sharpening on camera

[reemas]

since everyone always says all digital images need at least some sharpening, is it a good idea to set the parameters on my XT to automatically add some sharpening?

[Icecamp]

Sure, if you want more of a finished image right out of the camera. The parameters don't do anything though if you shoot in RAW mode. I prefer to shoot in RAW because it provides me with more options in "developing" my images. But if you are looking for snapshot type convenience, shooting in Jpeg with extra sharpening and saturation makes for much better photos right out of the camera.

[robertwgross]

You have some options. Choose what works best for you.

1. You can set one level of sharpening in the camera, and then live with that. This assumes that you are shooting JPEG files.
2. You can set one level of sharpening in the camera, and then modify that setting from time to time, depending on the subject. The risk there is forgetting what you have set, and then shooting with a really wrong setting. This also assumes JPEG files.
3. You can shoot RAW files, but only in some camera modes. RAW files are kind of bad in that it takes more work to get usable photos, as compared to JPEG files, but, on the other hand, RAW files are kind of good in that the data stored will be "flat" without any enhancement. The good part about "flat" is that you can then post-process them with a good RAW converter that will allow you to "tweak" them for sharpness and see your results as you go.

This is not so much of a technical question as it is a personality question. For some people and the way they think, one solution is better than another. I suggest you try them all for a few days and see how you think. Some users will absolutely refuse to do any more computer tasks than what they already do. Serious users will take this more as a challenge.

---Bob Gross---

[MDJAK]

Is it true on the 1 series that changing parameters such as portrait, etc., and sharpness, contrast has no effect on the raw image?


If that is so, how come when I go into the raw image with the above tweaks, that the contrast, for instance, is not reading zero but +25, etc?

[robertwgross]

The RAW file is a raw data file exactly how it got into the sensor. It is not editable by any way I know.

Now, what happens with some editor programs is that if you "tweak" the RAW file, it keeps a separate file of the "tweaking" that you applied for sharpening, contrast enhancement, etc. So, the RAW file plus the added file can produce a finished image the way you like it, normally saved as TIF or PSD or something.

---Bob Gross---

[Steven M. Anthony]

Is it true on the 1 series that changing parameters such as portrait, etc., and sharpness, contrast has no effect on the raw image?


If that is so, how come when I go into the raw image with the above tweaks, that the contrast, for instance, is not reading zero but +25, etc?

If you are using Adobe Camera Raw, its contrast level is set at 25 as a default--brightness is set at 50.

[robertwgross]

Also, for most paper prints, the amount of sharpening that the image needs is somewhat a function of the size of the print. So, you would not want to set one degree of sharpening in the camera and expect that to be perfect for all prints. On the other hand, you could leave a small amount of sharpening done in the camera and then sharpen more later if you see you need to do larger prints. Then again, some users prefer to get all of the sharpening done in one pass.

There is no single solution.

---Bob Gross---

[Steven M. Anthony]

Also, for most paper prints, the amount of sharpening that the image needs is somewhat a function of the size of the print. So, you would not want to set one degree of sharpening in the camera and expect that to be perfect for all prints. On the other hand, you could leave a small amount of sharpening done in the camera and then sharpen more later if you see you need to do larger prints. Then again, some users prefer to get all of the sharpening done in one pass.

There is no single solution.

---Bob Gross---

I don't know how complicated a sharpening routine is. But I like having the power and resources of a PC to do the job. And that was true for me even before I started shooting RAW files.

[Hellashot]

since everyone always says all digital images need at least some sharpening, is it a good idea to set the parameters on my XT to automatically add some sharpening?

Yes if you don't want to do anything again with the photos. If you want to go and sharpen more you're really hurting the image quality if you sharpen a image that's been "in-camera" sharpened vs. always going back to the RAW image and doing your sharpening as I do.

[drisley]

Is it true on the 1 series that changing parameters such as portrait, etc., and sharpness, contrast has no effect on the raw image?

That's true for all Canon cameras that shoot raw, hence the name.

[ron chappel]

If you want to print straight from the camera then upping sharpness and contrast from their standard settings is essential.

The reason most leave the sharpness set to zero is that they prefer to do it on a computer...and more importantly,if sharpness is overdone it's not reversable!
In practice though,(from what i've seen so far) canon EOS digital cameras can be safely set to max sharpness with no problems at all.
My 300D is set that way yet i still have to sharpen in post processing.

Recently i've experimented with the contrast setting-all i've found so far is that the highest setting on the 300D is way too high