"What is Sharpness in Photography?" by Leica Photographer Thorsten von Overgaard (subtitled)

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"What is Sharpness in Photography" article available at:
www.overgaard.dk/the-story-be...
For my article about the HISTORY OF LEICA, see my extremely long article about more than 100 years of history here:
www.overgaard.dk/leica_history...
For photography and Leica definitions, see my dictionary:
www.overgaard.dk/leica_defini...
Thorsten von Overgaard is a Danish writer and photographer, specializing in portrait photography and documentary photography, known for writings about photography and as an educator. You are always welcome to send an e-mail to Thorsten for questions, suggestions and ideas.
Thorsten Overgaard is an independent writer and photographer who write, teach workshops and publish user reports about the equipment he uses. There is no affiliation with Leica Camera AG or any camera dealers, no free gifts, no sponsorship, no kickback and no paid content. All you see is real and based on the life of an eccentric and hard-working photographer who makes his own money, buys his own equipment and form his own independent opinions - and shares with you. Enjoy the ride.
Video Credits:
Produced by: Thorsten Overgaard (www.overgaard.dk)
Video by: Dare Stevens (www.darecinema.com)
#sharpness #photography #overgaard

[@TurboAftershave]

Enlightening video. My biggest takeaway is "Don't believe everything they(camera industry) tell you." Things they can quantify may not be what we are looking for. Micro contrast is one of the keys to making pictures pop out(sharp). Pictures taken with Lumix S 50 1.4, Canon EF 50 1.2, Leica, Zeiss Loxia+Batis & Sigma Foveon x3 start growing on me.

[@Raychristofer]

For what it's worth finally the first person I've come across who explains camera tech in a way I can perfectly digest. Don't change a thing about the style of your channel. Respect

[@MagicOfLight_ThorstenOvergaard]

Thank you very much for the kind words!

[@coolblue9618]

Dude I agree there too many idiots here spouting opinion without slightest subject knowledge

[@wanderingwongs7464]

Beautifully said, Thorsten! It seems like nowadays everyone is looking at pictures at 100% and getting rid of those that aren't sharp when we should be looking at them holistically. Thank you for speaking truth, Thorsten! This is so liberating to me as a photographer!

[@MrGreeneggsnospam]

As always, a very helpful and detailed episode! Love your no frills, no drama approach on sharing knowledge.

[@shekatagani]

Well said! I work in the camera industry and we are always dealing with customers who zoom in 100% on the PC when looking at their photos and claiming it is not sharp Enough!

[@emg9823]

The sum of all elements is what makes the photo. If you look at all parts individually, you miss the ...big picture. I've sold all my digital cameras and gone back to 35mm. OM1 still does it. Turns out though, as a student, it was a creative move I can barely afford hahaha! Love your reviews and insights! New subscriber!!

[@FauxmaGaming]

When you moved the M-D closer to the edge at 4:48 i had a mini heart attack

[@SchwizzZer]

He does that intentionally - as well as putting it upside down - to show the audience that those Leicas are tools to be used and not to be locked out inside a vitrine haha

[@abigailsockeye1586]

A danish photographer has no such worries. Like a honey badger.

[@diegoravalico3989]

Great video...Thanks Thorsten!

[@MikeJamesMedia]

Excellent, Thorsten! Lots of endless conversation boiled down to the essence of what is real. Thank you!

[@MagicOfLight_ThorstenOvergaard]

Glad you liked. Good comment!

[@Zetaphotography]

The preview text translated saying my name is Jose!!!!! Haha Bought some Christmas gifts. Thank you, can't wait to put it to use

[@thehmangill5714]

Well said and about time too. It's the feeling, atmosphere and emotion that a photograph conveys that matters

[@MagicOfLight_ThorstenOvergaard]

Thank you :-)

[@warunagomis]

Thank you Thorsten, very true and enlightening.

[@youneskabbaj8805]

Great video! Always to the point, not complicated and interesting. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us.

[@osvaldoheredia6359]

Just today I came across this vid. It's really helped to put all the hassle around sharpness into perspective. Thank you

[@stevelink21]

Ken, thanks for enlightening us to the meaning of "sharpness", and for introducing Mr. Overgaard. His presentation was most interesting, and did expand my photographic knowledge and perspective...as do all of your videos!

[@MostafaAhmed999]

The Angry Photographer sent me here. He didn't fail me. Subscribed to you sir! Greetings from Germany! i mean seriously at last i find another good photographer like you, who actually explained in a very easy way what sharpness is. I always found it hilarious that almost all KZbin Photographers zooming 100% on each photos they are capturing and say this one is focused and this one is not.

