Sharp focus of people in front and also at the back: Hi: Looks like I'm having a 'senior moment'. I simply can't recall how to make sure that both the person in front and at the back...

shivy

Hi:
Looks like I'm having a 'senior moment'.
I simply can't recall how to make sure that both the person in front and at the back are in sharp focus using a Canon 60D. Please help.
Thanks,
Kishore

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

shivy wrote:

Hi:
Looks like I'm having a 'senior moment'.
I simply can't recall how to make sure that both the person in front and at the back are in sharp focus using a Canon 60D. Please help.
Thanks,
Kishore

Chose a smaller aperture: f/11 or f/16. It depends on how close they are. Then focus on those in the front. You can check with the DOF preview button. Check your manual for the location. The screen will darken as you preview the scene with the lens stopped down.

Trevor Dennis Loc: New Zealand (South Island)

Play with a few settings in DoF Master so you'll have a better idea for next time.

http://www.dofmaster.com/dofjs.html

A lot of cameras have a Depth of Field button that allows you to preview DoF, but it obviously does this by closing the lens diaphram to the selected aperture, so the image will go dark in the viewfinder.

The button is in front of the camera body on the right hand side near to the lens on Canon camera bodies. I have a feeling that at least some Nikon bodies don't have this feature, but I am sure someone will be along to clarify that

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

Trevor Dennis wrote:

Play with a few settings in DoF Master so you'll h... (show quote)

I can only speak to what I have, which is a D300. Mine is located in the same area as your Canon.

Trevor Dennis Loc: New Zealand (South Island)

I made the comment because we had an exposure workshop at my camera club recently, and none of the Nikon users seemed able to locate a button to do the job. But out of about twenty people at the workshop, I don't more than two others (I was running the workshop) were even aware of what a DoF button was for and that they had one on their camera.

shivy

Thanks - I'm gonna try this and get back to you. Hope it works. Cheers

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

Trevor Dennis wrote:

I made the comment because we had an exposure workshop at my camera club recently, and none of the Nikon users seemed able to locate a button to do the job. But out of about twenty people at the workshop, I don't more than two others (I was running the workshop) were even aware of what a DoF button was for and that they had one on their camera.

Ask them about hyperfocal distance! I would wager that none would know.

I still use a rangefinder where you have to calculate focus-- as well as shutter duration to aperture for exposure....

shivy

Looks like I managed to get something right. In AV mode at f/32 1600 ISO the photograph looked good with subjects in front & in the rear in focus. I also tried the CA [Creative Auto] mode. Used the Quick control function and selected the background blur.....sharp option. And this too worked.
Looks like I have the solutions - now I gotta bear them in mind and not lose out to 'senior moments' !!
Thanks a lot.
Shivy

wylie Loc: Canada

I usually accomplish this with an f11-f16, and a reasonable shutter speed, focusing to one third of the depth I wish to be in focus. It's hard to understand though exactly what you are asking. What is the approximate distance of your depth of field

shivy

No worries Wylie....I seem to have sorted out the issue. Basically it's portraits of people [more than one]. In front and in rear. I was having a problem getting both front and back people in focus. DoF about 5-6 feet perhaps 8-10 max.
If you have anything more to add that would be gr8. Thanks for your time....

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Trevor Dennis wrote:

I made the comment because we had an exposure workshop at my camera club recently, and none of the Nikon users seemed able to locate a button to do the job. But out of about twenty people at the workshop, I don't more than two others (I was running the workshop) were even aware of what a DoF button was for and that they had one on their camera.

I've been using that button since I got my first SLR in the late 60's. It was a Miranda Sensorex, and the button was in the same location as where all my Nikons have had it.

shivy

Hi Trevor:
Ah you live in NZ - lovely country. Photographers paradise. can't wait to visit. My Canon 60D has a DoF button that I haven't used too much. Guess I need to now start doing so when shooting flowers and people. Actually I agree with the consensus of very few amateur photographers having the knowledge about this & putting it to effective use. Cheers, thanks and wishing you & yours a very Happy New Year.
Shivy

photonphysicist Loc: Texas

You need greater depth of field, so switch to a smaller aperture (bigger number). Depending on the lens you're using, you may want to move closer to the subject, a lens zoomed out has a smaller depth of field.

Bridges Loc: Memphis, Charleston SC, now Nazareth PA

Elevate your camera position slightly higher than the group and tilt the camera so that the "film" plane is parallel to the line that would be drawn between the front and back row. Focus on the middle row if there are three or more rows and everyone will be in good focus. To simply increase your depth of field will mean slower shutter speed/loss of light which you might not want.

jimmya Loc: Phoenix

shivy wrote:

Hi:
Looks like I'm having a 'senior moment'.
I simply can't recall how to make sure that both the person in front and at the back are in sharp focus using a Canon 60D. Please help.
Thanks,
Kishore

Well it's not about the 60D, it's about light and how you set up the lens.
If you have enough light f/10 will take care of that. Anything below might make your depth of field to short for this type of photo. The real key is enough light so you can get your f/stop up. Good Luck.