Following several basic steps will result in crisp photos.
If you are serious about photography, then striving for a crisp shot taken with your Canon XTI (or any other digital single-lens reflex) is paramount. Blurred photos are often the result of photographer movement or improper equipment usage. There are several basic but simple tips to remember that will guarantee a sharp image every time you push the shutter button.
Instructions
1. Solidly support your camera to avoid motion blur.
Stand completely still and solidly support your camera when shooting any photos. Darren Rouse of Digital Photography School notes, "One of the common problems that many new digital (and film) photographers have is 'camera shake' where images seem blurry--usually because the camera was not held still enough while the shutter was depressed." Digital single-lens reflexes combined with any number of interchangeable lenses are significantly heavier than point-and-shoot cameras and might require bracing against your body.
2. Shoot with a shutter speed of 1/60 of a second or faster to avoid motion blur. Canon offers a technology called image-stabilization built into certain lenses which counteracts motion blur, and actually gives the photographer a little more leeway when shooting with a slow shutter speed. However, the reality is the faster your shutter speed is, the less chance you will have of taking out-of-focus images.
3. A tripod is recommended when using a slow shutter speed or heavy lenses.
Attach your XTI to a tripod if shooting with a shutter speed of 1/30 of a second or slower. Some photographers are so concerned with achieving crisp images that they employ a tripod no matter what their shutter speed. A tripod is also recommended when working with a heavy lens. If using a tripod, a remote-shutter release is an additional piece of equipment to counteract blur. Even pushing the shutter button can introduce unwanted motion, especially with a slow shutter speed. A remote-shutter release allows a photographer to trip the shutter without actually touching the camera.
4. Set the XTI's ISO as low as possible. The ISO affects how quickly an image will be recorded to the camera's sensor. The XTI has an ISO range of 100 to 1600. Shooting with a fast ISO allows you to take photos in a low-light setting without having to use a flash or other artificial lighting; however, a fast ISO can sometimes result in a grainy picture. With each generation of digital cameras, the ISO becomes a bit more refined and grain is less of a problem; however, the lower your ISO remains, the greater your guarantee of a crisp image.
5. The quality of your lens will affect the sharpness of your photos.
Purchase and use the finest lens you can afford. The quality of a lens' optics will definitely impact image sharpness. Unfortunately, finer lenses often carry a high price tag. Research your options and study all clarity tests that have been published on any lens you are considering for purchase. CNET, with extensive evaluations by experts and laypersons, is a recommended source for reviewing camera equipment.
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