r/PhotographyAdvice • u/_Kazzam_ • 13h ago
What am I doing wrong?
My photos always seem out of focus. I had a T5i and got a RP and adapter to use with my 18-105 / 55-255 lenses.
No matter what I do (click on the subject on the screen, use the sight, get the focus square over the people) my photos always seem to turn out blurry and pixelated. Now they’re not super blurry but I’d like to be able to zoom in and see details or eyelashes and I never can. Seems like the only time I get a good photo is when I’m zoomed in so close it’s nearly impossible to be out of focus.
What am I doing wrong to always miss the focus? Some examples..
But and the end adding 2 animal photos that I think turned out crystal clear (dog better than cat) maybe it’s because it’s the 55-255 lens which can’t really be used for people..
Someone said my lens with adapter only uses like 10MP and I NEED to get new lenses. Others say no that’s not it.
Anyway.. thanks in advance!
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u/Mindless_Trick2255 10h ago
My first questions are - are you familiar with the exposure triangle? What exactly are your settings when you shoot and do you make use of Lightroom?
A quick one is, I see a lot of noise and that is easily avoided by using denoise in Lightroom.
It makes it look like you haven’t dealt with the basics yet?
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u/_Kazzam_ 5h ago
I took a photography class in 2017 but that’s about it. I should look back into the ISO triangle.
Yes I got Lightroom for the later half of these photos and found denoise was helpful! Maybe I should go back and reedit earlier
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u/matrixmetered 9h ago
You are using crop sensor lenses on your new full frame sensor camera. The RP switches to crop mode automatically and that's what limits the 26 MP you paid for into just the 10 MP in the center of the sensor. When upgrading to a full frame camera the most affordable route to sharp images is a f/1.8 50mm lens. For photographing people I use 28mm, 50mm and 85mm. The 24-70mm f/2.8 zoom is a popular option, but is very expensive.
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u/PralineNo5832 4h ago
They’re not that bad—you’re exaggerating. But some of the framings are poor. Like the one with the girl who has all that ivy over her head...
Try to position the eyes in the top third of the frame, as in the first photo.
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u/_Kazzam_ 4h ago
Thanks that’s what my husband said, idk why I always obsess about them being absolutely crystal clear in the faces.
Thanks for the idea on the ivy! We did a ton of different frames in that backdrop.. I’ll have to se that I have some more focused on her. Looking back I think I’d pull her from the wall too
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u/coffeeislife_SA 1h ago
Your images are in focus. However, your focal point is not where it should be.
Portion of wall seems tack sharp in image 1, not the dude. How are you focusing?
Perhaps switch to spot focus
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u/_Kazzam_ 1h ago
This sounds like what it could be!!!!! In the maternity photos I did for my sister in law, there was focus but it was always on the wrong spot.
I have to be honest I’m not sure how or what my spot focus is? I assumed (poorly) wherever the square on the screen was, is the main focus.
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u/Aceritus 13h ago
Cameras are complicated. Lenses are complicated. Some general rules to get the sharpest possible photos are: shoot between f9-f/11, keep your iso as low as possible, use as fast of a shutter speed as possible. The problem with tips like that is they change your photo outcome. The lighting, the bokeh etc. I don’t think your lenses or technique is the problem, it’s more likely the sensor of the camera you have is only capable of so much. These aren’t egregiously out of focus. But you’re using a hobby level camera, not the mid range pro and not the high range pro. Keep at it. Use those tips when possible and if you really enjoy it save up for a camera with a better sensor. Good luck!