[@MagicOfLight_ThorstenOvergaard]

Aha, thanks for explaining! I'll pay him a visit. Glad to know there are more grumpy people than I :-)

[@funtrain23]

You're a great teacher, thank you.

[@oldskidgrey]

What a fantastic explanation of a very simple concept, its the end product that counts not all the tech that is involved in producing that final image!

[@jjccllgg]

Thank you so much for your video! I called myself an enthusiast amateur. But I have been shooting film for years with Nikons and Minoltas, Nowadays I use Pentax and Ricoh, but I just ordered a Leica c-lux. Looking forward to enjoy Leica quality! Adn definitely, a good picture does not have to be tack sharp. Composition matters the most.

[@wahezikiahshirley6212]

Love this new Magic of Light channel!

[@MagicOfLight_ThorstenOvergaard]

Glad to hear that!

[@peterjoseph3839]

Great video! One often get carried away in the ”sharpness wave” Thanks!

[@eugenek1180]

Some quality information right here! Thank you for taking the time to share these insight.

[@MagicOfLight_ThorstenOvergaard]

Thank you!

[@DavidLefrancois]

Every photographers should watch this video. Thank you !

[@BSimpson19911]

Greatest words I've heard in photography! Enjoyed this so much! Thank You!

[@MagicOfLight_ThorstenOvergaard]

Welcome!

[@thomastuorto9929]

Great vid on sharpness. About a week ago, I asked another Leica shooting you tuber why Leica? The reply was because I said so. What you start saying about Leica lenses & color somewhere around the 3+ minute mark is why he should refer anyone who ask why Leica to this video. Looking forward to watching your B&W video. Thank you.

[@paullanoue5228]

Thank you. I hope many of the KZbin reviewers watch for video.

[@JeevesTCW]

Fascinating video and a discussion rarely covered thank you

[@JeevesTCW]

Really enjoying your channel

[@martinjn2920]

Just starting your video's and I have to say they are incredibly informative, I am picking up many tips all of which are very useful. I am going to enjoy working my way through your collection of video's. Thank you for taking the time to film and post these informative video's they are greatly appreciated.

[@MagicOfLight_ThorstenOvergaard]

Thank you!

[@hdrsmit]

very informative. thanks for taking the time to present your perspective !

[@arkogoswami9648]

What you have said is really true...but today with marketing gimmicks & with DXO MARK everybody is running towards Sigma ART Lenses & Zeiss OTUS, just to get every pixel out of their sensors...for me, I choose the lens has got great Micro-Contrast, it will give my photograph life, Leica are Legendary Lenses, not because how sharp they are but how much life they put in the photographs taken with them....

[@riume]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge!

[@MagicOfLight_ThorstenOvergaard]

Most welcome 🙂

[@kellyw7777]

Thank you so much for your time and explaination.

[@MagicOfLight_ThorstenOvergaard]

Welcome!

[@Jagrajagra]

I followed a link here from another KZbin channel, and I'm so glad I did. You've reminded me a little of the art philosopher Gombridge, who's essays and books I'm very fond of reading, particularly Art And Illusion. I often feel that too many photographers get hung up on how many megapixels or dpi there are in an image, rather than enjoying it for what it is. Thank you for this. I feel mentally invigorated.

[@MagicOfLight_ThorstenOvergaard]

Thank you. I agree to a large degree.

[@hasanbokra]

Well. . . I love the rendering of images with splitting warm colors, touch of micro contrast 😋 with Rich amount of color. . . That's

[@j.k5654]

Thank you SIR

[@a.d.yuriar8926]

Well stated and much appreciated. Thank you for your effort.

[@MagicOfLight_ThorstenOvergaard]

Thank you!

[@goswo]

Holy... so inspiring...

[@loufip4374]

120/5000 I also join the many and well-deserved appreciations and compliments. Much to learn and much to think about. Thank you.

[@EmanueleOlivetti]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge. Now I should definitely read more on perceived sharpness vs sharpness at 100% magnification.

[@Sebastian-zc4tb]

Excellent video. Thanks for sharing.

[@criddycriddy]

Wonderful, glad I found your Chanel, very clear instruction in a short time, thanks.

[@MagicOfLight_ThorstenOvergaard]

Glad to hear that. More is coming!

[@nielsnrskov8847]

Very interesting look at the concept of sharpness. Looking forward to more videos from you.

[@MagicOfLight_ThorstenOvergaard]

Thank you.

[@adrianflowers4560]

Thanks. Really appreciate your insights.

