Expert help needed with focus!

[AlphaBjerke]

I have learned so much from this forum and I need you help once again. I was documenting a video shoot this weekend and I am in the habit of zooming in on my LCD screen and checking focus on my shots. My concern: even when two people are sitting right next to each other, one will be in very sharp focus and the other won't. Mostly I was shooting indoors with low light at f2.2 so the depth of field was narrow. I would put the focus point on one of the faces (because it can't be in two places at once), but then I wouldn't be happy with the sharpness of the other one. Even outside at smaller apertures, it was hard to get all the subjects sharp. Any advice? Am I doing something wrong? I mostly use spot focus. Thanks!

[autofocus]

Originally Posted by AlphaBjerke

I have learned so much from this forum and I need you help once again. I was documenting a video shoot this weekend and I am in the habit of zooming in on my LCD screen and checking focus on my shots. My concern: even when two people are sitting right next to each other, one will be in very sharp focus and the other won't. Mostly I was shooting indoors with low light at f2.2 so the depth of field was narrow. I would put the focus point on one of the faces (because it can't be in two places at once), but then I wouldn't be happy with the sharpness of the other one. Even outside at smaller apertures, it was hard to get all the subjects sharp. Any advice? Am I doing something wrong? I mostly use spot focus. Thanks!

I'm a little confused, sorry, but were you shooting videos, or stills?

[kencaleno]

Originally Posted by AlphaBjerke

I have learned so much from this forum and I need you help once again. I was documenting a video shoot this weekend and I am in the habit of zooming in on my LCD screen and checking focus on my shots. My concern: even when two people are sitting right next to each other, one will be in very sharp focus and the other won't. Mostly I was shooting indoors with low light at f2.2 so the depth of field was narrow. I would put the focus point on one of the faces (because it can't be in two places at once), but then I wouldn't be happy with the sharpness of the other one. Even outside at smaller apertures, it was hard to get all the subjects sharp. Any advice? Am I doing something wrong? I mostly use spot focus. Thanks!

Spot focusing is too limiting-you are focusing on a 3 degree angle of view.Switch to multi focus,use a smaller f stop,or up the ISO. Ken

[AlphaBjerke]

OK, Ken. Thanks. I will try multi-focus. I was shooting stills.

[inkista]

Step back, , stop down, or try to position yourself so that your subjects are both the same distance away from you. Remember that the closer in you work, the smaller your depth of field will be--it doesn't all depend on the aperture alone. And, of course, what you care about is getting the eyes sharp.

Also, are you sure it isn't a camera shake issue or subject motion from using too slow a shutter speed?

[AlphaBjerke]

Originally Posted by inkista

Step back, , stop down, or try to position yourself so that your subjects are both the same distance away from you. Remember that the closer in you work, the smaller your depth of field will be--it doesn't all depend on the aperture alone. And, of course, what you care about is getting the eyes sharp.

Also, are you sure it isn't a camera shake issue or subject motion from using too slow a shutter speed?

Thanks, Inkista. I am reasonably sure that it not due to camera shake or motion of the subjects. And, yes, it is the eyes that I concentrate on. A shot will look OK on my LCD, but I zoom in real close on the eye to be sure and that is how I can tell. You got me thinking though, that I am not the same distance from the subject even though they are parallel to each other. I might be off to the side and not straight on.

Thanks!