how would I test my camera/lens

[gsewell]

I have a canon 300D and a sigma 17-70 lens, I like to shoot landscape and city life but have not done so since december, I really need to pick the camera back up and get myself sorted.... anyhoo as the title says I would like to test my camera and lens just to see if its shooting what it should be, reason being some of my last shots were naff and more like they came from a point and shoot, Im not expecting proffessional results as I know its not the best of cameras or lenses.

Any tips on testing cameras?

[nicksan]

I have a canon 300D and a sigma 17-70 lens, I like to shoot landscape and city life but have not done so since december, I really need to pick the camera back up and get myself sorted.... anyhoo as the title says I would like to test my camera and lens just to see if its shooting what it should be, reason being some of my last shots were naff and more like they came from a point and shoot, Im not expecting proffessional results as I know its not the best of cameras or lenses.

Any tips on testing cameras?

What was "wrong" with your last batch of shots?

Soft?
Not focusing as expected?

[gsewell]

well I had a canon powershot G5 before the 300D and I just felt the overall pictures produced were sharper and had more body and colour to them, also in photoshop when zooming in on the picture the G5 pics could be zoomed in closer before pixelation occured.
I notice in your sold list you used to own a 300D what did you think of it and should I be looking to upgrade?
I do have a couple of RAW images if anyone wants to view

[rklepper]

A P&S will get more in focus. A DSLR usually requres some PP to overcome the effect of the anti-aliasing filters. What program are you currently using to post process?

I would suggest go out and take some photos, post them up here. Not sure what the end result of most "testing" is.

[gsewell]

I use CS2 with RAW plugin to process, instead of taking old pics and showing anyone, Im gonna get out this weekend and take a few shots see what sort of results I get. I think Im just in one of those "I would like a new camera and need an excuse" kind of moods. :oops: