Landscape pictures sharpness issue

[watermill]

I would love to hear some advice/critique on these images.
I really like them. However I have some problems I'd like to deal with. One of them is the sharpness in landscape pictures, somehow my last images lacks sharp details. I can't figure out why. When I shoot, I use tripod (SLIK SDV-30), mirror lockup and 2 sec timer (as I don't have remote controler yet), small aperatures- f/20, f/23, image stabilization I switch off (I'm using Canon 450d with Canon EF-S 18-55 mm IS lense), usually I use auto-focus. In post-process in photoshop I sharpen them, however I would love to hear some tips regarding shooting technique.


Thank You.

[Mr P]

Originally Posted by watermill

..I have some problems I'd like to deal with. One of them is the sharpness in landscape pictures...
I use ... small aperatures- f/20, f/23, image stabilization I switch off (I'm using Canon 450d with Canon EF-S 18-55 mm IS lense...

Just a few thoughts...
The EF-S 18-55 kit lens is OK (I have one too) although it is not one of the highest quality Canon lenses. At each end of a zoom lens's focal length range, you are less likely to get sharp images especially if you use apertures which are also at one end or the other of the available range.

I expect you will be using the wide-angle end.

Take a look at this link which discusses how to find the 'sweet spot':
http://digital-photography-school.co...ens-sweet-spot

Hope this is of help.

Mr P

[watermill]

Thank You for answer. I found sweet spot for my lense -http://photocamel.com/forum/canon-forum/91734-canon-ef-s-18-55-mm-sweet-spot.html
However the smallest aperature is f/8 for sweet spot. Landscape pictures taken with such relatively small aperature value aren't sharp at all.

[Mr P]

Originally Posted by watermill

Thank You for answer. I found sweet spot for my lense -http://photocamel.com/forum/canon-forum/91734-canon-ef-s-18-55-mm-sweet-spot.html
However the smallest aperature is f/8 for sweet spot. Landscape pictures taken with such relatively small aperature value aren't sharp at all.

The sweet spot will give you the sharpest images and no two lenses are identical. You can also check your own for yourself by taking a series of photos of the same thing at different apertures. Use a tripod and its best to do the test in a good light.

Higher or lower apertures will give reduced sharpness although small apertures give you greater DOF. You also have to reckon with the performance of the lens at its various focal lengths. My experience with this lens is that it is rather soft at the 18mm end and I don't use it now.

Mr P

[Mr P]

An afterthought:

Originally Posted by watermill

However the smallest aperature is f/8 for sweet spot. Landscape pictures taken with such relatively small aperature value aren't sharp at all.

I'm not sure about your basis for the statement. If you look at this link Online Depth of Field Calculator you will see that at the 18mm focal length, at f8, if you focus on a subject 3m away everything from 1.25m to infinity will be in focus. That should be sufficient for most landscape photos.

In low light, you might consider manual focus with IS on.

Mr P

[Douglas]

Beautiful shots. And I concur with the f/8 or f/11 statement. Seems newer cameras or lenses dont work as well with the slower stops like they use too. (imagine telling Ansel Adams to drop his F/64 club and go no further then F/11)

Those photos are awesome, btw. Love the last one. It just has to be fixed for the horizon.

[Mr P]

Originally Posted by Douglas

And I concur with the f/8 or f/11 statement.

Just for clarification - mine or his?

Originally Posted by Douglas

Seems newer cameras or lenses dont work as well with the slower stops like they use too.

The problem is that a zoom lens is always a compromise, whereas a prime should be better throughout its aperture range.

Mr P

[Douglas]

Meant yours. That the spot is F8 to F11. Images become softer if we stop down much further. So its hard without a few ND filters on. But thats putting more glass between the sensor and the scene.

[michaelhcothran]

You should also be aware that when apertures get smaller than f11 they will begin to suffer. However, I've seen some pretty sharp images on other forums taken with less than desirable lenses at less than desirable apertures. You might try manually focusing an image as well as using the AF to see if there is a difference. Other than that, try reading some good material on a sharpening workflow. Especially the 3- sharpening system - Capture sharpening, Creative sharpening, and Print/Web sharpening.