 Lynn Snow |
basic focusing question I am embarrassed to ask such a basic question, but what is the best way to focus when shooting group pictures such as an 8 person group with 3 in front, 3 in the middle, and 2 people in back using either f8 or f11? Is it best to focus on the middle person in the middle row, or should I focus on the middle person in the front row. I have just had a few pictures come back where the people in front are a little blurry. Thanks. Try not to laugh when you read this quesion. Thanks again.
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Bob Cammarata |
Don't laugh at my response either... Try "bracketing" your point of critical focus to see which looks better. I say this only because some lenses react differently than others to what you are describing as hyperfocal distance. A wide-angle lens usually will get all in focus at f-11 (depending upon how close you are.) With a tele-photo,...maybe not.) Try focusing on the middle of the front row first,...then the middle of the second row. (I doubt that focusing on the back would be of much benefit.) If you have a depth-of-field preview lever you can see the resulting DOF you will get with each focus setting.
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Michelle Ross |
Lynn . . . don't ever be embarrassed to ask questions . .. I too have wondered about your exact question but just zoned out in the asking of it . . . I've always been "told" to aim towards the middle row . . . but as Bob mentions different lenses might respond differently!
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Julie M. Cwik |
I actually just learned about Hyper-Focal-Distancing a few days ago. Basically when you focus on an item it will focus on 1/3 in front and 2/3 behind it, so it you have a long depth of field F-11 F-16ish Focus in the middle of the group and it will auto focus 1/3 in front of the "actual focal spot" and 2/3 behind therefore creating the Depth of Field. Don't ask what the lengths are for the 1/3 2/3 stuff, because I can't remember that part. But yeah, hope that helps.
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Michelle Ross |
What about the width? How wide does the focus go? I try not to get my groups too wide because I don't have a wide angle lens and don't like all the foreground in the picture but if I were to do a large family I want to be prepared.
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Julie M. Cwik |
the focus width is all the way across as far as I know.
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Kerry L. Walker |
Leave some room on the sides for cropping. Some lenses, especially some wide angle lenses, are a bit soft on the focus at the edges.
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Lynn Snow |
Thanks everyone for all of your responses. I love this forum - it's so great that people are willing to help out so much. I will try the suggestions and bracket my next photos. Thanks for the explanation on Hyperfocal Distancing -it makes sense. I've been using a 28-70 mm lens which has been great, but have had a few group photos come out with the front row a little blurry. Thanks again everyone!
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