Help with sharpness - picture of my daughter

I think this is an issue with me and the way that I'm shooting, but a lot of pictures that I've been taking have come out soft like this. I'm shooting with a 6D and a 24-70 f/2.8 mark II.

Shot settings would be nice.

Looks like front focus though.

Post the exif data. That way we can make more useful suggestions. I'm seeing a very shallow depth of field, basically just the weave in the head band is in focus. Depending on what light, what shutter speed, what ISO, what aperture, there is most likely an easy fix.

Could be front focusing, but with a shallow DOF like that, if you maybe focused on the eyes and then recomposed, that could account for the missed focus as well.

Sorry about the EXIF data. Here's the picture with that information and another one as well. I believe I was on AI Servo mode and was fast firing a bunch of shots. Second one looks a bit sharper to me, but nowhere near what I expect this lens to be capable of.

1/60, f2.8, at ISO 1600? You need more light.

Umm, no. You need to adjust your lens to the camera. Not something I normally do, but the micro adjustment capability is there and you can search online for a kit to help you or you can try it with a tripod and a newspaper. Also not familiar with the 6D so don't know how flexible the focus selection points are. I would select the focus point for the one closest to where the eye is.
You also need to back off a little, maybe select f4 or 5.6, underexposing won't be a bad thing here, but I would try ISO 3200 or add light as the comment above indicated. Not flash as that will startle the baby.

Maybe AF micro adjustment is not there on 6D. What does your manual say?

Thanks for the advice. I was going to work on the dot tune focus adjustment this weekend on the lens. I'll try bumping ISO at the next session, but I think micro adjusting focus might help me get that sharpness that I'm looking for in this lens. Additionally, I do recall that the shots may not have used the center focus point, so I think I may make that change next time as well.

At 70mm, 1/60s is borderline too slow for a really steady shot. I'm old and shaky, I'd be at 125 or 160. No IS on that lens.

Yes, I don't have the steadiest hands either. I think I'll also trying going manual instead of AV next time so I can select a more appropriate handheld shutter speed.

Thanks for all your helpful advice advaitin!

I think is a combination of too slow of a shutter speed and missing focus on the eyes. Mostly missing the focus. 70mm @2.8 is very shallow so it don't take much to miss focus.

AI Servo should not be used. Once she is up and running around you can look into how to set up and use it for moving subjects.

1/60 is marginal for hand held but really should be sufficient for the subject and if you are sitting or able to set your elbow on something. Any smaller aperture and you won't get nice OOF areas, and I'm not one to have to have razor thin DOF.

Despite the 6D's great high ISO I wouldn't go over 3200.

Get your micro adjustment done, and get off Servo and see what happens.

You can select a minimum shutter speed in Av mode, 1/125 would be appropriate, you would only be going to iso 3200, which is nothing high by todays standards and the 6d looks good up to about iso 12800!

Single shot, try working with inanimate objects first, don't recompose, and see if it is in fact the lens. You cannot do micro adjustments while you are in servo mode, it will not be accurate.

You will have a problem focus recomposing in servo mode, because as you recompose it will begin to hunt for focus again.

I never have a problem with focus and recompose on my 6d. People that say it is no good are the ones who's technique needs work.

Thanks everyone for your great tips. I want to make sure that I capture them all, so in summary:

• If in Av mode, set a minimum of 1/125th for handheld shutter speed
  
• Don't go beyond ISO 3200 if possible
  
• Focus recompose with One-Shot instead of using Ai-Focus or Ai-Servo
  
• Possibly try a smaller aperture than 2.8
  
• Practice focusing first with a stationary object
  
• Finally, micro adjust the 24-70