Camera Focus in Mixed Lighting?

[Vincent Moavero]

I am having a strange problem. When I take pictures in mixed light, on camera flash and ambient, usually in lower light situations ISO 800 and set manually at F-5.6 at 1/40th of a second to capture background light, I am seeing what looks like blurry or soft images especially in the facial region.

I'm not sure if this problem is due to the two different light sources and the different focal planes they hit on the sensor or due to my lenses. I have experienced this problem with a number of different lenses. The lenses I have noticed it the most with are Canon 28-135 IS, and even with Canon 70-200L IS. It's embarrasing whan I enlarge a shot and it looks soft!

I am really confused because I can't seem to correct the problem. I shoot many formals at weddings at the alter and these images always look soft in the facial area.

Has anyone else noticed this problem? And can someone recommend a fix that allows the ambient light to shine!

Please Help!!!!!

[tim]

Please post an example shot.

[robertwgross]

The digital sensor has only one plane.

---Bob Gross---

[PacAce]

I am having a strange problem. When I take pictures in mixed light, on camera flash and ambient, usually in lower light situations ISO 800 and set manually at F-5.6 at 1/40th of a second to capture background light, I am seeing what looks like blurry or soft images especially in the facial region.

I'm not sure if this problem is due to the two different light sources and the different focal planes they hit on the sensor or due to my lenses. I have experienced this problem with a number of different lenses. The lenses I have noticed it the most with are Canon 28-135 IS, and even with Canon 70-200L IS. It's embarrasing whan I enlarge a shot and it looks soft!

I am really confused because I can't seem to correct the problem. I shoot many formals at weddings at the alter and these images always look soft in the facial area.

Has anyone else noticed this problem? And can someone recommend a fix that allows the ambient light to shine!

Please Help!!!!!
Your problem could be due to the fact that you are shooting at such a low shutter speed. At 1/40 any movement made by camera shakes or the subject will be recorded and appear "ghostly". This is in addition to the sharp clear image captured by the flash (assuming the lens was focused correctly).

Unless you have a particular reason for using 1/40, bump up your shutter speed or use a tripod although a tripod won't help with subject movements.