My images are SOFT!

[kezug]

Am I the only one who feels that the images captured by the G11 are soft?

I took a series of shots and it seems no matter the setting or condition, the images are just soft.

I really dont want to have to PP each one to get the sharpness I desire

Is anyone else feeling this way?

I have my camera set at Servo AF
AF-assist beam (which I hate the purple light casting on my subjects - think wedding!!!)
Safety MF is on
AF Frame is Flexi
IS mode - continuous

Shooting RAW and JPEG

Mostly in manual mode -
Mostly in Av 4.0-4.5

Either with Flash on (tried min, med, and max)

Various shutter speeds!

Not the happiest.

Wondering if the G11 should go up on ebay and look for something better.

[10megapixel]

Pic with exif data please ;)

[JeffreyG]

Based on the sample image, I think your turbo encabulator is mis-calibrated. Try adding some cornstarch.

http://www.break.com/index/understanding-the-turbo-encabulator.html

[denncald]

My G11 shots look fairly sharp/hard to me, except when the camera boosts the ISO to 400 and above. I could control that by manually selecting lower ISOs, but I'm allowing the camera to choose for now. I've only had the camera about a week and a half, so I want to see what it will do in Auto, P, and Av modes.

Dennis

[Lightmaster]

Based on the sample image, I think your turbo encabulator is mis-calibrated. Try adding some cornstarch.

http://www.break.com/index/understanding-the-turbo-encabulator.html

Although this is way off base it really was hysterical! Thanks for the break!!

[yogestee]

Wondering if the G11 should go up on ebay and look for something better.

Flame??

[kezug]

Ok, I am the OP. My computer has been failing me and have been spending time with a lot of reboots. Anyway, I do owe you a picture example of what I mean by soft.

Exif:
File Name IMG_3168.JPG
Camera Model Name Canon PowerShot G11
Shooting Date/Time 5/1/2010 3:10:39 PM
Shooting Mode Manual
My Colors Mode Off
Tv (Shutter Speed) 1/80
Av (Aperture Value) 4.0
Light Metering Evaluative
ISO Speed 800
Lens 6.1 - 30.5 mm
Focal Length 10.8 mm
Digital Zoom None
IS Mode On
Image Size 3648x2736
Image Quality Fine
Flash On
Flash Type Built-In Flash
Shutter curtain sync 1st-curtain
Red-eye On
White Balance Auto
White balance compensation 0, 0
AF Mode Manual Focus
Parameters Contrast Normal
Sharpness Normal
Saturation Normal
Color Space sRGB
File Size 2318 KB
Drive Mode Single-frame shooting
Owner's Name
http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn84/kezug/Kristen%20and%20Charleys%20Wedding/IMG_3168.jpg

[dacale]

the build in flash is not strong enough for this type pictures , the distance is to big.
you need a extern flash , flashing indirect or work with a bounch on the extern flash.

[hairy_moth]

I would agree.. the flash is not enough to light that.
I noticed the ISO is 800 and the speed is 1/80.. given the flash, that may not be enough.
Manual focus on a G body is also tough..

Is that the mother of the bride sporting the ink? How times have changed :)

[tkbslc]

ISO 800 in poor lighting on a compact camera? Yeah, that will always be soft.

[D-Train]

I'd be curious to see what it looks like at a lower ISO where the flash isn't needed. That may yield a better test to see if the camera is taking un-sharp images.

I have the G10 and don't even try to use it over ISO 400. Manual focus is also out for the reason that hairy_moth mentioned.

Maybe the IS is giving you some grief? Try switching that off for a test shot, too.

[rodleviton]

Based on the sample image, I think your turbo encabulator is mis-calibrated. Try adding some cornstarch.

http://www.break.com/index/understanding-the-turbo-encabulator.html

Great Pic! Nice Capture! LoL!!!!


