Canon lens sharpness

[paprika-jancsi]

My camera: Canon EOS 300D Digital Rebel with an EF-S18-55mm standard lens. I don't know if it is just me, but i have trouble achieving real sharpness in landscape photos. Like the leaves in the trees always come out a bit blurry. This happens not only at small apertures but at f/9.00 as well.
Otherwise, with solid objects, like buildings or closeups everything is perfectly sharp.
Perhaps some of you can explain what's happening and what I can do about it. Sincerely Janos (paprika-jancsi)

[greg]

It's surprising that it seems to depend on your subject. Could it be that you're taking jpegs at less than the highest quality? That could blur fine detail like leaves.

[Didi]

At f/9 it's possible you have not enough speed with trees when the wind blows

[Polonaise]

Wind doesn't have to blow...
The leaves (especially the small in size) on a tree are trembling CONSTANTLY, with invisible frequency for human eye but, noticeable for the good, modern equipment...

Remedy ?
1. High, very high speed of a shuter
2. Stop photographing dumb (that is: completely dumb)- trees with small leaves from afar...

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[Homerhomer]

trees are not dumb, they just don't reply when you talk to them ;-)

[Polonaise]

Fotkas with them - are !
:-)))
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[paprika-jancsi]

wind wasn't blowing, Didi. Thanks for you help. Jancsi

[paprika-jancsi]

Hello Bro,
Thanks for your help. sounds like you know the answer. I think I'll try 1/1000 of a second or shorter.
Unfortunately in all landscapes you're going to have trees somewhere along the line. I notice the problem for almost everybody. Anyway, don't dump on poor 'dumb' trees.
Take care in the big city,
Jancsi

[kensimage]

I presume you're using a tripod for your landscapes--otherwise, that's your problem, right there.

Leaves don't really move very fast--I would think 1/125 to 1/250 sec would usually freeze them. If you go to 1/1000 sec then at ISO 200 you have to open up to about f7 in full sun, and at ISO 100 it would be f5! This will really restrict your DOF--you can't do a classic landscape photo with features in both the close foreground and the distance, and get everything sharp at f5 or f7.

You could use a higher ISO but then you will have significant digital noise.

Regards, Ken.

[Polonaise]

Conclusion ?
Don't do the classic landscapes...
The world is filled with the classic landscapes... Myriads of them...
They are no longer any 'classic' landscapes...
Anything that comes in myriads (i.e. the Fall trees with the golden leaves) - are nothing more than the standard, boring fotkas your grandma will like tremendously...

Consider that or, go ahead... Make another 'classic' landscape...
The world is dying of anticipation !

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Small leaves don't have to MOVE fast...
They're constantly 'trembling' at very high frequency.
The smaller the leaf - the higher frequency and smaller amplitude it will move with...

Basics, dear Watson... Just the basics... :-)))))

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