Help with focus

[Bruno Vieira]

I have been playing with the focus point for a while... one thing I have noticed is, for an example, when I am doing portraits... I put the focus point over the subjects eye but then only the eye is sharp... I want to get the whole face in focus/sharp... what am I doing wrong?

Here is just one picture... I have more with the same issue if needed...

You can see that only the dogs left eye is in focus...



Any help is really appreciated

Thanks

[OsmosisStudios]

You need a smaller aperture (larger number) to increase the amount of an image in focus and, in this case, a faster shutter speed to counter your hand movement.

Looking at the EXIF, you're at 1/30s, f/5.6 @ 400iso at 55mm. General rule is 1/focal length for your shutterspeed (so 1/60th, ideally). f/5.6 at this focal length, and this distance, is also a bit large: f/8 would be better. That, or give yourself more distance between you and your subject, and crop a bit.

[Bruno Vieira]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

You need a smaller aperture (larger number) to increase the amount of an image in focus and, in this case, a faster shutter speed to counter your hand movement.

Looking at the EXIF, you're at 1/30s, f/5.6 @ 400iso at 55mm. General rule is 1/focal length for your shutterspeed (so 1/60th, ideally). f/5.6 at this focal length, and this distance, is also a bit large: f/8 would be better. That, or give yourself more distance between you and your subject, and crop a bit.

Thanks... I'll try what you said... by following what you said am I gonna have to use the camera in manual mode?


Thanks again for the help

[Bruno Vieira]

an update...

Just tried a few shots here and increasing the aperture like you told me seems to be way better now...

[OsmosisStudios]

You shouldnt have to use manual mode, but I generally do anyway.

Just make sure that when you refer to aperture, be sure to use the right terminology.

"Closing" the aperture is also referred to as "stopping down"

[Niresangwa]

Good advice from Os, and good to see if being effective.

Just remember, if you stop it down, you're increasing your DoF, but you're going to lose a stop of light, also. Remember that when you make a change in one of your exposure settings (shutter speed, aperture or ISO) you may have to compensate for that by adjusting one of the other two.

This sort of thing is a great exercise in getting to grips with exposure!

[Bruno Vieira]

Originally Posted by Niresangwa

Good advice from Os, and good to see if being effective.

Just remember, if you stop it down, you're increasing your DoF, but you're going to lose a stop of light, also. Remember that when you make a change in one of your exposure settings (shutter speed, aperture or ISO) you may have to compensate for that by adjusting one of the other two.

This sort of thing is a great exercise in getting to grips with exposure!

Yeah... I'm getting the hang of it...

Thanks all... awesome help here