700d blurry photos

garak112 · 13 Jun 2015 at 14:03

I treated myself to a 700d after Christmas but due to family issues I didn't really get much of a chance to use it until a recent holiday.

Looking through the photos now about half of them are blurry, not camera shake blurry but like it has auto focused in slightly the wrong place. I used to have a 350d and as far as I can tell it isn't a lens issue, is there some setting I could have wrong here?

This is an issue on all photos regardless of being taken in bright sunlight with low iso and high shutter on both manual and auto settings.

smr · 13 Jun 2015 at 14:06

would help if you could show us the photos.

garak112 · 13 Jun 2015 at 14:08

I will try and get some up later when I get home

SDK^ · 13 Jun 2015 at 14:39

Include the EXIF info as well

Phal · 13 Jun 2015 at 16:36

Using a single focus point or a selection of them/all of them?

Sh4rkie · 13 Jun 2015 at 21:01

What lens is it?

deshepherd · 14 Jun 2015 at 12:18

Phal said:
Using a single focus point or a selection of them/all of them?

I had problems with my OMD10 when I first got it while taking photos of birds in out garden. Having something like 60+ focus points sounds great until you realize that its decided to focus on the branch on left of photo rather than the bird in the middle. After a bit I worked out how to limit the focus onto a block around the centre of the photo an things tend to work out better now (especially as I'm used to the "put subject in centre, half depres shutter button, move to frame as desired, push shutter fully" technique!). Think the large number of focus points spread evenly across frame is designed for the "frame photo in LCD displa and touch on the focus point to take picture" style that seems to be "the modern way"

SDK^ · 14 Jun 2015 at 12:39

deshepherd said:
Think the large number of focus points spread evenly across frame is designed for the "frame photo in LCD displa and touch on the focus point to take picture" style that seems to be "the modern way"

Or, rather than focus and recompose, manually select a focus point over your subject. This will also improve your metering, as when you focus and recompose using just the shutter button the metering will lock when you half press the shutter button. so when you move the camera after locking focus and exposure you could end up with a shot over/under exposed.

Phal · 14 Jun 2015 at 14:52

Having a bunch of focus points has its uses but they're not for all situations

garak112 · 31 Aug 2015 at 12:16

I completely forgot about this but just went through my trip pics again and found two immediately that show the issue.

First picture:

EXIF — this group of metadata is encoded in 26,808 bytes (26.2k)

Make Canon
Camera Model Name Canon EOS 700D
Orientation Horizontal (normal)
Modify Date 2015:05:13 01:04:31
3 months, 18 days, 3 hours, 6 minutes, 48 seconds ago
Artist

Y Cb Cr Positioning Co-sited
Copyright

Exif Image Size 5,184 × 3,456
Exposure Program Landscape
Sensitivity Type Recommended Exposure Index
Recommended Exposure Index 100
Exif Version 0230
Date/Time Original 2015:05:13 01:04:31
3 months, 18 days, 3 hours, 6 minutes, 48 seconds ago
Create Date 2015:05:13 01:04:31
3 months, 18 days, 3 hours, 6 minutes, 48 seconds ago
Components Configuration Y, Cb, Cr, -
Shutter Speed Value 1/395
Aperture Value 7.03
Exposure Compensation 0
Metering Mode Multi-segment
Flash Off, Did not fire
Focal Length 300.0 mm
F Number 7.10
Exposure Time 1/400
Owner Name

Lens Model EF75-300mm f/4-5.6
Color Space sRGB
Maker Note Canon (7,840 bytes binary data)
User Comment

Sub Sec Time 00
Sub Sec Time Original 00
Sub Sec Time Digitized 00
Flashpix Version 0100
Interoperability Index R98 - DCF basic file (sRGB)
Interoperability Version 0100
Focal Plane X Resolution 5798.657718
Focal Plane Y Resolution 5788.944724
Focal Plane Resolution Unit inches
Custom Rendered Normal
Exposure Mode Auto
White Balance Auto
Scene Capture Type Standard
Serial Number 228032007390
Lens Info 75-300mm f/0
Lens Serial Number 0000000000
GPS Version ID 2.3.0.0
Compression JPEG (old-style)
ISO 100
Resolution 72 pixels/inch
Thumbnail Length 15,659

