your videos! I really wish it was possible to take an actual course with you!. You have a real gift for teaching. I'm a bulldozer operator that loves taking photos. I'd love to be confident enough to make a hobby business in boudoir photography to uplift people, and of course take quality photos of the equipment I operate and projects. Maybe one day!! I definitely plan to take in all I can from your videos. Thank you
Love this!! thanks for sharing!
Thank you. Very helpful, as I’m trying to sharpen my pictures.
Glad it was helpful!
Will be watching more of your video's. The simplicity is helping me figure it out. Thanks again
Thanks for sharing your experience with great comments & suggestions... video is very interesting and helpful.as I am only a hobbyist but sharp images are important on whatever I shoot...I also find heat haze can affect your image sometimes... cheers from Australia 😀
Thanks for watching Robert!
Thank you for sharing, shutter speed is deffo the most common one.
Yes!
Good tips. I sold an 85mm f/1.4 and the buyer asked if there was a problem with the focus calibration. I referred them to a video like this one.
Haha makes sense!
I have a real issue with some photos not being in focus and don't know why. I will definitely look at all these issues thank you x
Thanks for watching!
Excellent
Thanks for watching!
thaaaaank uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu💙💙💙💙
My pleasure!!
Thank you really for you explanation it's really help us a lot. if it possible can you add photo for each thing you explain so people who depend on visual memory will be it easier for them to get the idea and remember it.
Great idea!
Great vid - my own experience is that once I moved up to more capable cameras I had to let go of two anxieties ... don't be afraid of higher ISO's ... don't be afraid of slower shutter speeds (if you have good stabilization). In my early shooting days I used to try to shoot everything at ISO100 for max quality (anything over 200 the quality was markedly reduced) ... this made my options for aperture and shutter speed very limited. Now I can shoot at up ISO1000 and with 50mp of detail available I can use faster shutter speeds and narrower apertures with confidence ... this gives me way more chance of nailing focus.
Love this Rob! Thanks for sharing!!
Thanks, Rob, for posting your experience. It encourages me to give higher ISO values more of an opportunity in my photography.
@@reginaldogarcia770 My first serious DSLR camera was a Canon 7D ... now I use a 5Ds (50mp) and it's low light performance at higher ISO is many stops better - I can shoot at 6400 and still get quite useable shots with nice resolution - this opens up using continuous lighting ... lighting large groups with speedlights etc
Hi Katelyn! Thanks for this video! Can you elaborate on how back button focus is connected to focus/recomposing? I’m unclear about how it is more helpful for focus/recomposing than using the shutter button.
All BBF does is seperate the actions of shooting and focussing - that way you focus (BB) get the framing recomposed and then you can shoot constantly without the camera refocussing - so for example on many cameras - the selective focus point is in the center of the frame - this might prove tricky to shoot something in focus at the edge of the frame as pressing the shutter activates the focus on the background - with BB focus you can focus once and keep shooting - hope that helps!
Top Video 👌 u could add mechanical shutter as cause at lower shutter speed specific to higher mp cameras , solution is to use Electronic First Curtain.
Thanks for sharing!!
Thanks ! Good video ! Just had this problem today with my Vivitar 28-210mm (on Canon M50ii) came home cleaned the lens and will see if things are fine ?! Been shooting with this lens as its become my favorite ! Yet must focus in Manual which isnt all that bad ?! Everything works. In reverse !
Interesting !! Thanks for sharing!!
I know for me that I was using the sony 85mm 1.8 and all my close up images were slightly out of focus. I use both singular auto focus settings, where I could click on screen where I wanted to focus, and i also use manual focus with the red edges assisting. Had to be issues with the lens because I had to re do the shoot with my Fujifilm camera on the 50mm lens and everything came out sharp.
Thanks for watching!!
Great, will share ;)
Thanks!
Yup - well worth a watch. I'm an old school, single point, back button, shooter. It works. ✅ 😀
Totally! Thanks for watching
Katelyn, my suggestion is to go into Lr and click on Library, once you're in Library mode, click Library from the top menu, then click plug-in extras, then select show focus points, then click on the highlighted image, this will show you were you focused for the shot.........hope this helps
Thanks for watching!
I’m not a photographer but I love taking picture and I have this problem all the time. It’s good to know various cause of why my photos are not sharp. Btw I shoot 1.2 f which probably is my main reason why isn’t sharp.
