If you open the image in a new browser tab (Right click or long press) and copy the url, you can view the exif. The site linked below for example, or there are browser extensions.
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Rustic land
Well-known member
OK looking at the EXIF data and the histogram, it's appears that you have underexposed the image and as such this could cause the loss of detail that makes your image look soft. The ISO you used appears to be 250 and your histogram is largely to the left. My suggestion would be to make sure you set your ISO to auto or at least increase it so your histogram is more to the right, the old saying, expose to the right.
I'm not sure I fully agree on the underexposure. The area above the beak to the right is already slightly blown out, so more exposure would have made that worse. A left leaning histogram could be because there is a lot of dark shadow area in the image as a whole. Also not sure how that would cause a sharpness problem in any case.
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NWGuy
Well-known member
Not sure which tripod you have, but if using a center column, that can add some shake to the camera just due to the instability of center columns. If using a center column, keep it as low as possible.
Rustic land
Well-known member
It is either my monitor or yours but the image is very dark on mine and I am unable to see anything remotely close to blown out. Also I didn't say overexposure I did in fact say the opposite. An incorrectly exposed (underexposed or overexposed) image will lack detail giving the impression of a soft image.
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kkdji1
Member
Yes it was too dark. I needed to make better setting choices.
I'm looking at the area of feather above the eye and again a few parts of the neck. When there is detail-less white in an area that should show texture, that part is blown from too high exposure for that area. I agree the shadows could be selectively brought up a bit in post, but more overall exposure would blow out even more of the white feathers. I thought I originally typed underexposure in my reply, but must have mistyped.
Pistnbroke
Active member
The OP said "the new 500mm" never said which one it was . If you have the back focus set correctly,shoot in JPEG at sharp +9 and the picture is soft then you have a bad lens.
kkdji1
Member
Thank you! I am now floating my iso and have seen huge improvements!
Rustic land
Well-known member
That's great news.