How do you get tack sharp photos?

[amc1217]

Would love to hear everyone's top hints or the 5 elements that are most critical for tack sharp photos? I know about camera shake and probably need to remember to hold my breath more or something (hand holding). I occasionally get pretty sharp photos, but even those aren't as sharp as say the pictures I got from my wedding. With those, you zoom in over and over and they are still so crisp. Do you think I'm not using my settings properly or is it an equipment thing, I need to spend alot more to get that kind of clarity? Thank you!

What I'm shooting with:
Canon Rebel T1i
Canon EF 85mm f/1.8
Canon 50 mm f/1.8 II

[ChristopherCoy]

1. Good Glass
2. High Shutter Speeds
3. Proper exposure

[Ernst-Ulrich Schafer]

I like using my tripod alot!!!

[srwatters]

- shoot at the proper aperture for the lighting, distance to subject, and the performance of the lens. Just because the lens goes to f/1.8, doesn't mean it will produce sharp images with acceptable DOF at that aperture.

- shoot at an acceptable shutter speed for the situation. That means using the minimum of 1/effective focal length (crop factor * lens focal length). Unless you are shooting moving subjects, then adjust higher accordingly.

- contrast adjustment - believe it or not, images with good local contrast will appear sharper than those that are flatter.

- post process properly. RAW pre-sharpening + final output sharpening can take the image to a new level of sharpness.

There are probably others with great suggestions, but those above work best for me. You can check my portfolio to see how my images fair for sharpness.

[prncfarquad]

Great question ashley and you are getting answers from great photographers in my opinion.

[JohnT]

Excellent answers. If you ever want to plumb the depths of sharpening in post, this is a great book on the subject: Amazon.com: Real World Image Sharpening with Adobe Photoshop, Camera Raw, and Lightroom (2nd Edition) (9780321637550): Bruce Fraser, Jeff Schewe: Books

[rab3rd]

Like shooting a gun, holding your breath is a bad idea. exhale, shoot, inhale.

[guillermo]

Tripod, cable release, f/5.6 or f/8.0, and most important good glass

[Nikonfan]

To add to what Rob was saying, you should squeeze the trigger, don't pull it. In camera speak the shutter release is the trigger.

When possible, use a tripod or set the camera down on a table or car roof, etc.. Use a shutter release cable or remote. If you don't have either of these you can use the two second timer. That give you time to press the shutter release and move your hands away.

You also want to make sure you are focussing properly. You can use this board to learn techniques for focusing.

[mmuhlenkamp]

I second the advice on here so far. Also, lighting can make images look much more crisp. If you don't have enough contrast your photo can look dull and not sharp, even if it's perfectly in focus. I take a lot of product photos and when I was able to get some off camera lighting it really helped the shots turn out much sharper looking even though what I was doing before with a tripod and available light was still "sharp".

You have good lenses you just need to practice. Stop down (f/5.6 - 11), have enough light (fast shutter), decent contrast on your subject, and accurate focus. Also, "sharp" photos don't necessarily make "good" photos, but having the technical aspect down can really add to your photography.

[amc1217]

Thank you everyone!!

[humminboid]

For truly tack-sharp photos, go to medium format or 4 X 5 !

Even an old Yashica twin-lens reflex is sharper than the best 35mm. Digi or 35mm are essentially journalist's tools, but lots of folks do marvelous work with either.

I know, BLASPHEMY!

To do the best you can with 35mm or Digital; proper technique, and one or more of the following will help: Tripod, remote shutter release, correct exposure ,lower ISO, faster shutter speed, electronic flash, proper exposure, sharpest aperture (usually 2-3 stops down from wide open) and the finest resolution/quality your camera is capable of all help. Oh, did I mention proper exposure ??

You'll notice I didn't say more megapixels, or expen$ive glass, although those may help, but only marginally, most especially if basic technique isn't understood. I regularly do 11 X 14 and larger from my 6mp D50 and non-VR 18-55 kit lens (A really underappreciated lens!) in JPEG. RAW or the equivalent is said to help, too.

[venchka]

Tack sharp is too easy to do and vastly overrated. Lenses were sharp over a hundred years ago. Even back then folks were using soft focus lenses to overcome too much sharp detail, especially in female portraits. A good photograph is an assortment of a lot of things. Sharp may or may not be one of those things. I suggest that you look at the work of Jim Galli to get an idea of what I'm talking about.
Jim Galli's Tonopah Nevada Pictures

Next question: How do you use selective focus?

[GonzoBernelli]

All of the above and especially MLU if your camera bodyoffers it (or Shutter delay if not). Not just a tripod but a rigid tripod and an "more than capable head"

[Marburg]

I have the same issues. In my case I found that if I got a lens in the $1,500 range I can get Tack sharp images. Unfortunately I can not afford one right now.