Canon 6D sharpness settings? How to get sharper results

So it looks like I may have missed focus on a couple shots, got it taken care of, thanks for the help guys...

Hard to tell from websized images. Do you have any 100% crops?
My 6D is razor sharp with my 85.

giballi wrote in post #16785499
So I'm new to the 6D coming from my 60D, do you guys think this is sharp? Is there a setting on the camera that can make them sharper out of camera? I shoot raw. Basically, I just want to make sure nothing is off with my 6D, and I'm assuming since I'm new it's prob technique or me. It's taken on a what's considered "sharp lens" and even stopped down a bit to be even sharper. I moved the sharpness slider in lightoom to about 85ish I believe? I focused on her eye and my brother using a 70-200 f4 seemed to take sharper pictures than me on the 85 at this shoot. Is the 85 just not as sharp as the 70-200?

I don't think I missed focus but when I zoom it it doesn't seem as sharp as his shots? If anything it's the lens and not the camera right? Any help would be appreciated.

Here are a couple from the day


IMG_0258 by giballi24, on Flickr


IMG_0209 by giballi24, on Flickr

Have your brother shoot with the same combination you used while you shoot with the combination he used.

Put your brother's 70-200 on your camera and shoot with it while he puts your 85 on his camera and shoots with it.

Put your brother's 70-200 on your camera and have him shoot with it while you put your 85 on your brother's camera and shoot with it.

You might be able to use the results to determine if it's a lens, camera, operator or combination problem.

I downloaded the first image.

a) It can take sharpening. You can do this in the Picture Style or in post-processing.

b) It needs MFA as it is mildly front-focusing. For f2.8 it is sharp from the tip of her left shoulder to the eyelashes in her left eye (where I assumed you focused). On the other hand, if you just used the centerpoint and come whatever it may, then it may be ok as the focus point would be on her left arm which is in focus.

EDIT: I suggest you turn the 'Image Editing OK' on from your User CP profile. Then we can show you what can be done...

For JPEGs, yes - turn up the sharpening. To 5, 6 or even 7. The default is soft.

And I had to micro adjust my 85 1.8, but when sharp the shots are so sharp it hurts.

FWIW, I get sharper shots than what you posted using 6D with the lowly 28-135. I don't know if it's post processing you did or forum posting software, but your OP shots do not look like what I would expect, if sharpness was your goal from a 6D and 85 1.8.

IMO, the first image looks sharp in the eyes. Am presuming you were wide open or near to it?


The second image is hard to judge as it appears to have been edited quite a bit and the lighting blew out all the detail on the left side of your models face.

Recommend you put that puppy on a tripod and see what results are obtained using CAREFUL
manual focus.

Also, if you are using single shot af if the subject moves even a little from the time you press the shutter half way until exposure you might well be oof.

giballi wrote in post #16785686
So is it the camera or lens? Would the 85 act the same on my brothers as mine? I ask because I'm still in the exchange period on my 6D, seems like it's not as sharp on my lenses as the 60D

Since you already said that you focused on the eye, I think your camera/lens combination is front-focusing mildly.

Often front/back focusing is a combination of tolerances for the camera AND the lens... so, it may not show as much in your brother's camera or it could be worse...

MFA is not a very difficult procedure, if you use a tripod and a standard target. You can do it before the warranty period is over and then, if you decide that the lens is OK, return the camera.

EDIT: Put the camera on a tripod. Go to Live View 10x. Focus on the eyebal and shoot. If it is still soft... It is the lens.

^You can micro adjust for front and back focus on the 6D.^

Try live view. Focusing is slow but is based on what the sensor sees. If the Liveview shots are sharper than non-live view shots, then micro adjustment is likely needed. Make sure shutter speed is sufficient to avoid motion blur.

giballi wrote in post #16785544
I was focusing on the eye ball each time and it "locked on" using outer points for focus

MakisM1 wrote in post #16785567
For f2.8 it is sharp from the tip of her left shoulder to the eyelashes in her left eye (where I assumed you focused). On the other hand, if you just used the centerpoint and come whatever it may, then it may be ok as the focus point would be on her left arm which is in focus.

I don't think this is an equipment issue - With the first shot being at 2.8 the depth of field is still quite narrow and the "outer points" grabbed the closest part of the subject. You might want to experiment using the centerpoint.

magoosmc wrote in post #16785869
I don't think this is an equipment issue - With the first shot being at 2.8 the depth of field is still quite narrow and the "outer points" grabbed the closest part of the subject. You might want to experiment using the centerpoint.

If the camera was 10 ft away the 85 @ f2.8 would produce a DOF of 0.7 ft, approximately from the eyelashes to the tip of her shoulder.

The OP used the outer point to AF on her eye, so the AF is front-focusing by about half the distance from her left eye to the tip of her left shoulder.

I believe everything is consistent here.

I just downloaded the first image and had a look, the focus is off...

MA might help, but you need some proper testing first.

I downloaded a full resolution copy of the first photo from your Flickr.

I gave it a pretty hefty Unsharp Mask (USM) sharpening. I copied two strips to cover what I think are the two ends of your Depth of Field (the eyelashes and the shoulder tip).

Do you find the sharpness satisfactory?

^^^ Nice attempt Gerry, but the truth is the focus was missed, and no amount of noise reduction and/or sharpening can rescue the shot I'm afraid....

In the first pic, its quite obvious that the focus is on the shirt and not on the eyes. I get a few missed shots with my 6d and i notice that single point doesnt work very well at times. The more focus points used, the more accurate the focus. Also when u absolutely need that perfect shot, use live view to take the photo. Contrast detection through live view works more accurately than phrase detection (non live view).