I'm noticing issues with the pictures being extremely Soft, and hence having to make massive adjustments to the Sharpness with the Canon DPP software. I tried testing the camera using the 2 lenses I have, but both seem to give similiar results. (EF-S 17-85 f/4-5.6 IS USM & 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM Lens). I also tried them both on a tripod without any significant improvement.

I know its possible to adjust the Picture style in certain modes but even with it set at the highest setting it still isn't great. To be honest even in the basic modes I would expect the pictures to be a lot more crisp.

I did some searching on the internet and this seems to be an issue with the 40D, Camera Labs :: View topic - Soft Auto Focus on the 40D

tbh A friend mentioned it after I got the camera, as I took some RC podium shots and he didn't think they were great, but its only when I adjusted some wedding ones I took using the sharpness option that I could really see the problem.

Below are some quick tests I done today, when you click on them the file name shows which is which.

Edited 20 September, 200817 yr by GAFF

Heres another example of the lack of Sharpness, obviously with the size of this image and the size adjustments made won't help, but I think you'll get the idea.

Hmm i will keep an eye out for this as a fellow 40D owner. That's rather concerning.

If it is of use :-

From two camera review sites -

"The camera produces very smooth-looking photos, which some may consider soft -- and if so, you can play around with the Picture Styles to find a sharpness setting you like."

"We would be interested to see Canon using a less strong anti-alias filter which would mean that JPEG images would require less sharpening and would be naturally 'crisper' straight off the sensor, but it's a minor point and would really only be seen by 'pixel peepers'."

I've also seen the usual complaints about the softness of the Canon kit lenses

I should play around with your in-camera sharpening settings if you're unhappy with the images 'out of the box'.

Otherwise (and probably best), I'd use software to sharpen them to your liking.

I would normally have the Sharpness setting set to 3 in camera and DPP also picks up the same setting from the camera when looking at RAW files.

Also remember that the 17-85 IS is not the sharpest lens out there either but the 70-300 IS should give better results.

If you are doing a tripod test, make sure you switch off IS on the lens otherwise this could cause some blur. Also make sure the centre focus point used is on a high contrast area to ensure more accurate focus.

Give it a try and see the results.

If you are doing a tripod test, make sure you switch off IS on the lens otherwise this could cause some blur. Also make sure the centre focus point used is on a high contrast area to ensure more accurate focus.

Give it a try and see the results.

I'll try that.

I had a very brief chance to try a good lens today (forget name, its in one of the attached pics). The picture with the lens it it is taken with my 17-85 whereas the other one is with the lens in the picture. It still lacks sharpness, I think.

It seems to come up OK....

Here is a very quick edit using smart sharpen in CS3. I usually use lightroom for sharpening. But each to your own.

You would be quite shocked how soft the raw images from my 1DSII - they do take a lot of sharpening to cancel out the AA filter, but do come up well.

I also lifted the image a little using curves....

what a difference! It just shows how important processing software is.

Edit: I've just tried smart sharpen out on another photo

Before:

After:

Edited 21 September, 200817 yr by pittVRS

Here is an example of what I expect from my kit. You shouldn't be that far off with your 40D.

There is a definite need for post processing to get the best out of Digital SLR's

This is an original shot I took at the European Field Target Championship today. It has been reduced for the web.

Canon 1DmkIII - Canon 70-200f2.8L - Shot wide open at f2.8. Not bad, but my primes need less sharpening:cool:

Here is a 100% crop of the above.

Edited 21 September, 200817 yr by Scuff

Cheers all for your inputs. I send an email to Canon in Ireland over the weekend, he got back to me this morning and agreed it should be clearer. So I dropped the camera over this afternoon and its on its holidays to the repair center in the UK :(.

Btw Heard that your entitled to a FREE sensor clean within the first 12months. I had asked him about a spot when looking through viewfinder, but when he mentioned a free one within 12months I said I'll leave it for another while as it isn't affecting the pictures.