Too Funny this is :)

[rodleviton]

More to the point, I agree that an external flash should have been used with an iso around 400. The speedlight 270EX is a great complimenting flash for the G series cameras and is not too oversized. I know because I have one. I wouldn't get rid of your camera yet, I think you just need to get to know it better.

[kezug]

I would agree.. the flash is not enough to light that.
I noticed the ISO is 800 and the speed is 1/80.. given the flash, that may not be enough.
Manual focus on a G body is also tough..

Is that the mother of the bride sporting the ink? How times have changed :)

Haha, no, not the mother but her very lively and vivacious sister.

You know, I wondered why mentioned manual focus and see that my Exif says manual, but there is no way I was in manual mode. Hmmmmm...the only thing I did do was put black electrical tape on the AF beam on the face of the camera as no matter what setting I have, that purple beam shoots out and I didnt want to put that on the brides back :)

So, should I consider a speed light and that would make things a little better?

[kezug]

More to the point, I agree that an external flash should have been used with an iso around 400. The speedlight 270EX is a great complimenting flash for the G series cameras and is not too oversized. I know because I have one. I wouldn't get rid of your camera yet, I think you just need to get to know it better.

Thanks for the tip..I wasnt sure where this thread was going, especially with some of the first reply'ers (but I had it coming to me :lol:)

I will look into the 270ex...do you have a preferred source for a decent price on this?

[cyberon]

I will look into the 270ex...do you have a preferred source for a decent price on this?

It depends on where abouts you are located on this world of ours! Setting up your location to let everyone know will help.;)

[hairy_moth]

Hmmmmm...the only thing I did do was put black electrical tape on the AF beam on the face of the camera as no matter what setting I have, that purple beam shoots out and I didnt want to put that on the brides back :)

LOL.. You are kidding right?... LOL

[kezug]

LOL.. You are kidding right?... LOL

Really, I did. There is an option to turn off AF Assist Beam, but under certain conditions, it will light up again. So the only way I could get it to NOT light up was to block it with tape.

I swear.

[Rankinia]

Too funny. Your complaining that your photos were out of focus, yet it never occurred that covering up the autofocus beam could affect that. Not sure but there may be a connection there.

[alessandro2009]

Avoid to cover the autofocus beam since it is specifically useful in critical condition.
When your image are on focus but soft you could use graphical program for sharp it without problems.

Jpeg al 95 %.

[sandro9mm]

Really, I did. There is an option to turn off AF Assist Beam, but under certain conditions, it will light up again. So the only way I could get it to NOT light up was to block it with tape.

I swear.
bw!

[Olly_K1]

Ok, I am the OP. My computer has been failing me and have been spending time with a lot of reboots.

You didn't tape down the CTRL + ALT + DEL keys by any chance did you ?

[philwillmedia]

...You know, I wondered why mentioned manual focus and see that my Exif says manual, but there is no way I was in manual mode. Hmmmmm...the only thing I did do was put black electrical tape on the AF beam on the face of the camera as no matter what setting I have, that purple beam shoots out and I didnt want to put that on the brides back :)

Really, I did. There is an option to turn off AF Assist Beam, but under certain conditions, it will light up again. So the only way I could get it to NOT light up was to block it with tape.

I swear.

Uh-oh...
Shades of LightRules.
Somebody's gonna have a date with _aravena.

hahahahaha

[kezug]

Oh boy, I am really providing for some good entertainment for you all. :oops:

But I have to laugh too.
:)

[hairy_moth]

Good. Laugh and learn. :)

[Luke Cern]

I also see that you are shooting in JPG.

Time to switch to RAW and to get control over white balance and noise. Shutter speed was too low for handheld but a monopod would have helped if a full tripod wasn't practical. I often use the church furniture as a firm surface on which I place the camera. An off-camera flash should have been set to for fill-in although you would have been better in front of the B+G.
Pretty critical - I know. With respect, I hope you weren't the official photographer at this event!!!.
Are they going to get married again later? LoL

[NigelD]

Try hitting the fuffle valve with a red hot hammer to make it sharper.