How do I tell if its the camera or me?

[48Valves]

FurtiveFreddy said:

OK, but if you shoot in RAW it's inevitable you will have to correct some elements such as distortion and sharpness, because the image coming direct from the sensor needs some processing before you even start on the 'enhancements'.

Once you've got basic settings for your camera, though, you can automate most of those initial corrections and batch process them before you do anything else. You're only trying to do what the camera does when it does it's internal processing when creating a .jpg.

Just don't look at an unprocessed RAW image and think it's bound to be better than a .jpg out of the camera. It probably won't be.

I generally look at the JPGs first and then have a tinker in LR to see if I can improve the picture. I do struggle with the white balance and noticing things like the purple and brown tint mentioned earlier on account of being colour blind

[Craikeybaby]

The EF-S 50-250mm is meant to be a good cheap longer lens.

[GroundEffect]

The Tamron 70-300 SP VC is a great cheap telephoto. I loved mine with Nikon mount; great VC, very sharp, good contrast, low CA.

[RobDickinson]

Rent a 100-400mk2

Issue I see with those shots, there is some dof/focus, some softness from noise reduction but overall I would point a big finger at the lens being soft in general - start with soft you cant end up with sharp..

[48Valves]

Thanks again.

Sigma lens has gone back and will be replaced by a canon 70-300 L.

[RobDickinson]

48Valves said:

Thanks again.

Sigma lens has gone back and will be replaced by a canon 70-300 L.

Good choice I like mine!

[Simpo Two]

48Valves said:

I do struggle with... noticing things like the purple and brown tint mentioned earlier on account of being colour blind

It's not a tint (which would affect the whole image) but a fringe. The new lens should help with that.