You've done well therewith all this weather, but it looks like you had the light on your side at least. Eric
Posted by Andy Astbury on March 2, 2008 at 4:39 AM
Morning Ian..........
Now those wing coverts look razor sharp.
As was mentioned on your previous post, things are near impossible to judge from small jpegs like this, but I still think you either have a front focus issue with this lens, or you are still suffering 'pilot error' and dropping the AF sensor in the wrong place.
The DoF on a 600 is like tissue paper - if you AF on the birds flank/wing you have little chance with small birds at close range of getting the face/head in focus too, the lack of meaningful DoF will see to that.
You need to move your AF sensor - I'm constantly shifting mine around in anticipation of the next shot - and drop that sensor squarely on the birds EYE, that's the key thing - if the eye is sharp then the job is right.
Again, there seems to be sharpness extending towards the camera along the branch for at least half an inch, and from that point back as far as the birds closest foot seems to be your apparent DoF.............the birds head is behind that farthest point and so is slightly soft.
Have another go and just make sure you use the single area AF - not a group - and bang that sensor right on the eye.
Thanks for this interesting observation Andy - I've checked the raw file and the central sensor (the only active one) was on the bird's cheek. Maybe I do have a problem! No rush, I'll play around for a while yet, but might need a visit to a canon shop.
Discussion
8 repliesI would have preferred a cleaner shot, but I was happy to get a shot of any kind due to the gales!
Now those wing coverts look razor sharp.
As was mentioned on your previous post, things are near impossible to judge from small jpegs like this, but I still think you either have a front focus issue with this lens, or you are still suffering 'pilot error' and dropping the AF sensor in the wrong place.
The DoF on a 600 is like tissue paper - if you AF on the birds flank/wing you have little chance with small birds at close range of getting the face/head in focus too, the lack of meaningful DoF will see to that.
You need to move your AF sensor - I'm constantly shifting mine around in anticipation of the next shot - and drop that sensor squarely on the birds EYE, that's the key thing - if the eye is sharp then the job is right.
Again, there seems to be sharpness extending towards the camera along the branch for at least half an inch, and from that point back as far as the birds closest foot seems to be your apparent DoF.............the birds head is behind that farthest point and so is slightly soft.
Have another go and just make sure you use the single area AF - not a group - and bang that sensor right on the eye.
Nice shot (I'll be great once that beast of a lens is working for you properly!).
John
Aberdeen