Sharpening Sofware

[londell]

I bought a 1D MarkII in September. From the beginning I had problems with the images being out of focus and soft. I returned the camera to the retailer and they replaced it with a new one. Two weeks later I took back the new camera with the same problems but not as bad. This time the camera was returned to Canon. Two weeks later the camera was returned to me with a criptic note from Canon repair saying they "adjusted the autofocus". The images are better in focus but they are still soft. This brings me to my question. It appears that I am going to have to run some sort of shapening software with each image. I am currently using Focus Magic. Have any of you encountered similar problems with this camera? Are you using sharpening software? What have you found to be good?

[robertwgross]

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that most EOS digital users need to perform some degree of sharpening to most RAW images. You are shooting RAW, aren't you?

---Bob Gross---

[eosster]

Did you ever try Fredmiranda's sharpening software...heard lot of good stories with FM's Sharpening tool, here is the link http://www.fredmiranda.com/software/ .
Cheers,

Charles,

[eosster]

This is the pluggins for Photoshop though,

Cheers,

Charles,

[KevW]

Hi Londell,

To quote Canon itself:

"If little or no in-camera sharpening has been applied prior to viewing an EOS-1 class
Digital SLR image at 100% magnification, especially with the EOS-1D Mark II, most
photographers will agree that the image looks soft, even if it has been properly focused
and exposed. This is mostly due to the detail-softening effect of the camera’s
anti-aliasing (AA) filter, which is permanently mounted in front of the image sensor."

So I guess post processing will always have to take place!

My reference is the doco here:
http://www.photoworkshop.com/canon/EOS_Digital.pdf

Rgds,

KevW.

[pcasciola]

Yes, this bothered me at first with my 20D. I quickly found out that by applying just a little USM in Photoshop they were then tack sharp with no noticeable noise, so I didn't worry about it too much after that.

I've been thinking about purchasing Fred Miranda's CSPro plug-in for the 20D, which just came out and is only $25. He has a version specifically for the 1D Mk II also:

http://www.fredmiranda.com/shopping/Mark2CSpro

[ajmcdo]

Have a look at http://www.pixelgenius.com/products.html PhotoKit Sharpener for APS CS. This is a photoshop plug in but it's very good at what it does... sharpening.
I got into digital photography because I was actually a photoshop addict and needed stuff to post-process so I could avoid withdrawl. Bob Gross is not out on a limb when he says most digital RAW files need some sharpening.
Another great tip is Tom Knoll's unsharp mask 25:50:0 tip. I do it to just about all my files.

Wombat

[HKFEVER]

I have the same soft focus problem in the first week with my 1D MKII. And have to set the sharpness to 3 in the camera. But this doesn't help much.:cry:

After couple month, I give up anf replace it with 1DS MKII:evil: . Problems gone and picture took by 1DS MKI is sharper than 1D MKII.

Don't know why!!!!:cry:

[phili1]

I have Freds sharpener, but find that Photokit recommended by Luminous Landscapes is a little better if used properly. It give you more options and is totally adjustable.

Here is the link.

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/software/pk-sharpener.shtml

[Jon, The Elder]

pcasciola - I bought and use it (freds plugin)

He is always right on in his plugins !!

It is money well spent - just don't tell anybody else - OK?

[pcasciola]

pcasciola - I bought and use it (freds plugin)

He is always right on in his plugins !!

It is money well spent - just don't tell anybody else - OK?
Great. Thanks. I think I'll buy it today and try it out.

I just realized that the statement about the aliasing filter in front of the sensor was only for 1 series cameras, but I've seen others complain about the 20d being a little on the soft side with no in camera sharpening applied, and I definitely see it with mine. Maybe the 20D uses a similar filter?

[CyberDyneSystems]

If you have PS,.. just try the "unsharp mask" filter and save a few $$ on plugins.

A setting of 200-350%, .. radius of .3-.5, .. and threshold of 0 is a good place to start.

[Radtech1]

Londell,

I now use only 1 sharpener, Focus Magic. It works by shifting pixels, rather than simply boosting contrast. Please see the following threads:

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=44102

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=48272

Rad

[phili1]

I bought and tried Focus Magic but am still leaning towards Photokit. I will learn more about it before I give a definaite opinion.

[Scottes]

PhotoKit is great but it really does require time since it's not a very automatic process. I use Fred Miranda's Intellisharpen II all the time, but not on large images like prints because it goes a little too far and I can't control it so much.

gmitchel has a set of actions that are similar to PhotoKit's stuff with some enhancements and less automatic stuff. Check it out: http://www.thelightsright.com/DigitalDarkroom/PhotoshopTools/TLRSharpeningToolkit.htm - but make sure you read the PDF first.


I wrote a mini review of a few packages a while ago in another thread about sharpening software. It can be found here: http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=49090&highlight=intellisharpen+photokit

[phili1]

Scottes : Yours does the same as Photkit.

I do no know which Photokit you have but it is automatic but because it does it on layers and masks it gives you the opertunity to fine tune it. It processes it at maximun and you can adjust it down.

Yours sounds like it does the same thing.

Focus magic does it different, it changes the pixels and I am finding that in some pictures it gives an unnatural look. But before I say anything I will do more testing.

My first impressions is I do not see any drastic difference from it ( Focus Magic)and Photokit, I do see a slight difference from Miranders and Photokit doing a slightly better job.