Picture quality at extreme dynamic ranges

tcole1983

Has any one experienced what would seem to be poor quality pictures from either bad lightning or extreme differences in dynamic range? Shots I am wondering about are iso 100 with subject as the focus but the sky or background is much brighter even though the day was cloudy. I was getting pretty noisy and unsharp shots. Pics ranged from deer to ducks in flight. Next day sunny and pictures look 100 times better at same iso and shutter speeds.

Paperman

You must be talking about the times I don't even bother taking the camera out of the bag ">

spraynpray

You need to expand on 'poor quality pictures' a bit - do you mean bleached, low contrast look with indistinct edges on the intended subject?

sevencrossing

A little more information please. Can you post some samples?
Have you tried a two button reset and zeroing out ?
are you shooting RAW or Jpegs?

Msmoto

As noted, an image to examine is necessary before I can comment. And, all the Exif data needs to be seen to determine what the initial settings were.

I have no difficulty in coming up with "poor quality" especially when i forget to make appropriate adjustments moving from inside to outside....I use manual settings and have on occasion messed up. Oh, my, yes!

tcole1983

Sorry for the lack of information. On my phone late last night. I am in the process of getting my new computer up and running, but I will see what I can do for the images. Shooting RAW.

I thought it was a focus issue, but I couldn't see anywhere that seemed sharp and in focus. Overall it just seemed soft. Also as I said at ISO 100 it was very noisy. I was using my 300 F4, but shutter speeds were 1/400 and 1/2000 if I remember correctly.

I think it might be an issue with my white balance or metering because of the high contrasts in the subject and the background, but it just seemed weird.

tcole1983

You need to expand on 'poor quality pictures' a bit - do you mean bleached, low contrast look with indistinct edges on the intended subject?

I think that is pretty much it.

Paperman

A photographer has to know that not everyting he sees is photographable the way he wants - simply due to lack of proper "light" like the backlit/bright gray scenes you have mentioned. Exposure compensation, post process will help but almost impossible to get a "wow" result with the wrong light.

spraynpray

You need to expand on 'poor quality pictures' a bit - do you mean bleached, low contrast look with indistinct edges on the intended subject?

I think that is pretty much it.

Yup background waaaay too bright. Rips the contrast out of the subject and burns the edges away. Normal.

heartyfisher

You need to expand on 'poor quality pictures' a bit - do you mean bleached, low contrast look with indistinct edges on the intended subject?

I think that is pretty much it.

what is your active d lighting setting .. it automatically boosts the shadows ..

Golf007sd

A photographer has to know that not everyting he sees is photographable the way he wants - simply due to lack of proper "light" like the backlit/bright gray scenes you have mentioned. Exposure compensation, post process will help but almost impossible to get a "wow" result with the wrong light.

+1

A quick solution while on the field, take the lens off and re-attach. Sometimes it could be that the lens connectors have not made proper contact.

spraynpray

I used a Lastolite background last night with a 500w Bowens in it which was turned up too high - I got exactly the same problem as you described @tcole1983. I dialled it back about 4 stops and it was fine.

tcole1983

I will try to get some examples up tonight. Computer is up and running now.

tcole1983

Ok this one might be camera shake...the background bugs me and I don't usually dislike the background bokeh of the 300 f4


This one isn't terrible I guess, but not great.

sevencrossing

Ok this one might be camera shake..

It does indeed
IMHO camera shake is the biggest cause of poor IQ

Try cranking up the ISO to get the shutter speed above 1/1000
Then crank it up again and get it above 1/2000

You took this at 1/2500 it seem Ok to me

https://www.flickr.com/photos/73666367@N00/15273339045/

tcole1983

Ok I just suck :-q

I am slightly aware of the shutter speed when I have my 300 on...I know anything under 1/300 isn't usually good. I should take the time to put it on auto ISO when I have it on to keep the shutter speeds up. The deer was at 1/400...guess I was just shaky still. It was the end of the day after being in the field for work and I was shooting from a car so it was probably just poor technique.

However the duck is still not impressive. I think that is a dynamic range issue.

sevencrossing

I should take the time to put it on auto ISO .......
However the duck is still not impressive...... .

I tend to keep AUTO ISO, ON ( + 2 clicks ) by default and only switch it off if off if I am using a tripod or don't like what it is doing .

Can't see a lot wrong with the duck, that a bit of PP wont sort out

do shoot RAW? what PP do you use?

tcole1983

I should take the time to put it on auto ISO .......
However the duck is still not impressive...... .

I tend to keep AUTO ISO, ON ( + 2 clicks ) by default and only switch it off if off if I am using a tripod or don't like what it is doing .

Can't see a lot wrong with the duck, that a bit of PP wont sort out

do shoot RAW? what PP do you use?

RAW and Lightroom

sevencrossing

could you let me / us have a copy of the RAW file ?

tcole1983

Not sure how I could get you a copy. I think I could probably do a better job with it.

sevencrossing

Do you have drop box ?