How can i do portrait shot with my cam in AV mode

[private]

THe focal length is in your EFIF Data - Did you get ZoomBrowser software with your camera? If you did, when you open your pic in zoom browser, look under the shooting information (its on the right of your picture) and then scroll down and you will see what focal length you used.

[glyzkie]

Originally Posted by patjesten

THe focal length is in your EFIF Data - Did you get ZoomBrowser software with your camera? If you did, when you open your pic in zoom browser, look under the shooting information (its on the right of your picture) and then scroll down and you will see what focal length you used.

Cool. Thanks! =)

[PhotoNewt]

Originally Posted by glyzkie

So there's no way for me to get a nice portrait shot in my cam? no possible technique?

Thanks =)

The four things you can do to maximize backgound blurr in your portraits are:

1. Shoot at maximum aperture - smallest f-number available as discussed above.

2. Increase the distance between your subject and the background, this will get the background out of the DoF zone and render it blurred.

3. Decrease the distance between subject and camera as much as possible. The closer your subject is to the lens, the smaller the DoF will be and less background will be in focus.

4. For portrait work, select the telephoto end of your zoom. Longer focal lengths (e.i., telephoto) usually exhibit "swallower" DoF than shorter (e.i., wide angle) settings.

If you apply as many of these techniques as possible on your portrait you will achieve the maximum background blurring possible on your camera.

Having said that, you will not get as much background blurring as that achieved by a camera with larger sensor. Additional background blurring effect can be applied with digital imaging software such as Photoshop.

[PhotoNewt]

Originally Posted by glyzkie

does photoshop counts?

another follow up question..how do you know the focal length u r using when u take a shot? can that be manually determined or is it just automatic depending on ur distance? where do u look at to know the focal length?

Thanks =)

Your camera does not give you focal length information when taking the photo, only can be read from the EXIF file after the photo is taken - Pat already told you how to access this file on the computer.

BTW, while we are in the subject of zoom and focal length, turn off the digital zoom "feature" and never use it.

[tuxcomputers]

Originally Posted by glyzkie

So there's no way for me to get a nice portrait shot in my cam? no possible technique?

Yes there is, don't just move the subject further from the background, move the camera closer to them.

DOF distance decreases the closer the camera is to the subject. With an aperture of f2.5 and the subject 10 inches away the DOF will be really small, lets say 2 inches. Same f2.5 aperture with the subject 10 feet away the DOF will be something like 2 feet. Same f2.5 with the focus point at 10 miles the DOF will be miles wide.

Those are just made up figures to give you and idea of how focal distance (as opposed to focal length) effects DOF.

[Jim Poor]

Originally Posted by private

Yup - photoshop counts - you can select the background and apply a glacian blur

"Glacian blur" went out with the ice age! Sorry, couldn't resist.

There is a Photoshop plugin for bokeh that does a good job. Also, smart blur does well too.

[Jim Poor]

Holy crap. Way to revive an old thread there Jimbo!

[SusanH1970]

Originally Posted by Jim Poor

Holy crap. Way to revive an old thread there Jimbo!

Nice one! LMAO!

[inkista]

Thread necromancy. It's an art.

[SusanH1970]

Originally Posted by inkista

Thread necromancy. It's an art.

LOL, you're dorkier than me!