Only a few quick hints. If you were using flash, you need to bounce and/or diffuse it. If you aren't using flash, open the lens up to its widest aperture and adjust your shutter speed up to compensate. You could also use a longer lens wide open (FA*85mm). Yes, a softening filter, or a piece of nylon stocking stretched over the lens, or lens hood, would soften the results enough too.
Len --- -----Original Message----- From: Jerome Daryl Coombs-Reyes [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Thursday, December 13, 2001 1:59 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: 50mm lens TOO sharp? This is my first posting to PDML after reading damn near every posting for the past 2 months I figured it was finally time to subscribe. So before I ask my question I just want to say thanks to the many who have (unconsciously) given me some great advise via their informative postings. Anyhow here's my current concern. Before last week, I had only used my 50mm f1.7 to take scenic nature shots, and the results have been incredibly sharp and hence pleasing. Last Friday, however, I used this lens to take some pictures of people at a Christmas party (it's the smallest lens I have, and I wanted to be someone inconspicuous). In this case, I honestly have to say that my wife's point-and-shoot pictures came out better than mine! (well, sort of) Why? Well, I learned firsthand how a lens could be considered TOO sharp! While I appreciated a fast lens in such a dark restaurant, the sharpness of the lens hid NOTHING! Every blemish, pimple, wrinkle, you name it showed up in every picture. My wife is so self-conscious as it is, that I didn't even bother showing her the pictures of herself (I didn't want to hear about the pimple on her forehead all week). Her "blurred" p&s pictures made everyone look glamorous while my shots highlighted the blemishes that makeup could not hide. Well, you live and learn. Now I know. It's just pretty funny / ironic to me that I traded in a not-so-sharp lens (35-80mm) to get a much sharper one, and then have to buy filters and such to tone it down and make the images softer (like the original lens). Well, I'll surely be photographing some people over the holidays. Hence, when I'm in NY next week, my plan is buy a Tiffen Soft/FX3 filter (or something along those lines) from B&H. Here's a silly question: Does anyone you have any opinions/ comments / suggestions/ experiences along these lines that may help me remedy this "sharpness problem"? Thanks a million. .jerome. - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org . - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
