baby focus issues

[srt]

hi, back again and I think I'm improving.....however with the results from my last shoot I think I have focus issues! Here is one of the better shots below. I see no reason with my camera and lens why things shouldn't be really sharp, I can see that the focus looks slightly sharper on the blanket but I have chosen my focal point on the babys eyes pressing the shutter button halfway and slightly recomposed then pressed fully down....do you think it is this shift that has caused the issue? I can't think of anything else - I realise f1.8 it is important to pick your focal point carefully, but like I said I thought I had done this. Help?

Oh and any other critique or comments appreciated!



Camera: Canon EOS 400D Digital
Exposure: 0.067 sec (1/15)
Aperture: f/1.8
Focal Length: 50 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Off, Did not fire

[srt]

oh and sorry about the prominent watermark, but I found out some of my images were stolen off flickr and claimed as someones elses....so I new to be more careful these days

[SusanH1970]

Was this hand held? If so, 1/15 shutter speed is probably your problem....most likely camera shake. The lowest you can shoot hand held and get acceptable focus is around 1/60. Bump your ISO to 200 or even a bit higher if necessary to get a quicker shutter speed.

[srt]

I did bump it to 200 after this, but if I had it any higher baby would have been blown.....I didn't want to increase my fstop, I suppose I should have decreased the nat light must consider this next time thanks susan.....but it still looks like the blanket is in perfect focus! (or is it?)

[LoveDSLR]

Originally Posted by srt

do you think it is this shift that has caused the issue? I can't think of anything else - I realise f1.8 it is important to pick your focal point carefully, but like I said I thought I had done this. Help?

Maybe. You should be concern about DOF.

For focus and recompose at f/1.8, make sure you don't change the shooting distance while recomposing. For example, try bending your knees instead of shifting your camera down.

Another thing to remember is that some AF lenses are not accurate in auto focusing. That's why high end/newer cameras have fine tuning feature. Otherwise, the lens has to be re-calibrated by Canon.

Originally Posted by srt;

I did bump it to 200 after this, but if I had it any higher baby would have been blown.....I didn't want to increase my fstop, I suppose I should have decreased the nat light must consider this next time

Since you were shooting at EV (Exposure Value) 5.6, you can use one of the following settings:

ISO 100 f/1.8 1/15
ISO 200 f/1.8 1/30
ISO 400 f/1.8 1/60
ISO 800 f/1.8 1/125

[PS*]

You also might try back button focusing. I find i move less with this than pressing the shutter halfway.

[cherrygirl]

I have noticed when I'm doing studio shots, using my 50mm, manual focus and a tripod works way better. When I use auto focus it sometimes isn't as sharp or, for example, it will focus on the nose instead of the eyes. Auto focus is cool but I believe it isn't always the best way.

[Benji]

A horizontal crop would get rid of all that excess blackness above and below the infant's head. When cropping any image ask yourself if cropping will strengthen the image, if so crop.

Benji

[kirbinster]

I have no idea how far you were from your subject, but at f/1.8 your DOF is razor thin, probably only a little more than an inch either way. Check out this site: Online Depth of Field Calculator

[AnnaJo]

There's white fuzz or something to the left of the photo that i find distracting. May be just me though.