60D images not sharp

I have been taking some pictures and they look nice and sharp on the LCD screen but when I transfer them to my computer they are not nearly as sharp it seems as on the LCD even when zoomed in on the LCD they seem less sharp, very disappointing. I will try to post an example as soon as I can figure out how. I don't know how to resize anything to post here and still keep IQ or get it a small enough file to post.

You can post an image externally (flickr, photobucket, etc) and use the provided link to post it here. That will give us a larger image than what you can attach here.

Just a thought, do you have a filter on the lens?

Yeah, that's always the first question... a cheap filter on the lens can cause soft images.

Next thing to consider is shutter speed... BTW if/when you post try to keep EXIF intact (some image processing softwares remove it if you "save for the web"). Too slow a shutter speed can allow camera shake blur... even the vibration of the mirror and shutter can cause blur at certain speeds. Image Stabilization might help, if your lens has it. But even it has a limit.

Subject movement is the other reasons for soft images.... too slow a shutter, once again. IS can't help with subject movement.

Missed focus is another possibility. Could be the focusing method being used or the mode chosen (One Shot for moving subjects would cause problems... AI Servo can't be used for a focus and recompose method... etc.).

Or it could simply be that you are coming from a much lower resolution camera and in the habit of looking at images at 100% on your computer. With an 18MP camera, that's like making a five foot wide print from the image, then viewing it from about 18 inches. Sort of like walking up to a few inches from an old masters painting and wondering why all you see are brush strokes.

Also, it can depend upon the software you are using and your general work flow. If shooting RAW and not using Canon's software, any sharpening settings in the camera very likely won't be applied, so you need to sharpen the image again.

Computer monitors vary in quality a lot, too. The best way to check sharpness and everything else is to make a print on smooth, matte paper with a good quality printer.

The LCD screen on the back of the camera is not useful for critical evaluation of images. It's just not high enough resolution. Even zoomed in, you can only do a rough check of focus accuracy... and use the histogram to check exposure.

It actually could be something wrong with the camera.

amfoto1 wrote in post #14690184
Yeah, that's always the first question... a cheap filter on the lens can cause soft images.

Next thing to consider is shutter speed... BTW if/when you post try to keep EXIF intact (some image processing softwares remove it if you "save for the web"). Too slow a shutter speed can allow camera shake blur... even the vibration of the mirror and shutter can cause blur at certain speeds. Image Stabilization might help, if your lens has it. But even it has a limit.

Subject movement is the other reasons for soft images.... too slow a shutter, once again. IS can't help with subject movement.

Missed focus is another possibility. Could be the focusing method being used or the mode chosen (One Shot for moving subjects would cause problems... AI Servo can't be used for a focus and recompose method... etc.).

Or it could simply be that you are coming from a much lower resolution camera and in the habit of looking at images at 100% on your computer. With an 18MP camera, that's like making a five foot wide print from the image, then viewing it from about 18 inches. Sort of like walking up to a few inches from an old masters painting and wondering why all you see are brush strokes.

Also, it can depend upon the software you are using and your general work flow. If shooting RAW and not using Canon's software, any sharpening settings in the camera very likely won't be applied, so you need to sharpen the image again.

Computer monitors vary in quality a lot, too. The best way to check sharpness and everything else is to make a print on smooth, matte paper with a good quality printer.

The LCD screen on the back of the camera is not useful for critical evaluation of images. It's just not high enough resolution. Even zoomed in, you can only do a rough check of focus accuracy... and use the histogram to check exposure.

It actually could be something wrong with the camera.

+++1

Also don't use "Auto focus point selection mode"(all AF points active) the camera will choose the closest thing it can find to focus on, not necessarily what you want to be in best focus.

Choose a single focus point manually, then focus, recompose if necessary, and shoot.

looks like most of the bases have been covered - low shutter speed, filters, not selecting the AF point,
post a pic with the EXIF data

Are you shooting RAW? You see the sharpened JPG-version in the camera screen, but the RAW version in computer. Try adding some sharpening in DPP (or any other software you are using)

..just a thought.

Edit: this was pretty much said earlier.. I just can't read..

You can also take a 100% crop of the images, use your photo editor, view the image at 100%, and then crop it and post it, that way we can see that part of the image at full resolution.

How much DSLR experience do you have? Is this your first one? Also let us know what lens you are using too. When I was first starting with my 60D I had some disappointing results too at first until I got the hang of it and started to understand how my images were affected by the settings I was using.

bbb1919 wrote in post #14690188
+++1

+++2

Maybe your lens has a different AF adjustment than your camera. It may front or back focusing. The only drawback about 60D is that it does not have a micro adjust feature.

This is a sample of what I am talking about. All were taken with a 15-85mm lens, handheld, and straight from the camera jpg files. No filter either for these. This is my first DSLR so maybe i just dont know what to expect. maybe they do look fine, i just want someone who has a better eye for this thing to take a look.

http://www.flickr.com/​photos/rsk500/76275639​70/

http://www.flickr.com/​photos/rsk500/76275626​90/

http://www.flickr.com/​photos/rsk500/76275614​10/

http://www.flickr.com/​photos/rsk500/76275592​52/

Kinda thought that was going to show the pictures, guess not. Did I link to the wrong thing?

looked at the first two. Shutter speed to low really. 1/6 and 1/5 is to slow to hand hold a slow moving subject at 50mm on a crop sensor. try getting your shutter speeds up to 1/100 or so.

1st shot: Shot at 1/6 at 50mm
2nd shot: 1/5 at 85mm
3rd shot: 1/10 at 73mm
4th shot: 1/8 at 85mm

To me, all the shots are blurry due to the slow shutter speeds, also all the shots were shot at 800 ISO, the 60D can 'easily' do 1600 ISO. The 15-85mm is a fantastic lens that is adequately sharp as well.

Try taking some shots outside tomorrow when there is some sun and compare the images, the 60D and 15-85mm is a great combo that should produce great images alongside.

addendum... lens has IS can probably be fine with slower than 1/100 but... first dslr read a little about holding the camera steady too.

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=h​olding+dslr+steady