I dare you.. ...to find a spot in this photograph that is in focus. I can't find one, but I like the shot, anyway. The only thing I can figure is that the camera focused at infinity...

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I dare you...

Nov 14, 2019 12:21:20 #

Najataagihe

...to find a spot in this photograph that is in focus.

I can't find one, but I like the shot, anyway.

The only thing I can figure is that the camera focused at infinity and we are seeing the "benefits" of f/9.

I swear I am GOING to get used to autofocus...

Now, to play with it in Photoshop for a bit.

(Download)

Nov 14, 2019 13:41:45 #

R.G. Loc: Scotland

The sky looks like it might be pin sharp

Nov 14, 2019 14:09:29 #

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Depends on where your focus point(s) are set in the camera.
I normally use single point center focusing and Back Button Focusing, which in this image, if not set for something else, would be the sky.

Nov 14, 2019 14:49:57 #

Najataagihe

R.G. wrote:

The sky looks like it might be pin sharp

Rats.

That prevents me from being able to pretend to be an artiste and claim it is an impressionist landscape, instead of a throwaway.

Nov 14, 2019 15:01:11 #

Najataagihe

Longshadow wrote:

Depends on where your focus point(s) are set in the camera.
I normally use single point center focusing and Back Button Focusing, which in this image, if not set for something else, would be the sky.

At this point, I had barely had the camera for two months with little time to practice, so the focus points were whatever the camera chose - little squares seemingly scattered at random throughout the viewfinder.

I would have THOUGHT the silly thing would pick one of the squares that actually rested on something other than sky, but....

I tried back button focus, but my wife sometimes wants to take pictures and not "fiddle" with camera controls.

Besides, my muscles are still programmed to lock exposure with the shutter button and shift for composition.

Right now, I am faster resetting the shutter button until it finds a pattern I like than I am selecting a single focus point.

My biggest problem these days, it seems, is realizing I have the luxury of slowing down and taking my time - the result of too many years of snatch-and-grab photojournalism.

Now, you have me itching to try single-point focus.

Thanks!

Keep those cards and letters coming!

Nov 14, 2019 15:22:00 #

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Najataagihe wrote:

...
...
I tried back button focus, but my wife sometimes wants to take pictures and not "fiddle" with camera controls.
...

I have that problem also. I use BBF and spot (& sometimes center averaging) metering.
LUCKILY, my Canon, when I put in AUTO (green) for other people to use, the focus and metering methods revert to "default" when in AUTO mode. I understand that Nikons do not do that.

Nov 14, 2019 15:45:33 #

Najataagihe

If mine does, I haven't found out how by reading the manual.

Speaking of being ridiculous and pretending this is an impressionist landscape...

(You may laugh or cry.)

(Download)

Nov 14, 2019 15:54:32 #

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Najataagihe wrote:

If mine does, I haven't found out how by reading the manual.

Speaking of being ridiculous and pretending this is an impressionist landscape...

(You may laugh or cry.)

I found out by trying mine, the fact that it reverts is not explicitly stated in my manual.
I set it to AUTO and focus points other than the center lit up.

What camera brand do you have?

Nov 14, 2019 16:15:41 #

Najataagihe

Nikon.

I'll just fiddle with the camera and see what it does.

I need to do more of that, anyway.

Thanks!

Nov 14, 2019 16:51:02 #

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Najataagihe wrote:

Nikon.

I'll just fiddle with the camera and see what it does.

I need to do more of that, anyway.

Thanks!

From what I've heard, Nikons do not revert completely to PHD mode in AUTO.
It would be good for you to check though.

Nov 15, 2019 10:18:39 #

Bultaco Loc: Aiken, SC

Try AFC with single point, works for me.

Nov 15, 2019 11:50:41 #

Rich1939 Loc: Pike County Penna.

Najataagihe wrote:

Looks to me like the culprit is camera movement. You had a 1/320 SS but that might not have been enough to off set something like an involuntary twitch, or a jab at the shutter button (rather than a squeeze) or a sudden wind.

Nov 15, 2019 12:06:48 #

CPR Loc: Nature Coast of Florida

You used a Nikon D5600 w/55-200 lens at 82mm and shot at 1/320th.
The camera has spot-focus and sometimes when you have a complex scene like that, it's good to go to spot and pick the part you want in focus and then adjust the f-stop for the DOF needed to get what you want.

Nov 15, 2019 15:38:44 #

CamB Loc: Juneau, Alaska

Longshadow wrote:

From what I've heard, Nikons do not revert completely to PHD mode in AUTO.
It would be good for you to check though.

My Nikon D7500 does not shift out of BBF on full auto. Just tried it. I think this may have been the first time the cameras was ever in full auto. Yuck.
...Cam

Nov 16, 2019 21:21:37 #

via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP

I use BBF and I always set the focus points on my subject, so much so, in fact, that I had to have the rotator button on my Nikon replaced. It wore out! The lettering on the back button also wore off but they failed to notice that so it's now just a black button.

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