Canon XT Rebel - focus/sharpness questions

[herman munster]

I just bought this camera and put it on (P)program mode, it is set at the highest resolution. I shot in broad daylight, sunny day about 2pm, I manually focused but didn't get the sharp images I was hoping for. Any advice would be appreciated.

[Bluedog]

You actually need to post full camera settings the photos were taken at: ISO speed|Aperture|Shutter Speed|Metering Mode and provide the images.

[timmciglobal]

Manual focus would be your first issue I'm sure, I'm pretty good at manual focus but I find it near impossible to get accurate manual focus in XT because of the viewfinder (accurate to a 4x6 and accurate to pixel view is FAR different)

Tim

[Ray Schnoor]

I just bought this camera and put it on (P)program mode, it is set at the highest resolution. I shot in broad daylight, sunny day about 2pm, I manually focused but didn't get the sharp images I was hoping for. Any advice would be appreciated.
You didn't say whether or not you adjusted the diopter for your vision. If the diopter is not set for your vision, the photo will not be in focus when the image is in focus through the viewfinder.
Ray.

[TheObiJuan]

most important would be your lens. If it is the kit lens, I wouldn't expect sharp photos, especially below f/8.

[aparmley]

Did you have both shoes on? - This is very important and should never be over looked.

No, seriously though. I suck at manual focus. I try and try and try, but only a few times have I ever got the focus alert to beep at me when I have something in focus that it agrees with. I find it hard to to tell if pictures are in sharp focus or are simply in focus with either the viewfinder or screen. There are so many times I get home and check out a picture on my CRT monitor and its soft - due to camera shake and I thought it was sharp on the onboard LCD...

[Rhys]

I suck at manual focus without a split screen. There are times, however, when it's essential. Here's one such example. Try turning up the sharpening on your XT if you're shooting jpegs as I assume you are. I'm a jpeg shooter too. This is a night photo at Lake Murray last night. Full EXIF is available if you save the image and right-click it.

[jeisner]

Leaving the viewfinder issue alone... A lot of AF lenses are also harder to focus manually as the focus rings really aren't anywhere near as good to use as the rings on true manual lenses...

None of my (non macro) AF lenses come close to my manual lenses in this regard, they were obviously made for manual and it shows. The focus rings on the manual lenses are smooth and well dampened, whereas on my AF lenses they tend to be a little less well dampened, and slight movements make too big a difference, so it is harder to focus accurately.

(AF capable) Macro lenses tend to be an exception, as it is essential (for Macro photography) to be able to focus accurately, manually.

[Bluedog]

The original poster must've got lost ... I've actually had pretty good success using manual focus and paying attention to the 350D/XT beep indicator and green light. If taking any type of portrait images with my Sigma 18-125mm I've learned to only use manual focus for sharp results most of the time.

[aparmley]

Very good point Jeisner - I find myself, whem manual focusing, getting close to focus and the next smallest incremental change I can make on the focus ring is too large and and jumps past ideal focus, I am constantly hopping back in forth.

[herman munster]

Jeisner, can I use a manual lens on the canon xt? If none of these autofocus lenses are any good then whats the point of paying $900 for these cameras. Were just buying fancy point and shoot cameras.

[jeisner]

Jeisner, can I use a manual lens on the canon xt?

I guess so? I think the other Canon uses will be better at advisinng you on Canon lens compatability than I would be...

If none of these autofocus lenses are any good then whats the point of paying $900 for these cameras.

I never meant that modern AF lenses are no good... My only point is if you prefer to use MF, then manual lenses tend to work better for that purpose...

I have a few good manual lenses as back in the late 70s early 80s Pentax made some amazing (IMHO) quality (and compact) manual lenses that can be purchased relatively cheap these days. I enjoy using them and I would have trouble affording buying the same wide range of similar quality prime AF versions of these lenses....

[MatH]

I know *Ist DS has a viewfinder matte field to help manual focusing. Doesn't Rebel XT have one as well?

