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How do you define "tack sharp"?

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the much loved 602 is still around, but my husband has more or less taken it over exclusively for his work. (He's a vet) The excellent closeup function is really handy for photographing skin lesions, wounds etc and he uses the video component to record lame horses or other animals and sends them to specialists elsewhere for an opinon. He also takes a few pet photos for the reception pinup board. Still a very handy little camera. I happily get visiting rights still, but I'm very wrapped up in my D70s at the moment.
--
Linda R

Photography: Celebrating Life
 
Knox, the poster didn't ask for your opinion about why not to pursue tack sharp. Your response has been artsy and non specific....as if you are trying to give her a lesson in your style of photography.
--
Warm regards, Dave.
Smile when you answer the phone, they can hear it in your voice.

 
Geez, it never stops here . . . . Thanks for giving me YOUR opinion. Though I too didn't ask for one. I feel my post was valid and 'hopefully' helpful to her, yet maybe not in the way YOU feel. I did not say DON'T pursue sharp, I said don't forget 'composition' as for the most part, it is paramount, yet I aslo gave an example when I am wrong (product shots). "Smile when you post . . as I can definately NOT feel it"
Daves602 said:
Knox, the poster didn't ask for your opinion about why not to
pursue tack sharp. Your response has been artsy and non
specific....as if you are trying to give her a lesson in your style
of photography.
--
Warm regards, Dave.
Smile when you answer the phone, they can hear it in your voice.

Click to expand...
--
Knox
--
Avatar Photography
http://www.avatarphotoart.com
Alley Cats . . . Urban Tails (the book)
http://www.urbantailsbook.com
http://www.alleycatphotos.com
http://www.pbase.com/streetkid
 
Move along, nothing to see here.
 
Here puss, puss, puss....bang!
 
rocklin said:
There is much controversy on all forums about what is considered
"tack sharp" Obviously, we look carefully at an image, and compare
it to others to decide. However, I was wondering if any of you have
particular criteria/elements that you look for, when inspecting an
image, before you decide.

For instance, if you take a photo of news print, are there any
special letters that are a better indicator than others of how
sharp a lens is, and why do think so?

--

Linda R

Photography: Celebrating Life
Click to expand...
 
tack
n.
A short, light nail with a sharp point and a flat head.

sharp
adj.

1. Having a thin edge or a fine point suitable for or capable of cutting or piercing.
2.
a. Having clear form and detail: a sharp photographic image.
b. Terminating in an edge or a point: sharp angular cliffs; a sharp nose.
c. Clearly and distinctly set forth: sharp contrasts in behavior.
3. Abrupt or acute: a sharp drop; a sharp turn.
4.
a. Intellectually penetrating; astute.
b. Marked by keenness and accuracy of perception: sharp hearing.
5. Crafty or deceitful, as in business dealings: sharp selling practices.
6. Vigilant; alert: kept a sharp lookout for shoplifters.
7.
a. Briskly or keenly cold and cutting: a sharp wind.
b. Harsh or biting in tone or character: sharp criticism.
8. Fierce or impetuous; violent: a sharp temper; a sharp assault.
9. Intense; severe: a sharp pain.
10.
a. Sudden and shrill: a sharp whistle.
b. Sudden and brilliant or dazzling: a sharp flash of lightning.

11. Strongly affecting the senses of smell and taste: a sharp pungent odor; a sharp cheese.
12. Composed of hard angular particles: sharp sand.

Take your pick.
--
Malcolm Martin
 
knox said:
Grow up punk . . I'm really impressed with a person who 'acts' like
he is shooting a cat. That's the whole reason of the book, to show
idiots and their prejudice and stupidity toward animals. You just
proved it,
Click to expand...
Cats in Australia are the number one enemy of small Australian marsupials. They are responsible for the extinction of countless species. We have had to go to great lengths in Australia to cling to our endangered species by building contained areas with "cat proof" fencing to contain large areas of land to give the native wild life a fighting chance. These reserves are privately funded by people who are like minded, and regularly patrolled by "Rangers" with small bore shot guns for the sole purpose of eradicating any cats that may have got past the fence.

So I'll tell you what Knox, you stay in your fantasy land and I'll stay in the real world.......and calling me Punk, well, I have been called a lot worse, care-shmare.
 
Phil Youngblood said:
Your vision acuity is determined by how clearly you see a well
defined object at different sizes. If your vision is tested at
20-20 and mine is tested the same, our vision is the same. If you
or I look at an object or scene and then look at an image that
represents that object or scene as seen by the naked eye and they
look exactly the same, then the equipment used to make that image
is tack sharp. There is nothing subjective about that at all. Well,
unless you were lying when you looked at the doctor's eye chart.
You weren't lying, were you? :)

Phil
Click to expand...
LOL. Well I'm not lying when I say I can't read the top of the doctor's eye chart (without my glasses)! I didn't know I had trouble focusing manually, with my glasses on, until AF became available. I'd focus manually, then hit the AF button and think "Oh, that's what it's supposed to be like".

I guess that's why I am a little obsessive about trying to get things tack sharp. Not because I'm self-conscious about my eye sight (I'm very grateful for the eyesight I've got), but because all this photographic technology let's me see things that I can't with my natural vision. It let's me appreciate the world around me so much more
--
Linda R

Photography: Celebrating Life
 
Could you post the entire shot?
--
Linda R

Photography: Celebrating Life
 
While it's true I simply asked for a definition, and yours is one of the easiest to implement,Ï'm also interested in any related comments
--
Linda R

Photography: Celebrating Life
 
LOL I pick this one.
Malcolm Martin said:
b. Sudden and brilliant or dazzling: > --
Malcolm Martin
Click to expand...
Now I just have to keep working on how to get it.
--
Linda R

Photography: Celebrating Life
 
I too had a mamiya 80mm (for the Mamiya 7) that put out an honest 120 lines/mm at f 4-5.6 by the 4-color Sleicher resolution chart. Sharper than any of my H'blad lenses or Nikon lenses.
--
the photographer formerly known as 'Kallitype'
 
Hi there Linda.

I am glad both of us could be of service to you then. I am not one to bare a grudge and if knox takes the time to read this, then I offer an olive branch to him as well.
--
Warm regards, Dave.
Smile when you answer the phone, they can hear it in your voice.

 
It's very subjective these days. Because of the postprocessing you can apply more 'sharpness' that what was in the original image. Make a scan or print of an (old) quality slide, compare it to a 'tack sharp' image as are being posted in galleries these days and you see what I mean. Taste has changed.

The unsharp mask applies local contrast. A little will bring back the detail that is there for the eye to see. A bit more will emphasise it (exagerate it?). How much more does your eye like to see? This is subjective.

My opinion.

--
Rgds
Remco.
http://www.pbase.com/remco_db
---

'Once you start thinking short term, you're in trouble because short-term thinking is only a tactic for immediate needs.' - Ahmed Zaki Yamani
 
Hi Linda!

Here's the full frame for reference:



Regards
Alex

--



carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero
 
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