Help with wide angle lens with out of focus photos

[greenwing]

Originally Posted by donoreo

It might. Apparently his other lens(es) look fine, it is only this one. As you say, those photos are too small.

Yes, the photos are too small, and there's no information with them. On face value, it looks like the lens can focus quite nicely in manual, but that Auto shot looks awful. It could be any of three things - a lens fault, a camera fault, or a user fault. Or a combination, of course.

I don't know if the OP has yet discovered how to tell if his camera has focussed, and what on. That may be part of the problem. As Stephen said, we need to talk the same language and to know more information before we can tell what's really going on.

Chris

[SunderlandPhotography]

Pretending that I've carried out the tests mentioned in this thread, and you all think it still doesn't focus properly. Could it be that I need a new camera body or new lens?

This comparison might be better, since I've put it on Photobucket. (Right-click > view image).

What tests could I do (without using a newspaper). I was thinking about THIS test. I've printed out the chart.




I took the lens on holiday with me in November last year. I took the following shot (its been processed through photoshop) and I think the left side of the photo is soft compared to the right.

[Markulous]

Originally Posted by SunderlandPhotography

What tests could I do (without using a newspaper). I was thinking about THIS test. I've printed out the chart.

Looks good but if you're going to try the Autofocus make sure the light is good. A very strong possibility for the poor AF is that in poor light the camera is struggling - AF needs reasonable lighting and a reasonable contrast (neither of which appear to be present in your comparison).

[SunderlandPhotography]

Originally Posted by Markulous

Looks good but if you're going to try the Autofocus make sure the light is good. A very strong possibility for the poor AF is that in poor light the camera is struggling - AF needs reasonable lighting and a reasonable contrast (neither of which appear to be present in your comparison).

Yes I will make sure the light is good.

I can't really do the newspaper test because I can't get some decent light on to it. So that's why I'm not carrying that test out and also I don't think its worth the effort because I think its a bad example to use.

[Markulous]

Newspaper test is excellent - as good as your downloaded/printed test! Just that the downloaded test is better geared to try all the capabilities of the lens/camera

Both rely on good light if you're going to test Autofocus (less so if manual focus - but results might look grainy due to having to up the ISO so better to use good light). Do it outside if necessary but make sure you've good light!

[SunderlandPhotography]

Just carried out the test on the chart I mentioned above. Also I'll be testing the lens outside this afternoon compared to my 18-55mm lens.

Will post results.

[deena]

Originally Posted by deena

There's an interesting article here on focusing Chris. At the end of the article there is a downloadable chart. Is this relevant? I only ask because I haven't used it but knew I had it somewhere on the pc.

It would save drawing all those lines

Same test. FIve months earlier.

[jet_kit]

Originally Posted by SunderlandPhotography

PWhat tests could I do (without using a newspaper). I was thinking about THIS test. I've printed out the chart.

For goodness sake, YES. Do the test. The 'test shots' you've put up so far are useless for judging the performance of a lens. Do this test (or any other one that gives quantifiable results) and post the results up here and we'll look at them.

[donoreo]

Originally Posted by SunderlandPhotography

Yes I will make sure the light is good.

I can't really do the newspaper test because I can't get some decent light on to it. So that's why I'm not carrying that test out and also I don't think its worth the effort because I think its a bad example to use.

This test is more detailed, same principle: a controlled subject with clear images. If you cannot get enough light for the newspaper test, how are you going to do this one?

[SunderlandPhotography]

Originally Posted by SunderlandPhotography

Just carried out the test on the chart I mentioned above. Also I'll be testing the lens outside this afternoon compared to my 18-55mm lens.

Will post results.

I won't be posting any results today as I didn't go outside because it was a little misty. I'll try and do it tomorrow afternoon. But I probably won't be able to because I'll have pain in my ankle due to going to hospital

If I can't do it tomorrow, I'll do it when I can.