BetterPhoto Q&A
Category: Problems with Images

Caylie McNeill

How to Get Crisp, In-Focus Pictures


	Soft Cineraria macro, flower, close-up, details, focus Caylie McNeill

I am needing some help figuring out how to get crisp, clear, and most of all, in-focus pictures. I usually get a, what I think is a great photo, but when I blow it up to 100%, it turns out slightly blurry with nothing in particular in focus. I use a Cannon Rebel T3i. I have used both manual and automatic focus to try and get a clear photo, but I am always left with a partially focused finished product. My efforts include: using a tripod with a timer to eliminate all human elements, manual mode, aperture priority, shutter priority, and automatic mode. The only setting that seems to help is automatic mode...not my preferred setting to say the least. My last ditch effort was cleaning the camera and all my lenses. It helped a bit, but not enough. Does anyone have any thoughts or experience to share?

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0 April 04, 2015

Bill Johnson

Tell us some of your photo metadata including lens focal length on a shot, shutter speed, focus method (AI, one shot focus, etc.) IS on/off, tripod or not, If you can post a photo with all this info, we can try to troubleshoot it for you.

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0 April 04, 2015

Caylie McNeill


	Soft Cineraria Caylie McNeill

My original photo (which I will re-post in this comment to keep things simple) was taken with a tripod on aperture priority, ISO 100, shutter speed 3", f/16, and I had it on a self timer to eliminate shaking. I used a macro lens with a focal length of 50mm. Is that all the info you were needing?

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0 April 04, 2015

Bill Johnson

Do you have Image stabilization? Was it on for this shot?

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0 April 04, 2015

Bill Johnson

Auto or manual focus? If auto, was it single point and which spot was the point on for the flower? Canon 50mm Macro lens or another company lens. Are your problem shot usually Close-ups with long exposures?

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0 April 04, 2015

Caylie McNeill

I do not have image stabilization. I used auto-focus. I believe it was a single point, but I cannot remember exactly. Most of my macro photos are single point. The main focus point was on the center of the darker section in the middle of the flower. I am using a Sigma 50mm lens. My focus problems do not seem to correlate with long exposures, it seems to be across the board.

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0 April 04, 2015

Bill Johnson

Caylie, I'll accept your analysis as accurate. I don't have your camera so I'm not positive you have some of the things I'll mention.

Assuming you're doing jpeg, you have camera software that allows you to control some of the elements in the pictures. Check those settings and note where the sharpness setting is. It might be low and you should try raising it. All photos need a bit of sharpening either by you or by the camera, or both.

Try a different lens to see if you get better focus. It is possible your lens is a bit off on focus accuracy

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0 April 04, 2015

Caylie McNeill

Thank you so much! I really appreciate all your help. I look forward to putting this new info to good use!

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0 April 05, 2015

- Ed Lauderdale

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Caylie, you mentioned that you were using a Sigma lens. That may be the part of your problem. While I like Sigma lenses (I have 3 and all are macro capable) they all seem to have tendency for a "soft" focus depending on focal length, especially at minimum and maximum. I really can't give you a good solution except to try to stay away from the extremes if you're using your Sigma.
A good place to start when chosing a lens is dpreview.com.

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0 April 13, 2015

Brenda Beatty

I also have a 50mm 2.8 Sigma lens. It works great until I use it for macro...then it's like everything gets soft.

I find my 18-55 Nikon lens almost does a better macro shot. Shooting at about 35mm and moving in closer.

I've all but given up using the 50 sigma

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0 April 13, 2015

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