D60 Focus Question

[Xtrema]

I've read about low light and fast action focus issues with the D60. What about just regular 'still life' focus issues? I can't figure out what is happening. Here's what I know--

Images are soft focus in either Windows viewer or Adobe Photoshop 5.0 LE.
Images are apparently in focus through the viewfinder
Images are apparently in focus as the camera beeps and the rectangle lights up
Problem exists on Macro, Green Rectangle, and P modes

I'm storing images Large Fine on a 1 GB Lexar card.

I am using a Tamron 28-300mm f3.5-6.3 lens.

I have seen problem with firmware 1.0.2 and 1.0.4.

I have seen problems without flash, with on-board flash, and with 550 EX.

Camera was just professionally cleaned by the only factory Leica dude in Virginia (also Canon expert). Soft focus before and after.

Sharpness setting was checked using Menu and set to factory default.

Any ideas? I'm off to the camera store to put a new lens on the camera and shoot something to see if it is the lens.

It is pretty embarassing to have this massive camera and lens and flash and have problems that the cheap pocket digitals like my S230 never have.

[ScottE]

What do you mean by "soft focus"? Are the images out of focus or are they just soft?

If they are out of focus, there should be something else in the frame that is closer or further away from the subject that is in focus in some of your pictures.

I have a D60 and it is capable of very sharp pictures, as shown by the 13x19 inch enlargements hanging on my walls. It is more likely that something else is the problem.

First of all, the D60 does not have as much built in unsharp mask as most of the consumer point and shoot cameras. As a result you have to apply a sharpening filter. This is actually a good thing since it gives you more control over the amount of sharpening.

Secondly, a 28-300 lens is not noted for being overly sharp in the first place. Because of the 1.6x enlargement factor the D60 is much more demanding on lens quality than a film camera. It is possible that you are pushing the limits of your lens' capability.

Finally, the thing I always consider first when my pictures turn out soft is my own technique. Use a solid tripod, mirror lock up and a cable release and take a few test shots of a detailed subject. Focus manually and bracket focus a bit, just to be sure you are not looking at a focus problem. That should show you what your camera is capable of and, if your photos do not turn out that sharp, you have to take the blame.

Scott

[Xtrema]

I took a few images with the 28-135 IS, as well as the 28-105. I noted much better image quality but still not crystal clear focus on the indoor shots with on-camera flash. I believe something in the image was in focus, as stated above, but the camera lens was so wide open that the other elements in the image were soft.

[robertwgross]

I believe something in the image was in focus, as stated above, but the camera lens was so wide open that the other elements in the image were soft.

Well, that is not exactly a soft focus problem. That is a depth of field issue which is largely under the control of the guy behind the camera. On my old D60, as long as I did everything right, the camera would do the rest.

---Bob Gross---

[Xtrema]

I was just trying to say that when taking pictures indoors of a wall with lots of camera straps hanging there that the text on the strap cardboard packaging was not crystal clear, but I suspect that the wall was in focus, a few inches behind the straps. The outdoor pictures were clear with the Canon lens.

[robertwgross]

The results you get that way may be mixed. On my old D60, if the lighting was just a little bit dim, the autofocus system would be unreliable unless I was using an external flash with assist light. It would be trying to autofocus, and it would pick some spot close to where the focus mark actually was, especially if that spot had better contrast than the intended spot.

In fact, I proved it to myself one time by using just the STE2 transmitter (and no real flash) to put up the assist pattern. That worked better.

I would say that the old D60 worked good enough, but fast autofocus and reliable autofocus in dim light were not its best suits.

---Bob Gross---

[picnic]

I have shot with a D60 for almost 3 years--a lot of it partime commercial that required a good deal of DOF and sharpness for the subject. I was shooting with 2/550EX and a 420EX and a Sigma 15-30 or Canon 24-70L on all of these shots. I did not have any 'soft' issues at all, but I shoot in RAW, select my AF point, process in PS and do use sharpening (presently I'm using PK Sharpener, but in the past I used USM in various ways.).

What you didn't say is if this is a new issue or if you have noticed this for a good while. The D60 seems to be quite accurate in AF for normal light--pretty good but SLOW in very low light but that is helped by using the STE2 or an EX flash and a fast lens. I currently shoot also with a 10D and AF is faster in low light, but I still found the D60 to be reasonable.

I'm making the assumption that you have just bought the camera and came from a fixed lens digital. Many confuse DOF with OOF--I've spent quite a bit of time tutoring someone that came from a Sony 717 to a 20D--and was using the camera for commercial reasons--but couldn't get his head around DOF.

I'd suggest you try shooting in good light with a reasonable aperture (f/8 or more) in Av mode and with center AF point so you know where you focused. In the modes you mentioned, I suspect you also are using all 3 AF points which can get you in trouble. In the 3 modes you mentioned, you are are letting the camera make the decisions--particularly about AF points (altho' you do have the choice in P mode), aperture and shutter, etc. Its difficult to know much about your problem unless you give us more specific information, i.e., EXIF and the circumstances of the shots.

Diane B