[@MagicOfLight_ThorstenOvergaard]

Thank you!

[@Dngrov257]

Very, very informative video!

[@raulluis7052]

Thank you for sharing your experience,... Beautiful and inspiring!...

[@MagicOfLight_ThorstenOvergaard]

Thank you!

[@CraigMansfield]

That was a really interesting video. Thank you.

[@davidgurevich8750]

VERY good video. Your explanation about sharpness changed my understanding. Thank you. Everybody crazy about sharpness and only few understand what sharpness actually is.

[@MagicOfLight_ThorstenOvergaard]

Thank you. Good feedback :-)

[@frankyvee1]

So true.. one example I can think of is you can increase the blacks in certain photos and make it appear sharper (perceived sharpness).

[@MagicOfLight_ThorstenOvergaard]

Yes, generally, if you turn down exposure in edit and increase contrast (and black), that will give that effect.

[@m.d.6649]

Very inspiring indeed. Im always upset with the sharpness on the eyes when zoomed in but you really made a point here that made me understand that youre not supposed to zoom and zoom. Thank you

[@akbarassaran7736]

I am glad that you share your knowledge with us here, thank you very much! It will be superb if you share some of your experiences about film photography! Best regards from Sweden.

[@MagicOfLight_ThorstenOvergaard]

Thank you Shahab. I will get around film eventually.

[@ChristineWilsonPhotography]

So glad I watched this , perceived sharpness and the final print ! Etc just bought your ebook, very common-sense approach, I just wish people would stop pixel peeping.

[@carrieannkouri2151]

Very interesting viewpoint on sharpness. Thank you for sharing.

[@MagicOfLight_ThorstenOvergaard]

Welcome, Carrie.

[@CFaraujo10]

It was the best definição I found. Tks

[@thegroove2000]

Solid info. Thanks.

[@AndreiCPiciu]

you are a great photographer!

[@pmgalves1977]

Half of me learning a lot, the other half having an anxiety attack for seeing how close that leica is to the edge of the table!

[@drpentecost]

Thanks for sharing this video about sharpness. Very interesting. I look forward to seeing more of your videos.

[@MagicOfLight_ThorstenOvergaard]

Thank you. They will come out with two videos a week from now.

[@fitou143]

Interesting subject thanks for sharing.

[@enzorocha2977]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts, they give me an anchor to peg my photographic philosophy. This is why I love Europeans. Americans are great with technology and information, but Europeans, I find, are the soul of everything I've come to appreciate in this world (as well as the Japanese too). From cars and automobile design, to visual arts, to literature and philosophy. Thank you again, and keep doing videos such as this, please.

[@MagicOfLight_ThorstenOvergaard]

Thank you for the kind word!

[@stevelink21]

Well said, Enzo...I totally agree!

[@DANVIIL]

You better hurry up and get over to Europe because it's disappearing fast. Muslims and Africans are being imported by the treasonous elites and the European birth rate has crashed below replacement. You can't have Europe without Europeans.

[@romanticdonkey468]

Following the group over from Ken's channel. I enjoyed this video very much. Keep up the good work

[@MagicOfLight_ThorstenOvergaard]

Very welcome!

[@ElvisPriscillaPresley]

Excellent video.

[@JoseCarlosBabo]

Dear Thorsten von Overgaard. Just saw your video (from #Angry Photographer), which made my day. As I always said, its a question of perception and viewing distance. Thank you very much for your well expressed video. Will share it.

[@MegaSoundscapes]

Thankx for your insight as a professional ! I am an amateur and I shoot mainly Canon. My perception was that when I look at photos on flickr or other sources, the sharpness of the new lenses for mirrorless cameras is very impressive but almost kind of "clinical" and I nearly always preferred the look and the rendering of the older EF Canon glass which at the moment a lot of people want to get rid off. I recently bought an old Canon 5D 12MP camera from 2005 and eventhough getting the photo is a bit more cumbersome, the result if you nail it is just amazing, the colors, the rendering, everything. I have to tweek the photos of my mirrorless quite a bit for them to look like the ones coming from the 5D.

[@shekatagani]

Thanks very good information

[@ronitsingh85]

Loved it, very pleasant to watch, It made perfect sense to me, you are a person who knows what he is talking about and you explain in a way that the general viewers can understand, it is what it boils down to, nothing fancy. :-)

[@MagicOfLight_ThorstenOvergaard]

Thank you!

[@KaiWingYiu]

Thanks Thorsten. You have a very interesting perspective on sharpness. I agree with Fauxma that you need a bigger desk when moving your camera and lenses. Well done.

