Opinions Please

[jcon]

I need some opinions on this photo. The photo looks good on my monitor but I had it printed to 8x10 to see how it would turn out and to me, the print looks a little soft on my nieces face, my parents disagree, here is the picture. Does it look sharp to you? Or is my monitor screwed up. I took it with my D50 and SB-800 and am doing settings tests for optimal settings and would like some feedback on this particular photo. Here is a link to the photo, click on the album then the photo, you can download it to view at full size. Thanks for the input.

http://community.webshots.com/user/jconjason

[rawpaw18]

Jason
What setting and lens did you use? The dof seems shallow. It looks to me that your niece's face is a little softer than say from her ear back to the bears on the seat cover. It is just a matter of inches but to me it seems to have focused on the area just behind her face, about where her ear is. If that makes sense to you.

My computer monitor has had issues, so take that into consideration as well.

[jcon]

Rich, I used a Sigma 18-50 2.8 with SB-800(bounced of ceiling). I viewed the "focus area" on NX and it was partially the nose and eye. What you commented on was my concern aswell, the back of the seat in focus and some of the toys aswell, but not her face. After thinking about it, she may be a little soft due to her moving her head? The shutter was too slow and was unaware I shot it at 1/60:( :o

[Esoterra]

I would recommend shooting at f/4 or higher if possible thus elimating the shallow DOF wide open.

[rawpaw18]

I would think that 1/60 with the flash should of froze her. Maybe her speed is deceiving:) .

[jcon]

I would recommend shooting at f/4 or higher if possible thus elimating the shallow DOF wide open.

It was actually shot at 6.7

[Esoterra]

Correct me if I am wrong, but arent the sharpest results on any lens found between F/9-f/11 ? Maybe try at that range. Did the baby move at all when the picture was taken? Any slight movment could have caused that... check to see if you get the same focusing problem on other occasions. Another option- you might consider using CS2 to add a Sharpening layer mask and paint in the face!