Expert: Wedding Photographics - 4/14/2008

Question
Hi
I got my first DSLR canon 5D as a present from my wife and i have been playing with it and i have troubles understanding how it focuses.
What happens is i have Fuji S7000 and it takes great photos and focus is distributed evenly throught the photo, another words from the center to the corner sharpness of the photo does not change unless i am very very close or shooting macro mode
With 5D center is the sharpest and clearest part of the photo. I was looking throught professional photography sites and found the same pictures with clear center and blurry everything else.
Here is the example go to www..........com view images (Ctrl+F images - 9999, 9999, 9999, 9999, 9999, 9999)
I took photos of my wife and kid with S7000, Powershot S400 and 5D and 5D came out the worst. S400 was the winner. All four corners as well as center clear and sharp, same with some zoom applied
I am kind of dissappointed it is suppose to be good camera.
Changing apature setting did help with depth of field and redused corner blurrness but not by much

So my question to you is is it the way DSLRs work or am i doing something wrong.
So i have Canon 5D and 22-70 L-Series lenses.

Thanks

Answer
Hello Julian,

To understand how the 5D camera focuses you should read the owner's manual.  I shoot weddings with two 5D cameras and samples of the results I get can be seen all over my website at http://www.weddingphotographics.net  We use four different Canon L-Series lenses.  Nationally renown wedding photographer Denis Reggie also uses Canon equipment and gets professional results.  You can see his list of equipment at http://www.denisreggie.net/bracket_instr.html

Considering the equipment you have and your concerns, you may need to get your new camera checked and adjustments made. This happens sometimes with cameras made by all manufacturers.

Wish I could be more helpful, but since I can't handle your camera and watch you using it, I can only guess that based on your apparent knowledge of cameras, you need to send your camera and/or lens in for adjustment.

John Wilson
Wedding Photographer
Chattanooga, Tennessee
http://www.weddingphotographics.net