Makes sense!! Thanks for watching!!
Helpful, thank you! Suggest adding examples.
Thanks for watching!
Great video, I love all the KJ videos! Since I moved to the canon eosR my 50mm 1.8 (with lens adapter) has been giving me grief. I feel like even with an aperture of 3.5 the depth of field seems too shallow. I sent it to canon and they didn’t find a problem with it. I’m starting to wonder if I’m crazy! It was never an issue on my 6D though. Any thoughts?
That is when it gets frustrating is it happening to any other lenses.
wow again another awesome video! bye!
Thanks so much Ronald!
Hi! I’m new to photography, and your videos are always incredibly helpful. The last reason you mentioned of the focus not being in the right spot.. What is the list of reasons as to why the focus is not in the right spot? I have taken numerous shots where the shoulder or grass etc is in focus, but it’s not exactly where I need it to be. Where do I start on figuring out how to solve this issue?
Try looking into your camera setting and playing with the focus points. Just as the name suggests, the focus point is where your camera will focus
Move your focus point away from the shoulder or grass.
Is there a video on plane of focus? I defiinitely need more information on that.
Great idea!! I’ll add it to our list!
I just got an R6 but haven’t upgraded my lenses yet so I’m using an adapter. I shot 2 days and shots looked beautiful but now I have no idea what I’m doing wrong. I attempted to turn off eye tracking and I think that’s where things started going downhill for me. I made some setting adjustments and also switched back to One Shot instead of Servo and it’s a lil better but not what it was. I don’t even know where to start in getting things back to where I had them 🤦🏼♀️
Good video but I would of also mentioned about are you using uv filters and are they cheap or expensive ones.
Great point!
This is very helpful. One thing that I wish you could also make a video is of exposing correctly for a shot. How do I know if it is properly exposed? I believe you said you were going to a course more for beginners? Any prediction as to when we can expect it?!
hopefully by the end of the month!!
try using your histogram to see if the exposure is correct
I love the eye tracking on my new R6 but sometimes it's better to manual focus.
Thanks for watching!
Hi, you said a lot regarding the plane of focus and getting everyone in focus. However, I didn’t quite understand where you focus precisely? I’ve been struggling with this for months.
If you have ten people lined up and the person closest to me is the 10th person on my right-hand side, however, the subjects are in the middle, am I required to focus on the person closest to me, which will be the 10th subject? Maybe I understood it wrong.
Great tips and yes, don't lick the lens! Also, use a tripod. Does the double lens length rule still hold true if using a tripod?
Anyone know what focal length is the sharpest on a Nikon 70-300mm lens? I'm guessing about half way which would be 185mm??? I heard in the forums that it's pretty sharp but over 200-300mm it gets softer.
Thanks for watching!!
This is helpful. I currently have a canon 50 mm 2.8 that's not sharp anymore. It was sharp before but now all of my images from it are soft. My other lens is perfectly fine. So, I'm trying to figure out what to do.
Maybe try calibrating it!
Thank you!! Is it safe for us to check the sensor ourselves???? I get so nervous when I change lenses
I would send it in if you think it could be the sensor.
Hi from UK here just wanted to ask Can you help me and don't a video what is the best settings to use on low light situations ? I like your videos.
Great idea will add it to the list!
Great info. Which focal length and aperture are your talking heads here shot at?
We use a Canon 35mm T1.5 Prime lens on a cropped sensor. Usually around T/2.2
Her Branding is crazyyy good
Thanks so much!!
Hello. I have the Canon 5D Mark IV... Am I able to move the focus wherever I want or do I have to focus and recompose? I've never done it that way, only used the focus spots, but I want to be more creative in my composition.
I always focused and recomposed with the mark Iv. You can use the scroll knobs to move the focal point as well
I've always been intimidated to recompose, but I feel like that's the only way I'll be able to be more creative with my composition. So guess I gotta try it! You have a video on that?!=D
I love your videos too. I bought the R6 Mark2 based on your videos and the 28-70 f2! I love looking at the pictures you take...BUT>>> It would be a lot more help if you would put your AF setting on the pictures because that is what I struggle with the most. Seeing the picture and then understanding the focusing info would be VERY VERY helpful. Please include that information. Thank you.
Awesome, thank you!
