Lack of focus-very frustrated...help?

[gsgary]

Take a look at your shutter speed and focal length for those shots because there is a big clue

 

[TenaciousTins]

Gary-I did...I played around with it several times, thinking my focal length/shutter speed/aperture were the issue. I moved closer to her and zoomed out a bit a few times, and even switched to my 18-55mm lens for a minute (which wasn't used with the pictures seen here). Nothing changed the fact that the focus wasn't in the face.

The clothes and hair probably do have something to do with it...but I have taken tack sharp pictures of her before without an issue the last couple of years, so I am thinking this is just a mistake on my part regarding either the diopter or the auto focus method. I did try manual focus but I just couldn't nail it.

 

[gsgary]

Gary-I did...I played around with it several times, thinking my focal length/shutter speed/aperture were the issue. I moved closer to her and zoomed out a bit a few times, and even switched to my 18-55mm lens for a minute (which wasn't used with the pictures seen here). Nothing changed the fact that the focus wasn't in the face.

The clothes and hair probably do have something to do with it...but I have taken tack sharp pictures of her before without an issue the last couple of years, so I am thinking this is just a mistake on my part regarding either the diopter or the auto focus method. I did try manual focus but I just couldn't nail it.

second shot is 1/125 @ 250mm, i would want to see 1/320 minimum

 

[TCampbell]

You can force the camera to pick a specific AF point, or let it auto-select the point. If it auto-selects the point, it will choose whichever AF point can get a focus lock on the NEAREST subject. This means that if you target your subjects face, but the lower AF point is on her bosom... It'll go for the lower AF point because that one is nearer. You can force it to select the point you want. If you haven't learned how this works, definitely read up on it and you should practice doing this as it offers you more control.

 

[enzodm]

By the way, the diopter adjustment does not influence AF.

 

[TenaciousTins]

Right...it is a good thing to know about though, especially since my eyes are crap!

I think the main issue here was that her bosom was what caught the bottom AF points, and thus the face was out of focus. Because I was doing the longer shots (well, not just head shots) it caught her bosom instead...just an error that I now know about. Since I've switched the AF point to the middle point, I should have no problem with that now. Ultimately, I am pretty sure it was that that was the issue and not the diopter but I have noticed some softness before in some of my pictures, though few have actually been so out of focus like these. So a few adjustments here and there and I think that will greatly improve my outcome. I will get to try it out today on a little boy, though those won't be posed shots...but I will likely notice a big difference.

Gary, why 1/320? I was using a very solid tripod and the breeze was quite light...I probably could have gone up to 1/320 being on ISO800 and with a wider aperture. But I just didn't have time to change up the settings that much, unfortunately.

Thanks for all your help!

 

[enzodm]

>why 1/320?
On tripod is not a problem if the subject is static (but read on your lens manual to understand whether you have to switch off stabilization), but when shooting a person, you have to take into account her movements. A classical rule of thumb is at least 1/focal length.

 

[TenaciousTins]

Whoops, sorry, I thought it was Gary that asked that :er:

I took some pictures of a little boy today...much higher shutter speed, no tripod as we were at a playground and he was one busy little boy. I *think* the focus was a little better...lighting was difficult but the mom is happy with the pics so I guess...

Still seems a bit soft in some of the pictures. I adjusted the diopter too, but none of the settings on that seemed to be completely stable...but then again, my close up vision is horrible and I really need reading glasses, but I don't have them here. The focusing did seem to work better and I liked the AI Servo setting...that sure was nice. I don't know, I'm still not 100% happy...I know the camera is focusing now but I'm still sensing a softness that I'm not used to.

Here's a couple of shots from today...I had about half an hour and he kept crying and boy does he move. He just discovered his legs and, well, that's the end of the story lol

And a couple shots from the other weekend, same lens

I dunno...I want to fix this and make it right. I am used to getting pretty right-on focus...missed focus has not been one of my issues so this is very frustrating for me.

 

[garnislitton]

Thank you SCraig . I was really searching for this info.

 

[Forkie]

By the way, the diopter adjustment does not influence AF.

I just thought I'd mention it because the OP said she resorted to manual focus and an out of focus diopter would affect the result in this case. But yes, it wouldn't affect automatic focus.

 

[gsgary]

Your problem on the first shots was shutter speed no focus, its no good getting focus and using a shutter speed that can give you blur from camera shake