Lack of Sharpness; need Help!

[gmfotografie]

hi my friends,

i recently started with large format.
after my first pictures i notice lack of sharpness.
watching my negatives with a 4x rodenstock loupe gives me also the assumption that my system is out of focus (acros100 in pyrocat hd manually-rotating development in jobo 3010).

i use a new chamonix 4x5f1 with fresnel lens.
when i look on the groundglas with my magnifier loupe, i always focusing the object.
i think this way should be correct?! or should I focusing the fresnel lens?

can you give me some tipps how can i find out step by step the source of error?

- should it be okay starting checking the groundglas focusing on a newspaper or something like that?
 does it frequently occur that groundglasses are out of plane?

- is it possible that a wrong pyrocat development cause lack of sharpness?

- is it possible that my lens is not exactly screwed on the lens-plate?

you see, a lot of questions for a rookie… maybe you can help me finding the error :-)

thx for help,
best michael

[TXFZ1]

Are you seeing the focus shift for all your lens?

Have you seen this? http://www.chamonixviewcamera.com/Fr...lem_of_45N.pdf

David

[dave_whatever]

Are you seeing the focus shift for all your lens?

Have you seen this? http://www.chamonixviewcamera.com/Fr...lem_of_45N.pdf

David

That applies to the old model, not applicable to the newer 045N2 or F1 cameras.

[gmfotografie]

yes both lenses... 150 apo sironar s and nikkor 300mm f9

[TXFZ1]

That applies to the old model, not applicable to the newer 045N2 or F1 cameras.

You are correct, I misread the OP.

David

[Tobias Key]

There are lots of possible sources. Are you experiencing a general lack of sharpness - in which case you have an issue with camera vibration, or are you getting front or back focusing which could be a number of things. First thing I would check is that you have the camera locked down adequately so that the rear standard doesn't move when you insert a dark slide. This is simple to do just set up the camera, focus, insert a dark slide, and pull it out to check focus again, if the image has shifted focus there is your problem.

An out of alignment ground glass is possible but you would have a consistent back or front focussing error. If you are new to large format I would look to rule out operator error first..

[Jac@stafford.net]

Did you install the Fresnel? Upon what side of the ground glass is it?

[gmfotografie]

thx!

i have a problem with general lack of sharpness!

first of all i check the right level.
i focus the subject, fxing the ball head and put in the filmholder. Then setting the aperture and use my cable release after pulling out the darkslide of the holder.

First thing I would check is that you have the camera locked down adequately so that the rear standard doesn't move when you insert a dark slide. This is simple to do just set up the camera, focus, insert a dark slide, and pull it out to check focus again, if the image has shifted focus there is your problem.

i will give it a try.

Did you install the Fresnel? Upon what side of the ground glass is it?

the camera shipped with a mounted outside fresnel lens

ps
i will post a picture later...

[Bob Salomon]

Are you at the optimal aperture of f22? Are you focusing with the lens wide open or stopped down?
Vibration at the tripod. Did you wait a few seconds for any handling vibrations to settle out before firing the shutter?
Vibration from handling the shutter. Do you have a long enough cable release so it isn't pulled tight when you trigger it?
Is your tripod and head substantial enough for a view camera?
Are you focusing your loupe on the grain of your ground glass? You do that by taking the lens off and placing the loupe on the top of the gg/Fresnel and adjusting the eyepiece until the grain of the gg is in sharp focus. Then replace the lens.
Lastly, is the gg properly installed? The grain of the gg must face the lens. And it is also possible that the camera was misadjusted at the factory if everything is equally soft with all lenses.

[Leigh]

i have a problem with general lack of sharpness!

That problem is not caused by your focusing technique.

Take a picture of a tree perhaps 20 feet away, with grass all around, from the camera position into the distance.
At some point the grass should be in sharp focus. If that's not at the tree, where you focused, then there's an error.

It sounds more like you have some kind of vibration, which will blur everything in the photograph.

I too have the 150mm Apo-Sironar-S, and it's sharp as a razor blade.

- Leigh