Blurry Photos.

[Jean, Rylee and Cooper]

Every time I use my 75-300mm canon lens my photos are blurry.  It does not have image stabilization.  I didn't seem to have this problem that much before.  I know I don't have steady hands and maybe they are getting worse.  I have been very frustrated with taking photos lately.  Not sure if it's because I try and use manual settings more often and I have a hard time wrapping my head around the triangle and getting it all to work.  

 

Also, trying to photograph the dogs is tough because they move so much.  I even use sports mode and I am not that happy with the results.

 

Any suggestions?  Thanks for letting me vent!

[Todd and Cooper]

Sounds like camera shake, which happens to even the most steady hands and becomes more of a problem the further out a lens focuses.  The best way to resolve it is to use the fastest shutter speed as possible.  The rule I used with film (which is still relevant for digital) was that the shutter speed had to be at least "1 / focal length."  So if you have the lens out to 300, the speed needs to be at least 1/300.  If you have a APS-C camera (e.g. Rebel line), the speed would be even faster (something like 1/480).  Since you are shooting a moving target, I would triple that minimum speed.  You might have a hard time getting the shutter speed that fast, so you might want to bump up the ISO if your cameras allows it.  Another trick is to use the burst mode.  Canon calls it coninuous shhoting.  It is automatically set in that mode if you shoot in the sports mode.  Just hold the button down and take several shots.  By taking several shots, you incrrease your chances that one will be sharp.  Some will be blurry, but you can just delete them.  If none of this works, you can use a tripod or monopod (like the sports photographers use) of perhaps consider upgrading to a lens with IS.

 

I am assuming the blurring is caused by camera shake, but you should also make sure the camera is auto focussing where you think it is.  The Canon software that came with your camera should allow you to see where the camera focussed.   You can look at some blurry shots on your computer to make sure the camera focussed where you thought it did. 

 

Hope this helps.

[Jean, Rylee and Cooper]

Thank you I will try all the above.

 

[F, Calla & Luca]

I do, I think, have image stabilization and still get blurry pictures sometimes. I'm sure the pros may have more suggestions but if you take pictures at rapid shutter speeds, all else being equal, there should be sharper images. Also, Make sure you focus with the shutter button half way depressed before actually taking the shot. Manual certainly can give you the most flexibility but there are lots of things to go wrong. Tough, oh yes I can attest to that, in fact I wrote a discussion that didn't cover the half of it.

[Butz + Daniela]

Hi, first of all I would check that the lens is alright, e.g. taking a few shots with tripod or camera on a table etc. to check if the blurring still appears when the camera is absolutely still. If yes, the lens might have a problem, if not you should work with the shutter speed. Moving objects should be getting less blurred/sharp by using shutter of 1/250 upwards (1/500, 1/1000). In case conditions do not allow for this speed (clouds, indoors) then you need a flash or ask your subject (and yourself or tripod) to stay calm ;-). Also, as suggested by Todd it is important that your focus meter is on the spot that you indeed want to focus. And if your camera has that feature you can raise the ISO setting e.g. use a ISO 1000. Pics will get more grainy but chance is high that they get less blurred. And honestly, my view (using a Nikon D90 at the moment) is that IS is a bit overrated. If you really shake and light conditions are bad IS can not help either. Better use an additional flash (not the build in on) then. Hope I could give some ideas.

[Ann Kendig]

Can you post an example?  Mike

[Jean, Rylee and Cooper]

I deleted them.  I guess I shouldn't have but I was frustrated.  Next time I take some I will save them to send.  Thanks Mike.

 

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I have not ever gotten a great wonderful action shot of doodles.  I have gotten great wonderful action shots of water polo, but I guess humans move slower and water splashed slower and doodle fur never quits wiggling around.....  Good luck.  Sports mode is even worse for me with the doods.  I have a Nikon.

[Richard Crowe]

The way to determine if "blurry" images are caused by camera movement or incorrect focusing is that when you have a shot with one area of the image sharp and more distant or nearer protions of the image blurry, the cause is usually incorrect focusing,  This is not nesessarily a problem with the camera, it can be that the camera just selected the wrong place to focus. This is noticed most often when you are shooting with longer focal lengths.  Try using a single focus point, choose where you want to focus and depress the shutter button half-way.  This will lock the focus and you can recompose the shot.  Also, perhaps using a more narrow aperture (smaller f/number) may halp as long as you are still able to maintain a fast enough shutter speed.

 

When the entire image is "blurry" the most common fault is too slow a shutter speed.  The 1/focal length x crop factor recommendation is just a recommendation.  Some folks can hold a camera steady at slower speeds and many folks need a faster speed.  The shutter speed required can also depend on passing situations such as when you are breathing hard from exertion, when adrenalin is pumping from excitement and when you have overdone your coffee consumption. Windy conditions or an unsteady surface like a vehicle or boat also requires a faster shutter speed.

 

Try shooting from a tripod or with your camera on a table or some.  Use the self timer to triger your shutter so that pressing the shutterbutton will not cause camera shake.  If that solves the problem, you will know that camera shake is the culprit. If the image is still blurry, you may have a problem with camera or lens. Or possibly the problem  might lay with a cheap filter for protection.  This will often degrade image quality and make the image look "blurry".

 

If camera movement is the problem; using a wider aperture (smaller f/number) and/or a higher ISO will also allow you to use a faster shutter speed which in-turn may help compensate for any camera movement.

 

Note:  using a tripod or a monopod will provide a more steady platform for shooting.  Monopods are cheap, light and easy to use. Tripods are more expensive, heavier and a bit more complicated to use.  However, a good tripod will assure the best quality images that your camera/lens can produce.

 

Of course, there are times when the camera or lens or both are malfunctioning.  This will require either a micro-adjustment of focus (which some canon models can accomplish) or a trip to the service center for your particular brand of camera.

 

If the pictures are blurry using one lens and sharp using another lens, the lens or the camera/lens interface can be a problem.  Call your Canon Service Center for advice on how to send the camera or camera and lens to their repair facility...