Digital camera settings for sharper photos
Using correct combination of in-camera settings can greatly enhance image sharpness and clarity. But there are so many models of camera, and so menu different menus styles – it’s impossible to cover all of them in one article. Instead, I will write about general concepts, and give examples using my canon Eos 50D camera menu screen-shots.
Image Quality
Setting image quality
Computer hard disks are becoming large and cheap every day, there is no point in compromising image quality for saving few megabytes of space.
No matter if you are printing posters or publish photos on the web as compressed jpegs – bigger, cleaner images allow for more aggressive post-processing techniques.
Image sharpness
You can select different in-camera sharpening levels through canon picture styles.
Don’t be afraid, experiment with different settings for sharpness, also saturation and contrast. Remember that everything is subjective, there is no perfect setting, but there is one that you will most surely prefer.
Setting image sharpness
AF-Micro adjustment
New generation cameras are equipped with Auto Focus Micro Adjustment feature, which enables you to fine tune lens to the camera body for optimal focus accuracy. (Canon 50D, 5dmarkII, 7D all new cameras have this feature. On the Nikon side I don’t know – check the manual!).
Detailed instruction on how to use this feature is located here: AF-micro adjustment tutorial.
Feedback
SLR camera is a complicated tool and at times can be overwhelming for new users. There are so many things that can go wrong. If you read this article and still cannot find solution to your problem, feel free to leave comment below – Include all possible details, and I will try to work out this problem together with you.
P.s. Camera body is prone to similar AF focus imperfections as a lens. If you landed on this page without reading my previous article about front-focus back-focus issues, take a look here: Diagnosing lens autofocus problems.
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There are 2 comments on this post.
Trackback URL | Comments RSS FeedI like to shoot with both small JPG and large RAW, so I can always hand off a small jpg image, or make whatever I need later from raw. You might point out that sharpening, contrast, color temp and hue adjustments only apply to creating the in-camera JPG, and that RAW is data recorded straight off the sensor without any processing. RAW will record current camera settings if you want to apply them during post, but you have the flexibility to process them any way you want.
@Nic
Good point!