Why is the IQ sooo bad on this hockey image?

I'm posting a static shot so as to eliminate as many variables as possible but I'm losing my mind and simply can't figure out what the problem is here. I had the lens resting on the boards so shake wasn't an issue. My subject wasn't moving so that wasn't an issue. The glass I shot through was pretty clean so again, no issue yet the image looks like complete and utter crap. Seems like most of my shots from this day were similar whether with the 30D, 1DM2 and 70-200 or 300 mounted to either. This image had a slight crop done and USM of 60/.5/4, that's it. Thoughts??

Scott:

Not sure what you are seeing but image looks pretty good to me. Maybe the contrast or blacks could be bumped up a tiny bit (eg, get the black on his pads a bit darker) or perhaps it is a touch too overexposed? Maybe the glass in the glass wall behind the rink glass is throwing things off too? Focus looks OK except glove which appears to be out of the DOF a tiny bit.

Other than that, I wish all my keepers looked as clean as your crap!

Cheers!

Chris

If you're talking about it being a little soft, I think it's a focus issue on the main subject... the red goal post looks pretty darn sharp. Also, ISO 1600 won't do miracles in the sharpness department!

Thanks guys. Chris, I looked at some of yours and you are far too modest. For me its a combo of the noise (I know 1600 ISO) and softness that are killing me on this one. Zoombrowsser showed the focus point right on the middle of the upper chest so I began wondering about possible backfocus. I don't know but I feel sick about having to provide this set of images to parents. Maybe (hopefully) they aren't as picky as I am.

I agree... looks like the subject is slightly over-exposed and slightly in front of the focal plane.

The red goal post and right "Heaton" glove seem to be in focus plane.

Were you using AI Servo? If so, I've always found focus to be questionable when using it on static subjects.

Also, have you shot at that rink before? Have you had success shooting through the glass there before? Sometimes I find that cheap glass can be a major factor in poor IQ, even when it is clean. Or a pane might look good at first glance but, upon closer inspection, be somewhat flawed (had this happen to me recently - one pane of glass looked good and clean but my images were all softer than I expected. Upon closer inspection, the inside surface of that particular pane was slightly rippled. It wasn't noticeable unless you really looked for it.).

Anyways... just a couple of thoughts.

Brikwall wrote in post #9588773
Sometimes I find that cheap glass can be a major factor in poor IQ, even when it is clean. Or a pane might look good at first glance but, upon closer inspection, be somewhat flawed (had this happen to me recently - one pane of glass looked good and clean but my images were all softer than I expected. Upon closer inspection, the inside surface of that particular pane was slightly rippled.

I had that happen at a lacrosse game with a new generic Circ Pol filter. The whole day's shots were ruined. Looked fine on the viewfinder, but when viewed larger than 3", the softness and ripple was sickening.

I tossed the filter in my junk drawer and bought a nice one. But then I read a thread about heat waves when shooting low on artificial turf... this was an away game for the playoffs... the first time I'd shot on artifical turf. So when LAX season gets here, I might test that filter again.

Clarence and Dan, thanks both. I have shot there one other time but mostly from the bench so no TTG iissues. I was in servo but for shots like this, once I lock focus and they aren't moving, my finger comes off the back button so I'm not sure that's the issue. From the distance I was shooting< would have thought my DOF would be sufficient (even at 2.8) that there'd be some margin for error. In this case, with a focus pt on the mid upper chest, I wouldn't expect much to be oof at all in my main subject (perhpas the very leading edge and that's about it).

clarence wrote in post #9588836
. But then I read a thread about heat waves when shooting low on artificial turf... this was an away game for the playoffs... the first time I'd shot on artifical turf. So when LAX season gets here, I might test that filter again.

I learned the heat wave problem the hard way as well. It can kill your images!

namasste wrote in post #9588847
Clarence and Dan, thanks both. I have shot there one other time but mostly from the bench so no TTG iissues. I was in servo but for shots like this, once I lock focus and they aren't moving, my finger comes off the back button so I'm not sure that's the issue. From the distance I was shooting< would have thought my DOF would be sufficient (even at 2.8) that there'd be some margin for error. In this case, with a focus pt on the mid upper chest, I wouldn't expect much to be oof at all in my main subject (perhpas the very leading edge and that's about it).

I figured you would lock focus and release the back button but thought I'd mention it anyways... sometimes we miss the obvious or overlook the little things...

There should be enough contrast in that logo for the camera to lock on, so the back-focus does seem odd. But you mentioned that you had the same issue no matter which lens or body you used, which leads me to believe that it might be the glass if that's the only common factor (outside of operator error, of course, but I'll ignore that in this case since you're a much better sports photographer than I am). Anyway, I know I've shot TTG in some rinks where 95% of the images were garbage, and I've spent hours in frustration going over my gear and shooting techniques trying to find the problem only to eventually narrow it down to old and/or cheap glass.

ebann wrote in post #9588649
If you're talking about it being a little soft, I think it's a focus issue on the main subject... the red goal post looks pretty darn sharp. Also, ISO 1600 won't do miracles in the sharpness department!

Agreed, the focus is on the post. As for why it happens, Id love to know too as I've had similar problems (focus dead on the jersey's crest yet focus is on someone off to the side despite no AF-point expansion)

I was reading a post yesterday where someone said that the 1D focus algorithm will hunt for contrast to the extent that the selected focus point is ignored. Don't know if that is true or not...

^ +1 same problem with TTG but I have chalked it up to user error in my case. I'd love it if there was another explanation.

Focus. Appears to be sharpest on the Heaton logo on right hand pad/glove. Also, it looks like the heaton logo and the right side of goal are on about the same plane.

As for overall processing maybe just a play with levels/contrast/satura​tion/black levels and see what you get!

dave

Since this shot was the 30D 70-200 combo, I don't know but on the 1D shots, I did have auto expansion set to 7 pts and that could certainly mess things up in terms of the algorithm in this type of contrast. Operator error is always a possibility so believe me, I haven't ever considered ruling that.