Dear photographers

[jennifer8]

Hi everyone,

My name is jennifer and i am trying to learn your beautiful craft and i am struggling with a particular point. i wondered if somebody would be kind enough to answer my question. ( i'm sorry if it is ridiculiously silly )

I am trying to understand the hyperfocal point and i am nearly there but i'm stuck at a particular point. Say i have my focal length to 50mm , my aperture is f/16 and i have worked out my hyperfocal point and there is a tree or some kind of object right where it is, then i am suppose to focus on that tree or object . my stupid question is what do they mean by focus on that point as i can't move my focusing ring as that would change my focal length ? how do i focus then ? does that mean just point the lens at the tree ?

my lenses don't have DOF scales.

I would be so grateful for an answer
Thank you

Jennifer x x

[RLucas]

The focus ring has nothing to do with focal length. The only thing that affects focal length is the zoom ring. Hope that helps!

[jennifer8]

Originally Posted by RLucas

The focus ring has nothing to do with focal length. The only thing that affects focal length is the zoom ring. Hope that helps!

yes that really helps ! but does my canon EF 18-55mm lens have a focus ring ? i don't think it does !!

[jennifer8]

My lens doesn't have a dedicated focus ring , so how do i focus on a certain point ? (sorry)

[sk66]

Half press the shutter release and hold it as you recompose the shot.
There's better ways of doing it with most cameras, but that's the easiest/ most basic way.

[RLucas]

Originally Posted by sk66

Half press the shutter release and hold it as you recompose the shot.
There's better ways of doing it with most cameras, but that's the easiest/ most basic way.

This, plus the focus ring on that lens should be on the very front. It's not much of one, but it still is a focus ring if you want to manually focus.

[jennifer8]

to Luke and sk 66,

Thank you very much for your replies, it's like everything has finally fallen into place !!

Would you say that focus and recompose is seen as "cheating" ? or is it a legimate way to shoot ?

jen x

[SusanH1970]

Originally Posted by jennifer8

Would you say that focus and recompose is seen as "cheating" ? or is it a legimate way to shoot ?

jen x

Some toggle focus points, some use back button focus, some focus and recompose. All are valid and legitimate ways to focus. I usually focus and recompose but I've dabbled in toggling and played with BBF.

[sk66]

It's completely legitimate. I use it for either focus or metering but in critical focus situations (i.e. shallow DOF) it can cause errors. Hyperfocal work is not a critical focus situation.

[navcom]

There is nothing illegitimate. If it works, it is legit. The only thing that really matters is the final product...your art.