I was onto Canon today, he found an issue with the Gap between the Sensors IIRC. He had it stripped when I rang and was doing the set-up.He is going to finish of Calibrating the focus tomorrow and get back to me....................fingers crossed

May also be of use (not stealing Scuff's thunder I hope) - explains some as to why most (all ?) digital camera images need sharpening and how to get best results.

Image Editing Tutorial – Sharpening Review - Digital Camera Reviews - TrustedReviews

I was onto Canon today, he found an issue with the Gap between the Sensors IIRC. He had it stripped when I rang and was doing the set-up.He is going to finish of Calibrating the focus tomorrow and get back to me....................fingers crossed

Any news yet?

Any news yet?

Yea, he completed the cal, said there was a small difference so hopefully that will improve it.....fingers crossed.

Any pics to show the contrast (a fellow 40D owner...)

Another issue with picture quality on Canons! Looks like their quality control issues cascade UP the range! [My woes]

Must say, short of plastic surgery, you're going to struggle with the sharpness and texture of any 40Ds you come across...

:sofahide:

Well I got my camera back today, well for about 5mins. I simulated the problem with the RAW+Jpeg option and when the camera was connected directly the problem showed up. When connected through the memory card reader it worked okay. The Canon guy I spoke to assured me it wasn't normal, so the camera has gone away again :(

It's noted to happen a lot on the Canon 5DMk1 too. Seems a reasonably common problem if you search around. Be interesting to see how it goes. My 350D has suddenly refused to download via the cable any more. So not sure if that's an actual cable, or other, problem. But I find a card reader is far quicker anyway so not too much bother for me.

It's noted to happen a lot on the Canon 5DMk1 too. Seems a reasonably common problem if you search around. Be interesting to see how it goes. My 350D has suddenly refused to download via the cable any more. So not sure if that's an actual cable, or other, problem. But I find a card reader is far quicker anyway so not too much bother for me.

Nothing back from them yet, I thought they might have called considering whats gone on with it going back straight away.

It's noted to happen a lot on the Canon 5DMk1 too. Seems a reasonably common problem if you search around. Be interesting to see how it goes. My 350D has suddenly refused to download via the cable any more. So not sure if that's an actual cable, or other, problem. But I find a card reader is far quicker anyway so not too much bother for me.

My 350D did something similar and the Canon software refused to download or even acknowledge the camera was attached. Deleted and reloaded the software and it seems to work again.

Sorry to hear of the 40D softness Gaff, I sharpen virtually all of mine and this seems pretty typical, Even Scuff sharpens his 1D images (although I’m guessing nowhere near as much as you have to do:()

My 350D did something similar and the Canon software refused to download or even acknowledge the camera was attached. Deleted and reloaded the software and it seems to work again.

Awww. Was hoping it could be an excuse to get me a 40/50D

Awww. Was hoping it could be an excuse to get me a 40/50D

Oops sorry…

………and then out of frustration I stormed off and bought the much bettererer 40D….

Was that more like it?

I'm noticing issues with the pictures being extremely Soft, and hence having to make massive adjustments to the Sharpness with the Canon DPP software.

Returning to this issue - spotted this in

Canon EOS 50D Review

Auto Focus

The 50D inherited its nine-point auto focus system from the 40D, but the system continues to be refined with every generation – meaning faster auto focus and better low-light auto focus every year. The 50D's AF system proved to be amazingly fast and mostly reliable, but not always consistent even with a stationary camera and stationary subject. Using two different lenses during out test period we noticed times when the 50D would select a slightly different AF lock even when the subject and the camera remained perfectly still. This would at times result in a photo that lacks critical focus for enlargements, but is still reasonably focused enough for smaller prints. It's hard to say this "focus creep" is the result of the lenses being used or the ultra-fast autofocus system, but it can be a major frustration when you think a photo is in focus and it turns out to be slightly out of focus under enlargement.

Awww. Was hoping it could be an excuse to get me a 40/50D

Oops sorry, I should have mentioned it was imperative to get a 40D at the very least as the 350D will self destruct once the dreaded ‘download Problem’ appears. Quick do it now, spend your way out of trouble

BoobyDoo Sports Bra Specialist: 40D Sports Bras