Soft photos are frustrating, especially when everything seems to have been done right. Whether it’s inconsistency or persistent fuzziness, figuring out what’s going wrong can be a challenge.
Coming to you from Danielle Carstens with C4 Photo Safaris, this insightful video highlights five less obvious reasons for soft images. The first is heat refraction, or heat haze, which occurs when light passes through air layers of differing temperatures and densities, distorting focus. This is particularly common in wildlife photography when shooting across open grasslands or water during hot midday conditions. It can also happen in colder environments when warm air inside a lens hood meets the cold outside air. Removing the lens hood or avoiding shooting during extreme heat are simple fixes that can prevent this problem.
Teleconverters are another potential culprit. These tools extend your lens’ reach but introduce extra glass elements that can degrade image quality, particularly at the edges. Autofocus may also slow or become unreliable with smaller maximum apertures. Carstens suggests using teleconverters only with high-quality prime lenses to maintain sharpness and performance. Extensive research before purchasing can ensure compatibility and minimal impact on image quality.
Autofocus calibration problems for DSLR users can cause persistent front or back focusing, leading to soft images despite correct technique. This is more likely with fast lenses and shallow depth of field. Many cameras offer autofocus micro-adjustment features, or you can use calibration tools or lens docking stations. That's just the start, so check out the video above for the full rundown from Carstens.