Second picture

EXIF — this group of metadata is encoded in 25,976 bytes (25.4k)

Make Canon
Camera Model Name Canon EOS 700D
Orientation Horizontal (normal)
Modify Date 2015:05:13 01:04:39
3 months, 18 days, 3 hours, 10 minutes, 18 seconds ago
Artist

Y Cb Cr Positioning Co-sited
Copyright

Exif Image Size 5,184 × 3,456
Exposure Program Landscape
Sensitivity Type Recommended Exposure Index
Recommended Exposure Index 100
Exif Version 0230
Date/Time Original 2015:05:13 01:04:39
3 months, 18 days, 3 hours, 10 minutes, 18 seconds ago
Create Date 2015:05:13 01:04:39
3 months, 18 days, 3 hours, 10 minutes, 18 seconds ago
Components Configuration Y, Cb, Cr, -
Shutter Speed Value 1/512
Aperture Value 7.03
Exposure Compensation 0
Metering Mode Multi-segment
Flash Off, Did not fire
Focal Length 300.0 mm
F Number 7.10
Exposure Time 1/500
Owner Name

Lens Model EF75-300mm f/4-5.6
Color Space sRGB
Maker Note Canon (7,840 bytes binary data)
User Comment

Sub Sec Time 00
Sub Sec Time Original 00
Sub Sec Time Digitized 00
Flashpix Version 0100
Interoperability Index R98 - DCF basic file (sRGB)
Interoperability Version 0100
Focal Plane X Resolution 5798.657718
Focal Plane Y Resolution 5788.944724
Focal Plane Resolution Unit inches
Custom Rendered Normal
Exposure Mode Auto
White Balance Auto
Scene Capture Type Standard
Serial Number 228032007390
Lens Info 75-300mm f/0
Lens Serial Number 0000000000
GPS Version ID 2.3.0.0
Compression JPEG (old-style)
ISO 100
Resolution 72 pixels/inch
Thumbnail Length 14,825

Where have I gone wrong?

Hyburnate · 31 Aug 2015 at 12:22

Second one looks much better. That's camera shake in the first one. You're using a long lens so if you want all in focus you're going to need a much narrower aperture.

traveyb · 31 Aug 2015 at 12:28

Yup was going to say camera shake, I don't know Canon at all but I can't see any reference to IS? Need to be really steady at 300mm

garak112 · 31 Aug 2015 at 13:09

Thanks guys.

Two more for you

EXIF — this group of metadata is encoded in 25,368 bytes (24.8k)

Make Canon
Camera Model Name Canon EOS 700D
Orientation Horizontal (normal)
Modify Date 2015:05:18 06:26:46
3 months, 12 days, 22 hours, 40 minutes, 26 seconds ago
Artist

Y Cb Cr Positioning Co-sited
Copyright

Exif Image Size 5,184 × 3,456
Exposure Program Landscape
Sensitivity Type Recommended Exposure Index
Recommended Exposure Index 100
Exif Version 0230
Date/Time Original 2015:05:18 06:26:46
3 months, 12 days, 22 hours, 40 minutes, 26 seconds ago
Create Date 2015:05:18 06:26:46
3 months, 12 days, 22 hours, 40 minutes, 26 seconds ago
Components Configuration Y, Cb, Cr, -
Shutter Speed Value 1/32
Aperture Value 5.66
Exposure Compensation 0
Metering Mode Multi-segment
Flash Off, Did not fire
Focal Length 18.0 mm
F Number 5.60
Exposure Time 1/30
Owner Name

Lens Model EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM
Color Space sRGB
Lens Serial Number 000037299a
Maker Note Canon (7,840 bytes binary data)
User Comment

Sub Sec Time 00
Sub Sec Time Original 00
Sub Sec Time Digitized 00
Flashpix Version 0100
Interoperability Index R98 - DCF basic file (sRGB)
Interoperability Version 0100
Focal Plane X Resolution 5798.657718
Focal Plane Y Resolution 5788.944724
Focal Plane Resolution Unit inches
Custom Rendered Normal
Exposure Mode Auto
White Balance Auto
Scene Capture Type Standard
Serial Number 228032007390
Lens Info 18-55mm f/0
GPS Version ID 2.3.0.0
Compression JPEG (old-style)
ISO 100
Resolution 72 pixels/inch
Thumbnail Length 14,218