[@MagicOfLight_ThorstenOvergaard]

Nothing bad happened so far. I will keep an eye on it in the future so we won't have anybody suffering a stroke :-)

[@richsolomon8243]

wonderful

[@Rambleswithmycameraonyoutube]

Thanks for sharing man - Sean

[@dbminerals]

Thanks for sharing! Nearly peed in my pants when the M-D was pushed so close to the edge of the table to make way for the laptop...Lol!

[@MagicOfLight_ThorstenOvergaard]

Those things fly around and usually take some beating without much trouble :-)

[@MrJimckorn]

I am relatively new to photography and enjoyed this video. If I print a certain amount of photos in 8x10 format it helps me improve as I can now hold my photograph in my hands. It gives me a sense of creative ownership that I would not normally feel just looking at a monitor. Thanks again.

[@MagicOfLight_ThorstenOvergaard]

Yes, that is so true. I have professional printers make prints for galleries and such, but I also have a simple Canon Pixma printer (the simple one with five color catridges) for printing 8x10" prints on glossy glossy paper for anything I just want to put on a board or give to my kids friends. Sufficient quality and it's great to see what you did on a wall, and it's intersting to see what others see and say when they see a print. I had a workshop student who had a box on his sofa table with 8x5 prints of his newest/best photos, then guests could take the box and go through the photos. Smart way of making it real and have your own little gallery exhibition at home for family and friends to see.

[@francoisdunord7169]

very good story

[@atephoto]

Very good video. Thank you

[@MagicOfLight_ThorstenOvergaard]

Thank you!

[@matylda3820]

Thank you!

[@MagicOfLight_ThorstenOvergaard]

Welcome!

[@xtianfotos9975]

Thank you! Nice video!

[@MagicOfLight_ThorstenOvergaard]

Thank you Xtian!

[@VadimOm]

My bro big Kent sent me here, nice video, thanks!

[@MagicOfLight_ThorstenOvergaard]

Very welcome!

[@donaldbrown7746]

Great video... I love your perspective on the subject of sharpness... The reason I own Leica is the Leica Look... No other camera or lens has it...

[@MagicOfLight_ThorstenOvergaard]

Yes, that's right. It's very unique.

[@AliZaidi]

I was going to stop and move on to some other video.. BUT your no-nonsense and logical approach made me watch the whole thing!

[@rafaelvegaserrano6397]

I shot Leicas and Hasseblads during the film years. I now own another brands of very high mp cameras. I'm never really satisfied with the results. Many camera manufactures do come close, but once you shoot with Leica Cameras, you will be spoil for life.

[@MagicOfLight_ThorstenOvergaard]

For some things, high resolution makes sense, but it's actually very specialized. Most of us can choose cameras and lenses that makes us happy and makes photography fun and worthwhile.

[@tjmanou6422]

WOW. brilliant information

[@MagicOfLight_ThorstenOvergaard]

Thank you

[@-vanveenjf7550]

Just have to add to the many comments about your straightforward approach. very nice and without all the "hype" of those other "picture-takers" ;) on the web. Thanks

[@MagicOfLight_ThorstenOvergaard]

Thank you for the feedback :-)

[@AnimeStudioMotion]

Jared Polin favorite quote "yeah but its not sharp" FROOOOOO KNOOOOWWWWS

[@douglasdrumond]

I'm imagining Jared Polin seeing Robert Capa's photos from D Day. All are blurred.

[@richardseekins24]

Brilliant video :)

[@ChritsianBucic]

Intressante explication

[@dPico-digitaldurda]

Awesome.

[@MagicOfLight_ThorstenOvergaard]

Thank you!

[@shern92]

Man, totally agreed!

[@MagicOfLight_ThorstenOvergaard]

Thank you!

[@JonFloFPV]

I just found this video and learned a lot more than I thought I would. Would love to meet up with you if you're ever in Vancouver in Canada!

[@MagicOfLight_ThorstenOvergaard]

Will be back in Vancouver later in 2017, and the lovely Revolver coffee place!

[@MrDCB1234]

Great video. Some call it micro-contrast. Most people are only worried about, as you said, LPI, or how sharp is it. There is much more to a pleasing photograph. If you want best of both sharpness and micro-contrast shoot large format film and drum scan it...or even better someone who knows what they are doing use a darkroom. Keep up the good work.

