So much to learn, so much fun coming down the line

[JBW]

A stone from the road. I know the focus is off but the learning curve has started.

[Shadowman]

Nicely seen and captured.

[Stagecoach]

Brian, some thoughts on assessing your new toy

If this were mine the first thing I would want to do is assess the sharpness that can be achieved from the lens on the unit and to do this I would use something such as a fine sewing needle, bit of fuse wire or hair.

I would place the subject so that we know what part of it would be in front and part of it behind the focus plane. That way we can see 'exactly' where the focus plane is.

I would then take this image and see what I need to do to sharpen it and to what size I can process it to be happy with the result. E.g. you may then come to some conclusion such as I need to apply x% and x type sharpening to post and view it at 1600px wide (without cropping).

If we take your above image as an example we really do not know where the focus plane was and can only guess.

Out of interest, is the focus adjustment on the unit fine enough for you to be able to consider focus stacking?

[FootLoose]

The viewer's attention is drawn the area of most contrast here. I would crop from the left so that the image is square / squarish.

[xpatUSA]

If we take your above image as an example we really do not know where the focus plane was and can only guess.

There are quite a few specular reflections about 1 pixel in size; each being a point source of light, so to speak. Is it possible that, where such a reflection exists, an image plane object, showing say a 1 pixel with say a bit less bright one each side and above and below, is showing the location of the plane of focus?