EXIF — this group of metadata is encoded in 25,772 bytes (25.2k)

Make Canon
Camera Model Name Canon EOS 700D
Orientation Horizontal (normal)
Modify Date 2015:05:18 06:26:47
3 months, 12 days, 22 hours, 42 minutes, 19 seconds ago
Artist

Y Cb Cr Positioning Co-sited
Copyright

Exif Image Size 5,184 × 3,456
Exposure Program Landscape
Sensitivity Type Recommended Exposure Index
Recommended Exposure Index 125
Exif Version 0230
Date/Time Original 2015:05:18 06:26:47
3 months, 12 days, 22 hours, 42 minutes, 19 seconds ago
Create Date 2015:05:18 06:26:47
3 months, 12 days, 22 hours, 42 minutes, 19 seconds ago
Components Configuration Y, Cb, Cr, -
Shutter Speed Value 1/32
Aperture Value 5.66
Exposure Compensation 0
Metering Mode Multi-segment
Flash Off, Did not fire
Focal Length 18.0 mm
F Number 5.60
Exposure Time 1/30
Owner Name

Lens Model EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM
Color Space sRGB
Lens Serial Number 000037299a
Maker Note Canon (7,840 bytes binary data)
User Comment

Sub Sec Time 04
Sub Sec Time Original 04
Sub Sec Time Digitized 04
Flashpix Version 0100
Interoperability Index R98 - DCF basic file (sRGB)
Interoperability Version 0100
Focal Plane X Resolution 5798.657718
Focal Plane Y Resolution 5788.944724
Focal Plane Resolution Unit inches
Custom Rendered Normal
Exposure Mode Auto
White Balance Auto
Scene Capture Type Standard
Serial Number 228032007390
Lens Info 18-55mm f/0
GPS Version ID 2.3.0.0
Compression JPEG (old-style)
ISO 125
Resolution 72 pixels/inch
Thumbnail Length 14,624

Kenai · 31 Aug 2015 at 13:13

Focus point on the foreground of the first, with low aperture means the rest is soft, the second the focus point just doesn't seem to have locked to anything, so it's all soft.

danoliver1 · 31 Aug 2015 at 13:14

Have you got the shutter button set to take a photo when pressed or only when focus locked?
Also do you have it on auto iso?
Also set minimum shutter speed to 1/60 unless your using a tripod.

garak112 · 31 Aug 2015 at 14:14

Why would the focus not set to what I was pointing at?

On the shutter button focus thing I've got no idea, the camera is basically on auto.

Kenai · 31 Aug 2015 at 14:25

Auto focus isn't perfect, it can get confused or if like danoliver says, the shutter is set to take a picture regardless of photo lock. Then with the first picture (of the second part) if the focus method is on multi point or you've accidentally moved single point off of frame centre or it's on an intelligent mode... They can all result in it picking something to focus on that isn't necessarily what you have pointed the camera at.

You can get plugins for lightroom that will display focus point (or you may be able to view in camera) that should help understand where the camera has focused on each shot

garak112 · 31 Aug 2015 at 17:39

The thing that has confused me most about the second set of images is that they were taken one after the other, so the camera 'defocused' after the first image.

Kenai · 31 Aug 2015 at 19:22

Every time you release the shutter the camera will reattempt to focus if it's in Autofocus mode, especially so if it was just on the edge of something and you've moved slightly away. Sometimes this will result in virtually nothing happening as it finds it's point almost immediately, sometimes for whatever reason it'll hunt from near to far before finding itself again. I suspect this is what happened with your last image, especially if it was quite low light levels, which 1/30 at F5.6 would seem fairly likely.

Hyburnate · 31 Aug 2015 at 19:26

I'd take it out of auto and go for something like AE mode (Aperture Priority) (think thats what it is on Canon). Learn to use that, also ensure it's locked a focus before taking a picture else you're just risking it.