Any Canon XSi/450D users?

[Triple Black 88]

I've had my Canon XSi for about 6 mo's now and I love everything about it except the picture quality...more specifically, sharpness. No matter what I do, I cannot get sharp pictures. I tried just about every setting and picture style, even custom functions, etc... I ended up getting another lens (Canon 18-200mm IS) which helped, but not enough.
I've heard that Canon cameras have a lot of built in "Noise" control that cause slightly blurred pictures, but there has to be some combination of settings that will allow me to take sharp images...right? At this point, I'm wondering if it's the camera, lens, me, wrong settings, or a combination of everything.

I'm just looking to compare settings/picture quality with other users. I'm also open to advise from any of the professionals out there.

Am I doing something wrong? Here are 2 examples...
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[KJacques]

Originally Posted by Triple Black 88

I've had my Canon XSi for about 6 mo's now and I love everything about it except the picture quality...more specifically, sharpness. No matter what I do, I cannot get sharp pictures.

What are the sharpness settings in camera? Have you tried applying an unsharp mask in post processing?

[Triple Black 88]

There is a Sharpness setting...it goes 0-7. To give you an idea, a setting of 3 is used in portrait mode which is meant to look soft. I have tried setting the sharpness to 5, 6 and 7. I have also heard that all lenses have a sweet spot in Aperture mode. I've found that 5.6 seems to deliver sharper images then others, so I take most pics in Av mode set at 5.6. But as you can see, they are still blurry.

As far as processing, I use the DPP(Digital Processing Professional) software that came with the camera occationally, only to sharpen some of the better photos that are a little blurry, but that's all I have. I know there are a lot of programs that can be used to sharpen these pics, but it seems to me that they should be sharper right out of the camera then I'm getting.

[Gedanken]

What lens are you using besides the 18-200? Try going to Av mode and shooting at between f8 and f11.

Also, what's your focal point? Are you selecting one of the 9 points or are you letting the camera pick it automatically?

I used to shoot with the XTi before going to the 50D, and it gave me reasonably sharp photos. You may need to have the body calibrated - given that you've only had it for six months, it should be done under warranty.

[Triple Black 88]

I have tried both options of autofocus...the 9 point and the single (center point). For landscape pics I usually set it to the auto 9 point and for pictures of specific things, like people/animals, I change it to the single point of focus. Then I focus it right on the face.

As far as calibrating the camera...that's kind of the goal here. I want to see if this is just me or if all XSi's do the same thing. Depending on the feedback, that might be an option.

Do you have these issues with the 50D or do they come out razor sharp?

[KJacques]

I applied a small amount of unsharp mask to your top picture and it sharpened it to the point of introducting artifacts into it. I am inclined to believe that it might be either the lens or the focus calibration of the camera. I am not familiar with canon so I don't know the sharpness inherent in that particular lens, but I know that photos made with that camera should turn out razor sharp with the right lens and the right internal settings.

I do know that I've used certain zoom nikon lenses that the images turned out soft. Sometimes it was lack of contrast that made them appear that way or there was slight blur do to too slow a shutter speed, shooting at particular F stops on either extreme would give a softer image or the lens just didn't have the optics to produce razor sharp pictures.

[Triple Black 88]

There are settings for contrast. I have played around with the contrast setting a bit, but mostly experiment with sharpness settings. I can try increasing/decreasing the contrast setting to see if it makes any difference.

I don't think the blur is due to shutter speed. I usually use 1/250 - 1/500 (or higher) in daylight. I keep the ISO on Auto, but I do check it. It usually pics 200 in sunny situations.

I would expect a little blur in dim/dark conditions due to camera shake/slow shutter speeds, but not on sunny days

[Cephas]

I had the exact same problem with this camera and I returned it. I can't stand it when my pictures are soft and not in focus. I read quite a bit about 450D and found that a lot of people complain about the same issue.

[ryan_m]

I have 450D. and i must say its a decent camera for the price. This is my first DSLR btw. I originally had the kit lens, and must say i was very disappointed with the quality of the images. But a couple months down the road i upgraded my lens to a 24-70 F2.8 L and it was a HUGE difference. Its not all about the camera its the lens you put on it.

[Gedanken]

Actually, Eric (esm) has posted some shots with his XSi here: http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=65178

Comparing your shots with his, it looks like a recalibration may be in order.

[Triple Black 88]

Originally Posted by Gedanken

Actually, Eric (esm) has posted some shots with his XSi here: http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=65178

Comparing your shots with his, it looks like a recalibration may be in order.

I did see that thread. His pics are much sharper then mine. I'll have to send him a PM to see if they have been processed or not.

[esm]

Originally Posted by Triple Black 88

I did see that thread. His pics are much sharper then mine. I'll have to send him a PM to see if they have been processed or not.

steve, PM replied.
yes, they have been processed (minimal. edited in photoshop)

[TheDude]

As a "last resort", you could send the lens and camera into Canon and have them calibrate the auto-focus. Your camera should be capable of rendering some incredibly sharp images.


This is a 100% crop from my 5D...

[Triple Black 88]

Thanks Dude, I've taken over 6000 pictures in the 6 months I've had my XSI and have not seen 1 as sharp as the pic you posted

I am going to call Canon today, but in searching the net for this problem, it sounds like the XSi/450D's are notorious for this. I'm reading that others have sent theirs in for calibration, but it doesn't sound like it makes much difference.