[@lilducyclone3717]

Hello Maestro. The picture you've took with the legendary Digilux 2 is just amazing. I have one of this, I exploide it on the side walk in Paris 3 years ago, then I can't get along with the idea to not have it any more with me, so I buy an other one, and I agree about the sharp fact. When the camera is in the right hands, the sharp side is existing where it have to be. I would love to know your set up you will recommend to use the Digilux 2, I mean something around... let's say the perfection, like on the picture you took. Best regards, Olivier

[@srenlynggaardandersen5835]

Tak :-)

[@AlGreenLightThroughGlass]

I think you're right - its the look of the imagery. I get attached to the look when I find it and will usually stick with that camera for a long time and always regret it when I sell.

[@MagicOfLight_ThorstenOvergaard]

Yes, a beloved camera is the best. Not easy to stay with the same camera in the digital age though.

[@Gravitys-NOT-a-force]

Sincere congratulations to both you and Joy Villa. It's my understanding that the two of you recently got married. You're a lucky guy.

[@MagicOfLight_ThorstenOvergaard]

Yes, we got married at last. Everybody thought we were married since day one, so not a big hurry to get it done. But now, finally! :-)

[@arnoldattard1146]

Fully agree, it's called the Art of Lenses. You may try to compare for example a Leonardo painting where sharpness is intact dissolved because that is how light technically works, while the 15th 16th cent. Dutch school of panting interpreted sharpness as distinct contrasts which is not how light technically operates.

[@MagicOfLight_ThorstenOvergaard]

Yes, there was a proud school of light to accentuate, show colors and emotions. Da Vinci was one who spent a lot of time noticing how colors changed by different types and levels of light.

[@etiskate]

Great video Thorsten. I do have a question however: How much of that initial look/signature is maintained after processing has taken place? Assuming Leica lenses have that unique quality you are talking about, can it still be observed after changes have been done to the original images? (such as the "Tones" in LR). Thanks

[@MagicOfLight_ThorstenOvergaard]

Yes, definitely, if you don't overdo it with sharpening or playing too much with HRD or tonality. Fundamentally it's clear and natural, and adding too much sharpness is exactly what some cameras. Not needed. It's not about sharp edges but about CLARITY.

[@DidierMOULINPhotography]

Very interesting and so true about what is the perception of sharpness but moreover artistic quality of an image. Since I got my first Leica (M8) last year and M lenses, I can feel it even when I look at the rear screen of the M8 which is so poor in definition. But all is so obvious, micro contrast are where the focus is and then all goes so smooth that if strengthens the sensation of sharpness and make the photography looks great. I'm wondering about switching to the M9-P or M-P(240) to get the full sensor sise. What would be your advise if I can ask.

[@magnuschristensson9980]

Thank you for an another good pragmatic education. Today is the technicallity in pictures and technical capabillty i equipment more hyped than ever I think. With Internet a problem has arised when you want to buy high end technical equipment. You cant get a good feeling of the mechanical or technical design quality. You can only reed or look at tests of other opinion and many of are going in measuring technical picture quality. So it's a good thing to point out the perception of picture quality. Do you like the pictures the Camera and Lense can produce - them it is fine! Do you like the feeling of taking pictures with the Camera. That should be more of an isue when you buy a Camera.

[@MagicOfLight_ThorstenOvergaard]

I always suggest people to iamgine being in a camera store, and the lens and camera that makes you most enthusiastic and eager as a child before Christmas, that's the right one (despite reviews, comparisons, sond-hand prices and all). ISO is another example today. We keep demanding more and more, but the reality is that few pictures are taken at so low light that it justifies that demand. Not to mention that photographers in previous times managed to do the most amazing low light photos with 100 ISO and less.

[@Gabriel.A.L.]

some people call this mircro contrast. When you use only 3 to 5 elements in a lens you have more abberation, less sharpness but way more contrast in the details and more natural colors. Its that simple.

[@JessDemant]

Is just love your videos, you do it really well! With Best Regards Jess Demant Aggeboe ----------- Er bare vild med dine videoer, du gør det rigtigt godt! Med Venlig Hilsen Jess Demant Aggeboe

[@MagicOfLight_ThorstenOvergaard]

Thank you! --- Tak!

[@ikorroki4695]

If your mind is sharp and you know what you see, the photograph will be sharp. The rest is simply a tool to show that clear vision.

[@HABERASAFI]

Thank you for clarifying a simple thing made complicated by the camera manufacturers (I mean, how else will they be able to push new cameras every year?)

[@MagicOfLight_ThorstenOvergaard]

Thank you!

[@lrrprangerglenn]

Angry Photographer highly recommended you. Now I now why....excellent!

[@MagicOfLight_ThorstenOvergaard]

Thank you. I just learned of that.