Hi Katelyn. Have an R6 and primarily use the 50 mm 1.2. so I'm lost on which metering to use and servo or not what I'm photographing families children's and moving people. How to shoot recently and I kept losing focus on the kiddos because they are very active. Any advice will be well taken thank you!
Always shooting in Servo mode helps. Also choose more area to focus on, that should do the trick. If you want to get people moving just up your shutter speed to 1000-2000
Servo would help! I would stay around 2.0 or 2.2
Thanks for sharing!
I bought a used 85mm Canon 1.2 L lens and the focus ring is very loose. Can I go in and set the camera not to allow manual focusing to avoid the ring moving while shooting and risking missing focus? As you probably know this is an expensive lens brand new upwards of $2,000 & I was able to get it for less than $1,000 so I'm guessing the loose focus ring was why.
There's also focus shift (focal plane changing with aperture) which, curiously, no one ever mentions.
Thanks for watching!
Correct me if I'm wrong : I get what you mean when using a prime lens. As an intermediate photographer moreso than a beginner ; When using the shutter speed thats double the focal length using a telephoto lens are you speaking about setting it to where the telephoto is set at that time ? Do you mean the telephoto's complete focal length? I hope I'm making sense , because this has always been confusing to me. 2. If the image seems too dark , I guess it's best to lighting it in post production ? Only speaking for myself , I have problems when shooting using the correct shutter at times if I need more light ( If I don't have any artificial lighting ) because the image ends up grainy if I push the ISO up or change the F-stop when I do not want the background sharp. This is my top issue .
I typically wash your videos and try to apply the sample principles to my family photography . I don't shoot weddings, I've tried to get into weddings as a 2nd shooter, but I never get the guide and instruction I need in order to soar in my skillet and confidence. Family is a bit more slower paced and helps me to watch out for the details without all the wedding day pressure since I've been though a lot of pro and so-called pro photographers who do not help me , help them and learn .
Thus far I haven't come across anyone on YT that explains the photo world as concise as you without the extra unnecessary fluff. If you are showing and telling its needed and I like that! I ;oiled at your wedding video several times and pretend its a family session . ☺
Very helpful
Thank you
Thanks for watching!
Great video 👏🏼
What about firmware update? I own
EOS R5 and decided to update the firmware but now the camera freezes and takes so many out of focus photos, now I’m waiting for canon to release another firmware update to fix this 🙄
Maybe your settings changed, just go back and play around with the focus points, I am sure that’s what happened.
Good point!
Do you have the sweat spot for 24-80 canon on r6
Thanks for this. Question >> My son plays water polo and I’m using a canon t6i and a kit 200 zoom lens to get pics from the side of the pool. The camera seems to be in focus when I take the pic (I put the square box in the viewfinder on him) but when I check the picture later, the focus is on the water just in front of him so he’s out of focus just a touch (soft?). This is very frustrating because I can’t figure out how to prevent this from happening. I’ve missed out of a lot of sharp game shots (but have a lot of great water splashes!) I always sit with the sun behind me and usually use a tripod. I use the TV setting and a low ISO. Any ideas?
The water makes it really tough! I wish I could be more help
Hi, Alan: I hope you don't mind if I jump in here. I teach digital photography to high school students and I also shoot Canon. I agree: this is a tough one! For starters, I would suggest you bump up your ISO so your shutter speed can increase. You'll have to learn the sweet spot for the t6, but I would say you could probably go to 800 ISO-but try it and see. 600 ISO might be better, with less noise/grain. There's also another, more "hidden," setting you might want to check. It's what I call your focus mode. Go into your menu and look at your AF Operation. You'll want to choose "Servo" mode-it's for moving objects. ("One-Shot" is for still objects) If you can't find it, check your manual. Hope this helps! Hope you get some great shots of your son playing water polo!
There is one more reason. Both Nikon and Canon DSLRs have a routine to calibrate the lens to the camera in the event of the lens back focusing or front focusing. This isn't a problem with mirrorless cameras. Once I calibrated my lenses it made a huge difference in sharpness.
One thing however, my 70-200 F2.8 had opposing issues where it front focused at 70mm and back focused at 200mm so there isn't a single adjustment to fix the lens issue, I can fix one end and make the other end even worse. I am about to send this lens back under warranty to have it replaced.
Thanks for sharing Mike!
