Manual focusing

[arenay]

Hey
well i am kind of having trouble fosing things maunally. i want to set the Depth of field myself so i end up focusing manually. i try my best to keep the object sharp but all the effort goes in vain.
EXIF:
Canon 1000D
f/5.6
1/2 sec
ISO -400
55mm

Critiques please

[Tito87]

Take a look here:
Hyperfocal Distance and Depth of Field Calculator - DOFMaster

[inkista]

Originally Posted by arenay

...
EXIF:
Canon 1000D
f/5.6
1/2 sec
ISO -400
55mm

You weren't trying to handhold the camera, were you? At 1/2 second, camera shake blur is pretty much a given, even with IS. Get your shutter speed up to 1/30s, at least.

[Sweetlifephoto]

All of my canon cameras have a green light that blinks on the viewfinder when the focus is correct for the selected focus point. I agree with iniksta that this looks more like camera blur than a focus problem... Am I missing something?

[arenay]

Hey
yeah you are very right. it must be the camera shake. Its just sometimes i think i can manage to take pic with that kind of F stop but yeah will focus more on that next time.
thanks guys

[arlon]

Just looking at the picture, the leaves might have been inside the minimum focus distance of that lens. They look to have been pretty close unless they are bigger leaves than it appears. I assume it's the leaves you were trying to get in focus..

I usually use the self timer on shots like that so I don't get any camera movement from pushing on the shutter button. Night shots on things like that, I'm not beyond using a flashlight to help me get better focused for the shot either..

Also be sure the diopter control for the viewfinder has been perfectly adjusted for your eyes. If it isn't you'll never get the manual focus right.

[Matthias099]

Originally Posted by arenay

Hey
well i am kind of having trouble fosing things maunally. i want to set the Depth of field myself so i end up focusing manually. i try my best to keep the object sharp but all the effort goes in vain.
EXIF:
Canon 1000D
f/5.6
1/2 sec
ISO -400
55mm

Critiques please

I am no expert by a long shot, so if I am wrong than somebody correct me, but aren't we talking about 2 different issues here? DOF and focus? The depth of field does not change by focusing manually, but by setting aperture and distance from the object. Or am I missing something? Still trying to learn....

[flytyer57]

Originally Posted by Matthias099

I am no expert by a long shot, so if I am wrong than somebody correct me, but aren't we talking about 2 different issues here? DOF and focus? The depth of field does not change by focusing manually, but by setting aperture and distance from the object. Or am I missing something? Still trying to learn....

I do believe you are correct.

[ceremus]

Originally Posted by Matthias099

I am no expert by a long shot, so if I am wrong than somebody correct me, but aren't we talking about 2 different issues here? DOF and focus? The depth of field does not change by focusing manually, but by setting aperture and distance from the object. Or am I missing something? Still trying to learn....

You've got the right of it. DoF is altered by aperture size, focal length, and distance to subject. The "plane of focus" would probably be the more accurate term for what the OP was describing.

[Matthias099]

Okay ..... just wanted to see if I am on the right track. Thanks for the clarification.