Newbie needs help "focusing"

s_marolf · Aug 13, 2016

Hi, I'm Scott and I need help! I love taking pictures of my kids but it seems like every time I get a decent shot it's out of focus. I'm sure it's user error but I keep trying to use it for justification for a new camera anyway ;-)

I've taken some basic photography courses so I know the basics but I'm sure there more I don;t know than I do. I look forward to participating and hopefully getting better at this so my kids have some good shots of them when they get older.

OGsPhotography · Aug 13, 2016

Hey! Welcome to the forums!

Post a shot and people will be sure to help out, you be in focus in no time, and focused on the next camera too

s_marolf · Aug 13, 2016

I posted a gallery titled Kid Shots but here's another one. It looks like the waterfall is in focus but notthe family :-(

weepete · Aug 15, 2016

Thats a problem with your depth of field. You want to be at f11-f16 for that shot. Should be able to check it by using the depth of field preview button or snap a quick frame pre-focused on where the family are standing and then up the aperture until the backgroumd is acceptably sharp (check in the review screen). Depth of field tables are availible too, and they should tell you how much behind and in front of your subject is acceptably sharp.

Designer · Aug 15, 2016

s_marolf said:
I posted a gallery titled Kid Shots but here's another one. It looks like the waterfall is in focus but not the family

Sorry about the gallery, I never go there.

The_Traveler · Aug 15, 2016

You are missing some basic info.
Besides the balancing of iso, f stop and shutter speed for the exposure, you need to be aware of camera movement.
The shutter speed should never be less than 1/focal length for full frame cameras [or 1/(focal length*1.6) for crop frame cameras].
The shutter needs to open and close to eliminate camera movement.

So, in this shot below, shooting at 165 mm your shutter speed should be about 1/250 or you'd get camera movement blur - which you did.
If you have great technique and image stabilization, you can cheat a bit, but you're new and need to follow the rules of physics.

chuasam · Aug 15, 2016

If it's not in focus, it isn't a decent shot.
Yeah but if you want the background and subject in focus, stop to about f/11

s_marolf · Aug 15, 2016

The_Traveler said:
The shutter speed should never be less than 1/focal length for full frame cameras [or 1/(focal length*1.6) for crop frame cameras].
The shutter needs to open and close to eliminate camera movement.

So, in this shot below, shooting at 165 mm your shutter speed should be about 1/250 or you'd get camera movement blur - which you did.
View attachment 126084

Great feedback, I always just used 1/60 as a min shutter speed and didn't adjust for zoom!

s_marolf · Aug 15, 2016

For depth of field is it better to trade off ISO for f/stops? I generally try to keep ISO below 800 but that may not be necessary. I think I got that rule shooting film.

The_Traveler · Aug 15, 2016

First you need to establish that your camera is functioning well, not back-focusing, not front-focusing.

Get somewhere that there is plenty of bright but non-direct light, like a shaded porch. Then set the camera at the widest opening and take a few pictures of something with detail and with a specific point you can place the focus point on.
Then see how sharp the images are.
If the camera works ok, then we can work on upgrading some skills.

DScience · Aug 15, 2016

You guys, it's pretty obvious from that picture that the thing wrong is the camera is focusing on the background, not the three people. To solve this, you should read in your manual how to select the focus point, and then focus on the people.

KmH · Aug 16, 2016

What camera do you use?

Understanding Depth of Field in Photography
Understanding Camera Autofocus
Tutorials – Sharpness

As far from the camera the people in the waterfall shot are it could be they are in front of the near limit of the DoF.
It would help to know what focal length and aperture the OP used to make the shot.
Online Depth of Field Calculator

otherprof · Aug 16, 2016

s_marolf said:
Hi, I'm Scott and I need help! I love taking pictures of my kids but it seems like every time I get a decent shot it's out of focus. I'm sure it's user error but I keep trying to use it for justification for a new camera anyway ;-)

I've taken some basic photography courses so I know the basics but I'm sure there more I don;t know than I do. I look forward to participating and hopefully getting better at this so my kids have some good shots of them when they get older.

First, I'd use the photos to show your wife you need a new camera.
Then, with the new camera, try shooting at a faster speed under those conditions - or maybe the vibration reduction in the new camera will make that unnecessary, as Traveler pointed out.
Also, I think DScience is right about the focus. I think you are using the camera on autofocus (so do I, most of time) and forgetting the camera doesn't know what is the most important element for you. If it focused on the waterfall, it would be a matter of luck if the depth of field was great enough to keep the people sharp too.
But the important thing is to use the photo as Exhibit A in the case for the new camera.

s_marolf · Aug 16, 2016

I have a Nikon D5100 for that shot I had the kit lens on and it was 26mm 1/250 f/5.6 ISO 400

I think a higher ISO would have helped but as noted the waterfall seemed to be the focus point. For this I had the focus on AF-A and Auto Area. I've tried single point as well and had silimar issues but I thinks that's generally with the zoom and I'm probably using to slow of a shutter speed. Seem like I've got a few issues to work through.