@@KatelynJames you're welcome, I liked your article. I think I need to pay attention to my lock focus then recompose technique. My Nikon D850 with its 46 megapixels has caused me to rethink my technique. Thanks
Thanks for the list of items to review. It’s not camera specific and applies to them all.
Thanks for watching Jim!!
I have started paying more attention to the plain of focus.
Awesome!! It should be a game changer!
What about using a low ISO during the day and it’s still noisy like it would be at high ISO
Katelyn, I feel as though you left out a few common issues including heat haze (not, sun rays) and low contrast subjects. Of course there are many more.
Thanks for sharing!
Can you show what you example….
I’m new and don’t know to much about photography and camera
Katelyn I did canon R5 I am not Impressed with canon I think the Sony a7riii is better camera I do like your channel
Thanks for watching Lonny!
Thanks so much Katelyn, this video is super helpful. When shooting couples and weddings - do you keep your camera in AI servo mode the whole time or just when you know your subjects will be moving? Or are you keeping your camera in single focus most of the day when shooting couples or weddings? Thanks so much for clarifying.
I typically leave it on Servo 80-90% of the time now.
@@KatelynJames thanks so much Katelyn:)
What about shooting a family of let's say 6 and everyone is in focus but one?? Why does that happen and how can I fix it? Thank you!!
Thanks for watching!
Do mirrorless cameras using EF glass need to get calibrated??
I haven’t really researched that
I set TH-cam videos to play in my car while driving around all day. I had to pull over when you said “somebody had licked my lens.” Luckily we know you have kids, but if we didn’t this would have taken me out. 😆
hahaha!! Yeah some weird groomsman wasn't who licked my lens!!
Off topic, sorry! But where did you get your sweater from?? 😍
Banana republic!
So what if you have 2 rows of people staggered? Do you jump up to F8-F11? And focus on the front center person?
I do focus on the front center person I would prolly shoot that at 3.5 -5.6. but that is just me!
@@KatelynJames well...I was using my R6 with the 24-105 f4 to shoot sports teams such as golf members and I always worry. I have been taking them at F8. One mistake I have made was not taking enough photos. Often I have had closed eyes, one player turning head. It is a nightmare when I dont have one perfect shot to post lol Thx for your time.
I’ve been having problems with one of my family members face is blurry in a family session but the rest of the family is sharp 😢
Thanks for watching!
I shoot with the Nikon D750 on a 85 mm prime ... just for your reference
I am finding that my images are not as sharp on my R6. Do you think it is due to the adapter and not using a RF lens?
Potentially. I wish I could be more help
@@KatelynJames are your images with your adapter and EF lenses as sharp on the R6 as they were on your Mark IV?
My images were much sharper on the R6 even with adapted EF lenses
When your doing a wedding who is your focus on ?
My camera/lens is sharp but the further away are my subject more the texture of everything is grainy! Like I zoom in and its grainy so it gives a look of a not sharp picture and yes everything it is sharp Like I see details but its not crispy like it should be. (I do not shoot over 200 ISO and under 2.8 because I know everything comes out blurry otherwise) It bothers me because I always feel like something is off with my gear! I did a shoot yesterday where I was taking family in pictures and I stayd at 5.0 all the time because I was scared that to much pictures would get blurry! Even when I shoot a single person at 2.8 1/4 of my pictures arent in focus! I know how settings work I’ve verified if I was doing things right many times and still I have issues with that! Should I take more risks because yesterday with the families I felt like I the blurry background was not enough blurry and with the many trees in the back it gives a bit to much of a busy look :/
With what lens did you shoot this video?
The Canon 35mm T1.5 CN-E!
@@KatelynJames thank you
Thank you for the helpful tips. I'm struggling with group photo where the focus only half of the people in front and blurry on the back.
What are your settings? Make sure everyone is in a straight line. Focus on the middle front person.
I had another photographer tell me that with mirrorless cameras, we do not have to calibrate our lenses. Is this true?
I honestly haven’t researched that!
Hello, Honestly I did not watch the whole video, but do you have samples of your photos?
katelynjames.com/the-wedding-experience
How long did it take for Ty(sp) to talk you into this... I've never heard you speak so fast... LOL. This is on him. :-)
Haha thanks for watching!!
Do you shoot your wedding ceremonies in One Shot or AI Servo?
I switch between the two