Focus Help
Jun 1, 2012 07:09:30 #
For detail focus you can use the zoom in Live View, if activate Live View the image is displayed on the LCD screen then press the magnification button. Top right corner on the back of the camera, once for 5 x, twice for 10 times! You'll soon see how accurate your focus is.
Good luck...
Good luck...
Jun 1, 2012 07:11:25 #
Maybe this a depth of field issue? Is it possible to set your lens to f8 or f11? This will give you a greater depth of field but the shutter speed will be slower.
Jun 1, 2012 10:53:49 #
melllyn wrote:
I'm not really sure anyone can help-I think it is ... (show quote)
Don't have a Canon DSLR so I'll give you a suggestion from my Nikon D5100.
In the AF-area mode settings there are 4 choices:
Single-point
Dynamic-area AF
3D tracking (11 points) and
Auto-area AF
I'd suggest you fine a similar setting on your Canon, and change it to "Single-Point." This allows you to focus on a single-point on the subject rather than having the focus spread out over 11-points or a moving object.
A little red dot lights up on the 11-point grid. That's the area that will be in focus. On a Nikon, when you press down the OK button, the focus point jumps back to the center on the 11-point matrix.
If you change the setting to "Single-point, you shouldn't have that problem as it will always set the focus on that center red light in the matrix.
Did I confuse you, enough?
Jun 1, 2012 16:47:52 #
Gary Truchelut wrote:
Why would you prefer to focus manually when the camera has autofocus which will focus much better than you can see. Set the focus point on the subjects eyes and let the camera do the work for you. Another thought is the diopter on the camera may not be set for your eyes. Put the camera on a tripod and let the camera focus on something stationary. then turn the little diopter wheel on the viewfinder until the subject is tack sharp to your eye. Hope this helps.
Gary has a good point here. Another issue could very well be that the screens that Canon supplies with these DSLRs is not designed for manual focus. On some models they can be changed with optional screens available from Canon . . . not sure about your model, but it's worth looking into if you insist on focusing manually.
There are definitely times when manual focus is necessary to get the desired results, and auto focus is really an acquired skill. Canon has an excellent video on auto focus on their web site that should be read by everyone that has a DSLR. It could eliminate the hundreds of threads on forums for people not understanding the limitations of auto focus.
For those of you responding to this thread suggesting that the problem could be a wide aperture of F/1.8 . . he did not say his exposures were made at F/1.8 . . . he simply was stating that his lens is an F/1.8 model. Save yourself the time by reading the questions asked very carefully before adding your suggestions please.
Jun 1, 2012 19:05:58 #
My Nikon has a feature that can be turned on or off. You pick the focus Point.or you let the camera pick it - i was having a problem just like yours - found I had accidentally turned it on ( fooling around with custom settings) and fbetween the time I pushed the shutter button and the camera took the picture the camera changed the location of the point of focus. As soon as I turned this feature off the problem went away. Does your camera have a similar features? If so, make sure it is turned off.
Jun 1, 2012 20:54:26 #
Shakey wrote:
Maybe this a depth of field issue? Is it possible to set your lens to f8 or f11? This will give you a greater depth of field but the shutter speed will be slower.
I think Shakey's right. I think the problem is right back at Step one - depth of field. That is the area that's in focus. Look up "Depth of Field" and you'll see why so much of the photo's fuzzy, or Out Of Focus. Find out the difference between f1.8, f8 and f16. Try laying a ruler down so one end is further from you than the other is. Photograph that, focussing on the middle of the ruler, using increasingly large f stop numbers and compare the resulting photos. If you don't see fairly drastic results do the same again from a little closer or further away.
In order to ram this home - trying to get the whole picture clear (in focus) using f1.8 from a short distance is like trying to get somewhere fast without changing out of first gear. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN.
Jun 1, 2012 21:25:25 #
MIKE GALLAGHER wrote:
quote=Shakey Maybe this a depth of field issue? I... (show quote)
What you guys say about depth of field makes sence but doesnt explain why the area he focused on is not in focus. Even with a shallow DOF the area he pointed at should be in focus. Or am I misunderstanding the nature of his problem?
