Astigmatism. Glasses. And Photography.

[lambbottomphotos]

I have glasses and astigmatism. I see my shot in the viewfinder, looks great and focused.
It looks good on the LCD screen.
Then I insert the m card into my computer and the shots are blurry.

I know they looked great to me! What happened and can I work with my eyes?

[Bob_A]

Unless you're shooting full frame it's pretty difficult to see if you attained perfect focus just by what you see in the viewfinder. Also, when you say "it looks good on the LCD screen" do you mean the full sized image displayed or zoomed to 100%?

Maybe post a couple of shots that you see as being out of focus along with the EXIF information and a few of us can give you some tips. :)

Also, are you shooting RAW or jpeg? If jpeg, what camera are you using and what do you have in-camera sharpening set at? If RAW, how are you adding sharpening in post processing?

[DStanic]

Yes, even with perfect eyes you can't really trust the LCD. Sometimes I think I've nailed the shot, but it is blurry when I look on the computer screen. Other times it doesn't look like anything special on the LCD but it's very good.

[lambbottomphotos]

Bob, I will post so you can see.
I shoot RAW.

[lambbottomphotos]

Here. I see them fine but then .... the out of focus haunts me.

BTW, I didnt crop her feet, she is letting go of monkey bars and not jumping.

I add sharpening in Photo shop by filters/unsharp mask/percentage.

[Bob_A]

Here. I see them fine but then .... the out of focus haunts me.

BTW, I didnt crop her feet, she is letting go of monkey bars and not jumping.

I add sharpening in Photo shop by filters/unsharp mask/percentage.

A couple of questions:

1. What are your USM settings?
2. You didn't include the EXIF. What shutterspeed and f-stop were used for these?

The first image looks soft but it could in focus if there was no (or too little) USM. The second one looks like the shutterspeed was too slow.

[Bob_A]

By the way, I find that when taking photos of children I need at least 1/200s even if it looks like they're sitting still. They just have too much energy to sit as perfectly still as an adult. So the rules of thumb for natural light shooting I use for myself (just my own guidelines, which won't be for everyone):

1. For kids sitting still I set the shutter-speed to at least 1/(crop factor x focal length) or 1/200s, whichever is faster.

2. For adults sitting still I set the shutter-speed to at least 1/(crop factor x focal length) or 1/100s, whichever is faster.

3. For kids moving around I try to use 1/320 to 1/500s. At 1/320 you're still going to have some blur.

[JamesH]

I too have an astigmatism but my glasses/contacts correct that so it shouldn't be an issue right? Or am I missing something?

I'm thinking too low shutter speed as bob was saying.

Have you tried letting the camera autofocus the shot? do they turn out the same?

[Bob_A]

I too have an astigmatism but my glasses/contacts correct that so it shouldn't be an issue right? Or am I missing something?

I'm thinking too low shutter speed as bob was saying.

Have you tried letting the camera autofocus the shot? do they turn out the same?

You're correct. Even if the diopter setting was way off and things look blurry in the viewfinder if you have the right settings and nail the AF the image will be sharp.

[Lordedmond]

You're correct. Even if the diopter setting was way off and things look blurry in the viewfinder if you have the right settings and nail the AF the image will be sharp.

got to agree with your comment as I to have the astigmatism problem with my right eye

with af on the camera will focus on what you point it at evan if yours eyes are shut


the state of your eyes has no influence on the AF ability of the camera