Focus.. Nikon D5100: I attempted a close up shot of some mums with a Nikon D5100..18-55mm kit lens... this past weekend...I wanted everything in focus..the photo didn't come out that...

Bevman Loc: Baileysville, West Virginia

I attempted a close up shot of some mums with a Nikon D5100..18-55mm kit lens... this past weekend...I wanted everything in focus..the photo didn't come out that way..What did I do wrong.....I used the auto setting...
Thanks,
Steve

ISO 200..F/5.6..1/125s....Matrix Metering..Focus..AF-A

seeSAW Loc: Western Mass

What f stop was the lens set to?

Bevman Loc: Baileysville, West Virginia

I'll check..I thought it would show the info..guess not....
here it is....
F/5.6
Shutter speed 1/125s
metering..Matrix
ISO..auto..200
Focus..AF-A

seeSAW Loc: Western Mass

OK here is my suggestion. Make you exposure at least the same as the lens (a 100mm lens use 1/100 of a second) and up your f stop to f8 to f11. Also, if you were not using a polarizer add it; that will help with the color saturation.

PS: Don't get closer than the minum focusing distance of the lens.

Bevman Loc: Baileysville, West Virginia

Thanks..I appreciate the tip..I'll try it..I have the same problem on some other shots I've taken....

Radioman Loc: Ontario Canada

Bevman wrote:

I attempted a close up shot of some mums with a Nikon D5100..18-55mm kit lens... this past weekend...I wanted everything in focus..the photo didn't come out that way..What did I do wrong.....I used the auto setting...
Thanks,
Steve

Hi Steve,

The problem is the 'depth of focus'. That is the nearest and furthest distance from the camera that the picture is in focus.
While the camera, the lens etc. are involved, the main factor that you have control over is the aperture and the distance from the camera.
The information on your picture states that the lens focal length was set to 55mm and the aperture set to f5.6.
The distance of the flowers from the camera is not given so let me give you an example. If the distance was five feet, the picture would be in focus from 4.74 feet to 5.29 feet. a depth of 0.55 foot. ( just over six inches). To increase the DOF you can decrease the aperture (increase the f Stop) and/or move further away.
There is an internet on-line site that will give you the DOF for your camera and lens: http://www.dofmaster.com/dofjs.html
This is a screen clip of this calculator.

gfinlayson

My advice would be to get out of auto. The camera will never give you what you want if you let it think for you. Choose an aperture that gives the depth of field you want and choose the focus point you want.

The Watcher

A few things come to mind when I see this photograph. First,I like it, but how can I make it better. First, my camera would be on a tripod, so that once I focus, my movements will not change the depth of field. I would set the camera to manual and use a small aperture to increase the DOF. I would bracket around that aperture. The reason being, when you look at the photo you notice the some of the pedals are over exposed and lack detail, but the shadowed areas need a little more light also. I would go with the exposure that brings detail to the pedals and then add a little defused flash that brings detail back into the shadows, but still doesn't override the selected exposure. This would require a manual setting on the flash and some test shots at different outputs, until you get the desired effect. Also remember to cover the viewfinder if you don't have your eye over it when shoot each photo. What comes in real handy is a hand held light meter that has a flash meter.

Bevman Loc: Baileysville, West Virginia

Very interesting replies...I appreciate all of them..looks like I have some homework to do!

RMM Loc: Suburban New York

Auto is what killed you. You could switch to aperture and set an opening such as f/11 or smaller (f/16) and let the camera set the speed and ISO. Given the 1/125 second and ISO 200 you shot at, you didn't have much light, so you'd be shooting at a speed like 1/60 second or less, so you'd better be using a tripod. You could use your flash to help out. Or you could shoot the moon and go full manual, but if you've been shooting auto, then you'll be spending some time with your manual and poking around UHH and other sites. Aperture mode is a step in that direction.

MWAC gave some tutorials a while back which you could look up for some useful exercises.

Bevman Loc: Baileysville, West Virginia

Thank you RMM...I'll do that.....

jjadeco25 Loc: Alma, AR

I agree 100%. I also have a D5100. Even though it has all the nice bells and whistles, you can get stuck in the rut of depending on the camera to do all the work. Take out of auto mode and use aperture mode. You will get a better picture and will soon be wanting to be in charge of pictures, dof, and just all around become better acquainted with your talents.

Bevman Loc: Baileysville, West Virginia

Nice photos..I've been experimenting the last 2 or three days....
Thanks....

nat Loc: Martha's Vineyard, MA

Bevman wrote:

I attempted a close up shot of some mums with a Nikon D5100..18-55mm kit lens... this past weekend...I wanted everything in focus..the photo didn't come out that way..What did I do wrong.....I used the auto setting...
Thanks,
Steve

Could the shape of the bush be a factor? This looks to me like one of those beautiful, round mum bushes. IMHO, looking at the photo, the blossoms on the right side of the photo have less light because of the shape of the bush. If that is so, what settings would bring those blossoms into the light and more sharply focused?

docrob Loc: Durango, Colorado

Bevman wrote:

I attempted a close up shot of some mums with a Nikon D5100..18-55mm kit lens... this past weekend...I wanted everything in focus..the photo didn't come out that way..What did I do wrong.....I used the auto setting...
Thanks,
Steve

the mums do not appear to present all on focal plane - there is falloff to either side - shut down to F8 - 11 and back up a foot.