Jun 1, 2012 23:03:27 #
charles brown wrote:
quote=MIKE GALLAGHER quote=Shakey Maybe this a d... (show quote)
No . . you're not misunderstanding . . you are quite right. In this case DOF has nothing to do with the issue.
Jun 1, 2012 23:14:11 #
melllyn wrote:
I'm not really sure anyone can help-I think it is ... (show quote)
First off, use a f-stop that will give you a reasonable depth of field, such as f8 or f11.
Second, adjust your diopter so your viewfinder is in focus for your vision. Only when the viewfinder is in focus, can you expect your image to be in focus, too.
Third, your focusing screen may not be the 'best' for manual focusing. You may have better luck with a different screen, IF they are available for your camera.
Forth, stop 'fiddling' with your focus! 'Adjust' the lens, until the image is in focus then STOP adjusting & take the pic! The more you 'adjust' the focus, the more your eye gets 'tired' of looking at the view finder & you can't really tell if the image is focused.
And, just curious - why not use the camera's Auto Focus feature?
Good luck
Jun 1, 2012 23:39:06 #
It appears like some of the members here are misunderstanding DOF.
DOF is an area that is in "acceptable" focus . . not perfect focus. Yes an increased DOF, by using, for example F/16 or F/22 might "hide" the fact that the point of focus is not in focus, but with close inspection one would find that it has just become "acceptable" . . not perfect focus. Using only F/16 or F/22 would really limit the conditions under which one could take pictures. I'm sure what the question here was, why is what I am focusing on not in "perfect" focus as it should be.
DOF is an area that is in "acceptable" focus . . not perfect focus. Yes an increased DOF, by using, for example F/16 or F/22 might "hide" the fact that the point of focus is not in focus, but with close inspection one would find that it has just become "acceptable" . . not perfect focus. Using only F/16 or F/22 would really limit the conditions under which one could take pictures. I'm sure what the question here was, why is what I am focusing on not in "perfect" focus as it should be.
Jun 2, 2012 06:16:55 #
Weddingguy
I agree with what you say but still have a gut feeling that the camera was changing the point of fucus sometime between when the shutter release was being pushed and the picture taken like my Nikon was doing. Problem drove me nuts until I finally figured out what was happening. Does his camera have that feature?
I agree with what you say but still have a gut feeling that the camera was changing the point of fucus sometime between when the shutter release was being pushed and the picture taken like my Nikon was doing. Problem drove me nuts until I finally figured out what was happening. Does his camera have that feature?
Jun 2, 2012 06:59:03 #
glojo
Loc: South Devon, England
My two penarth
Can it be that you are concerned about the child you are 'snapping' and instead of concentrating on focussing on the subject (preferably the eyes) you might actually be pointing the camera in the general direction and taking a picture.
Can your eyesight be that out of kilter? I very much doubt it. :)
Good luck with future attempts
John
Can it be that you are concerned about the child you are 'snapping' and instead of concentrating on focussing on the subject (preferably the eyes) you might actually be pointing the camera in the general direction and taking a picture.
Can your eyesight be that out of kilter? I very much doubt it. :)
Good luck with future attempts
John
Jun 2, 2012 10:55:56 #
charles brown wrote:
Weddingguy
I agree with what you say but still have a gut feeling that the camera was changing the point of fucus sometime between when the shutter release was being pushed and the picture taken like my Nikon was doing. Problem drove me nuts until I finally figured out what was happening. Does his camera have that feature?
I agree with what you say but still have a gut feeling that the camera was changing the point of fucus sometime between when the shutter release was being pushed and the picture taken like my Nikon was doing. Problem drove me nuts until I finally figured out what was happening. Does his camera have that feature?
Yes . . the camera does have that feature as an auto focus choice, but he says that he is focusing manually. In manual focus the camera has no ability to interfere or in any way influence the focusing.
Jun 2, 2012 12:20:42 #
Weddingguy wrote:
quote=charles brown Weddingguy br br I agree wit... (show quote)
I wish the OP would come back and put us out of our -suggestion-tossing misery. :)
We are just lobbing grenades blindly without any more info than we have now.
Jun 2, 2012 13:01:17 #
It could also be a little camera shake,,, also the colors are not right...work em on pp
melllyn wrote:
I'm not really sure anyone can help-I think it is ... (show quote)
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