[TheObiJuan]

No, it's viewfinder is crystal clear.
There are split screen viewfinders available on the aftermarket.

If you spend your money on a good lens, like the 135L, AF is super fast and a dream to use.

[Rhys]

No, it's viewfinder is crystal clear.
There are split screen viewfinders available on the aftermarket.

If you spend your money on a good lens, like the 135L, AF is super fast and a dream to use.

And it's easy enough to focus manually with the clear bright screen - see my photo above (centre portion enlarged).

[jeisner]

I know *Ist DS has a viewfinder matte field to help manual focusing. Doesn't Rebel XT have one as well?

It is a clear matte field which is only really an aid in very low light situations, in bright light it is 'crystal clear' and generally brighter as pentaprism like the 20d not pantamirror based... I think in daylight the difference is more the viewfinder size (magnification).. Different focus screens are available from Pentax though and user replaceable.

But this has gone somewhat off-topic I think...

[herman munster]

I guess so? I think the other Canon uses will be better at advisinng you on Canon lens compatability than I would be...



I never meant that modern AF lenses are no good... My only point is if you prefer to use MF, then manual lenses tend to work better for that purpose...

I have a few good manual lenses as back in the late 70s early 80s Pentax made some amazing (IMHO) quality (and compact) manual lenses that can be purchased relatively cheap these days. I enjoy using them and I would have trouble affording buying the same wide range of similar quality prime AF versions of these lenses....

how do you fit a manual lens on the xt?

[jeisner]

how do you fit a manual lens on the xt?

With a lot of trouble, no aperture control and no focus feedback... Doesn't really look like it is that worthwhile, sorry I didn't know until I researched after seeing your question (I am obviously not a canon user)...

Here is the reference I found anyway, so you can read up on what can and can't be done, and how...

http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/eosfaq/manual_focus_EOS.html

[Rhys]

With a lot of trouble, no aperture control and no focus feedback... Doesn't really look like it is that worthwhile, sorry I didn't know until I researched after seeing your question (I am obviously not a canon user)...

Here is the reference I found anyway, so you can read up on what can and can't be done, and how...

http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/eosfaq/manual_focus_EOS.html

I believe you do get focus feedback with the XT. Many people on Fred Miranda are buying Zeiss lenses as though they're going out of style and slapping them on their Canons with the right adaptors.

[jeisner]

I believe you do get focus feedback with the XT. Many people on Fred Miranda are buying Zeiss lenses as though they're going out of style and slapping them on their Canons with the right adaptors.

Sorry I don't really know much on the issue, I was just saying what I read in Bob's article...

"Though the focus confirmation indicator ("green dot") operates when you manually focus a Canon EOS EF series autofocus lens, it does NOT operate when using a 3rd party fully manual lens."

I linked the article so people interested can see for themselves in greater detail...

[Rhys]

Sorry I don't really know much on the issue, I was just saying what I read in Bob's article...

"Though the focus confirmation indicator ("green dot") operates when you manually focus a Canon EOS EF series autofocus lens, it does NOT operate when using a 3rd party fully manual lens."

I linked the article so people interested can see for themselves in greater detail...

To be honest, when I do my night shots, I use manual focus and ignore the green dot anyway.

[cdifoto]

Heck I've had my camera for a few weeks now and just noticed there even was a green dot the other day.

[herman munster]

I've played around a lot with the xt and the manual focus sucks, the kit lens sucks but you can scrape by with the autofocus. If your going to buy this camera please don't buy the kit, get another lens.

[Bluedog]

Well I'll be just the opposite to the XT's manual focus operation. Yea its not the best viewfinder for MF'ing but I've yet to miss a shot going by the Green Indicator light in the viewfinder. Images with Sigma lens are often sharper if MF'ing as compared to AF.

[cdifoto]

I'm too blind to use manual focus (or so it seems) but even with the kit lens I seem to do fine in AF.

Also I checked front/back focusing on the 50mm prime and there is absolutely none that I could see.

[novon]

Try turning up sharpening in camera, and sharpen in post-process?