A little help...I think I have a bad lens here!

Friday was a great day...I picked up a 50mm f/1.8 Mk. 1 and what I thought was an awesome find...a 28mm f/2.8 for $200. I decided to shoot with the 28 for the day and drove around testing it out. I had my T1i on Program Mode the whole day and thought I was getting some great shots....that was until I uploaded them to my computer! I feel like the image is blurry, even in the areas I focus on. Check these out...I really think I have a bad copy. What do you think? I really want to use this lens indoors shooting live bands...I am going to test it out doing that tonight..but so far..I am not impressed.

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What's wrong?

Orangegsx wrote in post #10014466
What's wrong?

Sorry....I just realized that I didn't state my problem.


I feel like the image is blurry, even in the areas I focus on.

According to your EXIF data, your shutter speeds are in the range of 0.033 s (1/30)

If you REALLY want to know if you're having focus issues or not, put it on a tripod and check. 1/30 is well within the possibility of it just being camera shake.

That being said...these don't actually look too bad.

for me it appears that #2 and #3 are back focusing and front focusing. #1 seems to be good and #4 seems to just be a slow shutter speed, on the T1i you should be using around 1/45 ish to get a sharp picture based on the 1/focal length rule

I think it is unlikely that BOTH lenses are bad, but you have clearly got soft results with both lenses. When this happens with more than one lens it is generally a user issue or a faulty camera, rather than faulty lenses.

are you using good focusing techniques and bracing the camera correctly while shooting?

sandpiper wrote in post #10014517
I think it is unlikely that BOTH lenses are bad, but you have clearly got soft results with both lenses. When this happens with more than one lens it is generally a user issue or a faulty camera, rather than faulty lenses.

are you using good focusing techniques and bracing the camera correctly while shooting?

I feel like I am. Of course I could be wrong. Is there something I should be doing differently when shooting with a fast prime? These are my first two ever.

your shutter speeds are too slow...causing subject motion blur...was the train moving?...if so 1/100 probably isn't fast enough to freeze the action...and 1/50, and 1/30 for the dog isn't going to stop it's movement...those little dogs always move fast...either open up the lens more, or bump up the ISO

DreDaze wrote in post #10014541
your shutter speeds are too slow...causing subject motion blur...was the train moving?...if so 1/100 probably isn't fast enough to freeze the action...and 1/50, and 1/30 for the dog isn't going to stop it's movement...those little dogs always move fast...either open up the lens more, or bump up the ISO

So...instead of letting the camera decide in P mode....I should do a little thinking of my own? Ha! Just kidding I understand! I will try tonight when I shoot this band...any tips if I were just going to use these two lenses?

you can stay on P mode but just maybe lower the exposure compensation to a shutter speed that works.

or if you know your shutter speed is a problem then put it on Tv and let the camera decide on the aperture

or if you are gutsy then put it on M at the widest aperture and lowest acceptable shutter speed and hope that the pictures are decently exposed (the histogram can help you out here).

I'm not too sure about the focusing issue... are you using center focus point and then recomposing?

Go to Av mode, set to f3.2 to f3.5 (or f2.8 ), ISO 200 or 400, set EC to +1/3 and try those types of shots again.

This reminds me of what I personally do after buying used lenses.

My advise is to play with the lenses. Get to know how you can get good images from it. I don't have the 28mm but I would step down the 50mm to f/2.8 and you should see really sharp images from it. Don't test lenses wide open with these apertures because they're going to be softer than other apertures.

Also, eliminate extra variables, like tracking a moving train... It might be difficult to to test whether the lens is soft or if your body missed focus.

Anyways, just take the time to learn your lenses ^^

You don't need to be gutsy to shoot manual (M).

Put it in manual, set your aperture pretty wide, anywhere between f/2.8 to 3.5 and your ISO to a setting that will allow you to get a fast enough shutter speed of at least (1/focal length x 1.6 crop factor). There's nothing wrong with shooting at a far greater shutter speed too. Even still subjects can benefit from a fast shutter when you're hand holding. Just use the in camera meter to ascertain the 'correct' exposure.

jongrill wrote in post #10014558
So...instead of letting the camera decide in P mode....I should do a little thinking of my own? Ha! Just kidding I understand! I will try tonight when I shoot this band...any tips if I were just going to use these two lenses?

it all depends on the movement of your subject...but i'd try and get a decently fast shutter...1/125, or 1/250 would probably work for a lot of things, as long as they're not too quick...i think 1/250 you'd be fine for a lot...to get there will all depend on the light available...i'd set the lens to f2.8...ISO @400...see where your shutter is at...if you're at like 1/30 or something crazy, you'll need to do some steps to get it higher...raise the ISO to 800 gives you 1/60...stop the lens down to f2 will give you 1/125...you'll have to adjust on the spot, but i'd use AV mode, and start at my suggestion, and see what you need to do to get an acceptable shutter speed...i'd try and mess around with them before seeing the band though

TeamSpeed wrote in post #10014630
Go to Av mode, set to f3.2 to f3.5 (or f2.8 ), ISO 200 or 400, set EC to +1/3 and try those types of shots again.

that'd work for the train...but wouldn't really help the others...

Rubi Jane wrote in post #10014734
Just use the in camera meter to ascertain the 'correct' exposure.

if you're doing that I'd forget M, and just put it in AV...it'll be easier, and give the same results...