Blurred photos... really frustrating! I revised this so it could be more understandable

I have a focusing problem with my lens. I don't know if this has to do with the camera settings. Whenever I try to focus a subject, yes it gets focused (i see the red dot in the viewfinder) but the problem is, i'm not satisfied with it. It's kind of blurred and not sharp at all... I compared 2 pictures, first auto focus and 2nd, manual focus... Seems to be that i have a sharper eye than the lens have. Is there anything I can do about this? I guess this is all about the focal length greater than the shutter speed. I always experience this blur even with the flash.

I want to add some additional information to make this discussion more clear.

I was asked to do a little birthday album for my friend and to find out most of the pictures were blurred. It was an indoor shot and the event happened during evening. I took pictures of my friend using auto focus... I use Program Auto w/ Flash giving me a shutter speed of 60 and most of the apertures were about 3.5 - 4.0.

My camera is a Canon 400D (Rebel Xti) w/ an 18-55mm USM lens.
I followed some of the rules like an old rule was that the shutter speed should always be equal to or greater than the focal length of the lens being used. And generally, when I use the camera's built-in flash, it gives me a shutter speed of 60. The aperture sets by itself since it's in Program Auto.

I didn't use any tripod but i think the flash was enough to avoid blurry images. All of the subject I shot were not in motion.

Metering used: center-weighted average metering
ISO: 400

As soon as i got home, i tried experimenting on my camera and used a tripod. I tried to picture my guitar using AF w/ an ISO of 100...f/14 and shutter speed at 8 seconds. This was indoor and not much of light inside the room. This was without the flash. Oh by the way, i also used a self timer for this one... AF picture gave me a little blurred subject where it was supposed to be focused... then i activated the flash giving me more blurred subject with the shutter speed at 60 and f/ 3.5. then i set to MF (manual focus), using the same subject, composition and camera settings, this time with no flash... and the images were sharp. I tried using flash again and it was still sharp but not as sharp unlike the previous image.

Any one know why is this happening? I think this has nothing to do with the aging of the camera since i had this camera for 4 months.

Tags: 18-55mm, USM, canon, focus, lens, problem, zoom

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by KIDGSXR on November 2, 2008 at 8:05pm

ditto...i get the same problems with my lens as well. I am really new to this so i would love to see the response to this one as well. It looks so good on the viewfinder until i actually view it on my PC which shows a different version which is not always pleasing at times.

Permalink Reply by Alan Ang on November 2, 2008 at 8:58pm

Yes, especially with kit lens. gonna change them if I have the budget.

Permalink Reply by Maeda on November 4, 2008 at 1:52am

I should change mine's too...

Permalink Reply by Maeda on November 4, 2008 at 1:52am

I agree... I think this is a problem w/ most of the kit lens. I had my lens checked up 2 months ago because it had a severe damage w/ auto focus and some of the parts inside the lens costing me to change all the parts. (it's like changing a new lens).

Permalink Reply by Kristy H on June 30, 2009 at 6:07pm

yeh, i have a focus issue too, they're focused, but not crisp. both of mine are kit lens. i've been reading up and doing research, and see that an L series IS lens, is the best choice to go... extra money, but i hear it's worth it..

Permalink Reply by Yanus Kuncoro on July 1, 2009 at 8:44am

maybe we can help you more if you include the picture and the exif data..
actually many reason that can make your picture blurr
1. its depend how you take the picture (the position you holding the camera)
2. how far your hand shake
3. may suggest maybe you can try to burst to take pic 3 times, usually the second pic is sharp than the other but it will cost to shutter life times
4. the metering you use it also important
5. maybe sometimes you can try in outdoor with enough sunlight to make a test

Permalink Reply by william wasp on July 5, 2009 at 11:21am

is your diopter on the camera set properly? also 1/60 is shaky at 3.5...wide open and no depth of field to speak of.

Permalink Reply by Dave Nelson on July 12, 2009 at 9:09am

You've gotta crank up the F-stop perhaps..... if you're shooting a f/3.5 your focus is going to be quite narrow. If you went up to a f/11 or f/16 I think you'd have better results.... realizing you may have to increase the ISO to get a shutter speed fast enough at f/11.........

Permalink Reply by Vee on July 23, 2009 at 1:40pm

I'm a beginner lerning photography. What is IS?

Permalink Reply by Al Aubin on July 24, 2009 at 7:36pm

IS = Image Stabilization if I remember correctly.

Aside from what Simon Yau had posted, I would suggest getting a Manual release cable. When used with a tripod, it allows you to take the picture without touching the camera. Again, decreasing the chances of the camera being shaken/bumped during slower shutter speeds.

Al

Permalink Reply by Vee on August 20, 2009 at 8:07am

Thank you for answering my question.

Permalink Reply by Lawrence on August 5, 2009 at 5:49am

There are a few things it could be

1) Lens - If you are using the kit lens, that may be the issue. All of the 18-55 mm kit lenses I have used have had some slight problems with focusing on the same subject, or as clear as other lenses. So maybe upgrading to a better lens would help.

2) Viewfinder focus - Check to see that your viewfinder is correctly focused and you can see crisp squares.

3) Outside variables - It may be were you were shooting. It sounds weird but if you are shooting around any machinery this can cause slight vibrations that can mess up the focus just enough (Especially on 8 second exposures) to where you notice it.