Focus issue
Jun 28, 2012 18:25:35 #
I took about 20 shots of this pair and could not get them both in focus at the same time. At times I got neither in focus. What am I doing wrong or is it me? Settings as follows: f/5.6 1/200 iso 400
Jun 28, 2012 18:30:33 #
Jun 28, 2012 18:32:34 #
Jun 28, 2012 18:50:35 #
Mytherwyn wrote:
May be the f-stop is not set for best DoF...What lens are you using?
Canon ef 75-300 (was at 300)
Jun 28, 2012 18:51:58 #
snowbear wrote:
Try f/11, 1/125, ISO 200.
Writing that in camera notepad to try tomorrow. Thank you Snowbear.
Jun 28, 2012 19:26:49 #
ckcougar wrote:
Writing that in camera notepad to try tomorrow. Thank you Snowbear.
snowbear wrote:
Try f/11, 1/125, ISO 200.
Writing that in camera notepad to try tomorrow. Thank you Snowbear.
I'm sorry - I miscalculated. Keep the ISO at 400 and try something like f/8 and 1/125 (one stop smaller aperture and about 2/3 stop slower.) It looks like your shot is also a bit overexposed, so 1-2/3 stop should be OK.
You could also use Aperture Priority (Av or A) and set it for f/8 or f/11 and see.
Jun 28, 2012 20:44:45 #
snowbear wrote:
I'm sorry - I miscalculated. Keep the ISO at 400 and try something like f/8 and 1/125 (one stop smaller aperture and about 2/3 stop slower.) It looks like your shot is also a bit overexposed, so 1-2/3 stop should be OK.
You could also use Aperture Priority (Av or A) and set it for f/8 or f/11 and see.
ckcougar wrote:
Writing that in camera notepad to try tomorrow. Thank you Snowbear.
snowbear wrote:
Try f/11, 1/125, ISO 200.
Writing that in camera notepad to try tomorrow. Thank you Snowbear.
I'm sorry - I miscalculated. Keep the ISO at 400 and try something like f/8 and 1/125 (one stop smaller aperture and about 2/3 stop slower.) It looks like your shot is also a bit overexposed, so 1-2/3 stop should be OK.
You could also use Aperture Priority (Av or A) and set it for f/8 or f/11 and see.
Corrected my notes, thanks. I had already fixed the exposure on other shots as I am trying to learn all the manual stuff, Just got stuck on focus. Again my thanks.
Jun 29, 2012 06:08:18 #
I agree that depth of field is the main issue here,but also I am aware that telephotos compress the view giving the impression that objects are much closer together than they really are and I think that given you are operating at the 300mm end of the zoom then the illusion is exagerated somewhat and you might struggle more than you think to get adequate depth of field to render the whole image in focus, just a thought, you will have a better idea of the distances involved by virtue of actually being there at the time.
Jun 29, 2012 06:48:10 #
You aren't doing anything wrong; you just need to have a better understanding of depth of field and what aperture to use.
A very vague general guideline is this (From Bryan Peterson)
f/5.6 and lower = good for isolating your subject from it's environment.
f/8-f/11 = use when you don't care.
f/16 and higher = use to get things in focus from front to back...to tell a story with multiple elements in the image...close, middle, and background.
A very vague general guideline is this (From Bryan Peterson)
f/5.6 and lower = good for isolating your subject from it's environment.
f/8-f/11 = use when you don't care.
f/16 and higher = use to get things in focus from front to back...to tell a story with multiple elements in the image...close, middle, and background.
Jun 29, 2012 06:51:30 #
you would have done better with something between f 16 and f 29.the dof would be fantastic.something like 5 ft to infinity.
Jun 29, 2012 09:09:08 #
ckcougar wrote:
I took about 20 shots of this pair and could not get them both in focus at the same time. At times I got neither in focus. What am I doing wrong or is it me? Settings as follows: f/5.6 1/200 iso 400
As everyone else has noted try a greater depth of field, but since you are shooting with a Canon check your focus settings on your camera. AI or Servo, where is your focus point and how many are you using on your camera screen. You stated about them not being in focus at all, this is usually a focusing issue not DOF. Both DOF and Focus point are necessary.
Jun 29, 2012 09:41:20 #
For a sharp photo, use a shutter speed 2X the focal lenth of your lens. @ 300mm, start at 1/500 - 1/1000sec. Just a rule of thumb, but it works just fine.
Jun 29, 2012 10:38:57 #
Try DOFMASTER.com and see what your depth of field calculates to. It has helped me a lot and I have often found the settings I thought were OK gave much too narrow a Depth of field
Jun 29, 2012 11:56:22 #
Telephoto lens have a narrow depth of field
example
I use a 7D with a 300 mm lens @ f 5.6
Calculate
Subject distance 20 ft
Depth of field
Near limit 19.9 ft
Far limit 20.1 ft
Total 0.28 ft
In front of subject 0.14 ft (50%)
Behind subject 0.14 ft (50%)
Hyperfocal distance 2748.2 ft
Circle of confusion 0.019 mm
Notice the DOF is only 1 foot
Get the front bird in focus the pict ure will look better even if the back bird is OOF
example
I use a 7D with a 300 mm lens @ f 5.6
Calculate
Subject distance 20 ft
Depth of field
Near limit 19.9 ft
Far limit 20.1 ft
Total 0.28 ft
In front of subject 0.14 ft (50%)
Behind subject 0.14 ft (50%)
Hyperfocal distance 2748.2 ft
Circle of confusion 0.019 mm
Notice the DOF is only 1 foot
Get the front bird in focus the pict ure will look better even if the back bird is OOF
Jun 29, 2012 12:33:05 #
Lots of good advice so far, just one observation - those are really ugly birds! What are they? And surely there are better looking birds in Florida! :XD:
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