Settings for sharp focus (portraits)

I shoot a 5Dm3 with either a 50mm 1.2 or a 70-200m 2.8.

I have been trying to master focusing for broader portrait shots, full body. Up close, head shots and facials are easy. But I can't seem to get the sharpness when the subject is further away, is his just natural not to be so sharp? Is processing a big part of it?

what do you set your camera at internally for this shot? Single Point Spot AF? Single Pt AF? I usually compose the shot in viewfinder, then set my AF point (eyes) and fire.....but I am missing more than I should.

I uploaded a couple of pics straight out of the camera, they were shot with a 50mm. But looked soft.

http://www.jeffdayphot​ography.com/p579047545

I'd appreciate and feedback from you pros
Thanks

If using AF I use single point and dial a point that is closest to the eyes. If using manual focus I use LiveView. I don't recompose because that introduces parallax error, especially at such apertures where the focal plane is razor thin. I also ask the subjects not to rock back and forth.

naturally you wont get the resolution from further out, you could also try stopping the lens down a bit.

the images look fine to me without pixelpeeping.

I carefully looked at both photo's, it appears in both images that the face is out of focus, it might be worth doing a micro adjust calibration with the 50mm on your 5d3. While the 1.2 is not at its sharpest at 1.2 it should give you pleasing results.

Also can you let us know what aperture you have your camera set to with these images is it f/1.2 ? I usually use f/1.2 on my 85 or f/1.4 on my 50 1.4 for people at similar distances.

The 50L is a great lens but I personally found mine to be far too SOFT when wide open. I replaced my lens for another 50L and that was the same. I learn't that this is is a characteristic of the lens. In fact the hit rate on my 85L2 was much higher than that of my 50L......I expected too much of the 50L and It was not what I wanted so I sold mine and purchased the much cheaper 50mm f/1.4 which I have enjoyed over the last 2 years. I am not in no way criticising this lens, in fact I highly praise it but I wanted absolute SHARPNESS which this lens could not give me when using wide open. I put the left over monies towards the 135L and that never lets me down with these type of shots.

Alveric wrote in post #17639174
If using AF I use single point and dial a point that is closest to the eyes. If using manual focus I use LiveView. I don't recompose because that introduces parallax error, especially at such apertures where the focal plane is razor thin. I also ask the subjects not to rock back and forth.

This ^ ^, + AI Servo in case I move a little & the subject moves a little. .

Generally the "sweet spot" for a lens, where it does best, is two to three stops down from wide open. Wide open, you'll get maximum "benefit" from the uncorrected aberrations left in the lens design, which I kind of like for portraits, and stopped down to the far end, you start getting diffraction around the diaphragm, causing slight image degradation. This diffraction is less pronounced with longer focal length lenses since the aperture is physically larger even at small f-stops.
And don't forget to check the micro calibration as PCousins suggested.

To me they look soft rather than out of focus. I can't see exif on this computer, but wide open or near it that's what I'd expect - maybe not quite as good as I'd expect.

People don't like it when I say this, and I don't want to start a brand war, but when I switched to Nikon my focus issues went away, and the lenses I use are very sharp. Canon just couldn't get my cameras and lenses working together to get consistently sharp, in focus photos. I understand things are better these days, but I think Nikon is still superior.

Thanks for spending time and checking the pics....I appreciate the feedback. I was shooting at f2.8 with the 50mm. I also have the 85 1.2, the 17-40 and the 70-200. Should I be using a different lens?

jeffdaypdx wrote in post #17639531
Thanks for spending time and checking the pics....I appreciate the feedback. I was shooting at f2.8 with the 50mm. I also have the 85 1.2, the 17-40 and the 70-200. Should I be using a different lens?

Each lens gives your images a slightly different look. I'd do test shots to work out which lens you like in which situation. Wide open the 50 F1.2 is meant to have a good look, but not be that sharp. By 2.8 I'd have expected it to be a bit better.

jeffdaypdx wrote in post #17639531
Thanks for spending time and checking the pics....I appreciate the feedback. I was shooting at f2.8 with the 50mm. I also have the 85 1.2, the 17-40 and the 70-200. Should I be using a different lens?

It all depends on your intention, the look you need/want, and the story you want to tell.

I want very sharp eyes which I am not getting, maybe the 50m is not the right lens? I feel like it does much better with focus when I use it with a strobe. Is this normal?

jeffdaypdx wrote in post #17639585
I want very sharp eyes which I am not getting, maybe the 50m is not the right lens? I feel like it does much better with focus when I use it with a strobe. Is this normal?

I'd say sure, If you are shooting in lower light and have a "focus assist" light, and if when you examine your shots you see bits that are in focus but your most important "bits" are not, because the camera AF will look for bits that have good contrast, and can pick up bits that have more than those eyes.

As has been said, a big question is whether you are maximizing the effectiveness of your lens or, are you shooting with an aperture that is too wide for the performance of your lens...? Try shooting at f/5.6 or narrower, and compare the results. People do like to shoot at wide apertures to maximize a soft out of focus background, and some lenses are in fact quite sharp at their widest apertures, but then some are not so sharp! You can test your camera/lens setup to get a feel of things!

They look soft to me as well. What was the shutter speed? Just curious. I'll second the 135L for tack-sharp images wide open. The best value lens Canon offers and it rarely disappoints.

Downloaded them and had a good Pixel Peep. I couldn't find any in focus areas in either shot. At F2.8 I'd be expecting sharper results with the 5D3's 22mpx. How is your 70-200 on the same composition?

The blue one shutter was 1/250....brick was 1/100.

jeffdaypdx wrote in post #17639832
The blue one shutter was 1/250....brick was 1/100.

In the 2nd shot (bricks) the far left of the frame appears to be in focus but the right doesn't. I want to say it's back-focusing but I'm not certain. If you have a Lens Align Pro or similar I would definitely check calibration / fine tune at that distance. Following this thread and will post if I have a moment to download the files and check on my computer.