BetterPhoto Q&A
Category: New Answers

Constant Fuzzy Eyes - I've tried everything

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April 25, 2008

just a couple ideas.

Looking at the photo, I would venture a guess you were 1) Zoomed in more than 100mm and 2) the f/stop was somewhere between f/4 and f/8?

The above scenario will give you a very limited depth of field. This is a challenge when photographing babies, since the camera needs more light to use smaller f/stops; yet bright lights are intrusive for a small child. What is one to do? Hmm?

1) Increase ISO to at least 400
2) Don't zoom beyond 50mm-80mm
3) Keep f/stop f/8 or smaller (see #1)

"Focus & recompose" is good advice; but NOT for all situations...this is one of them. Since the subject isn't changing distance you might try this.

1) Use a tripod so YOU are not changing distance. Zoomed in as close as you are; your body is moving, so YOU are changing focus. This is very dramatic in close up work. What may be happening, and probably is; you are locking focus just fine on the eyes with the trigger half depressed; but when you recompose and finally shoot, you have moved a little, either closer or further from your subject. What WAS in focus no longer is. Focus is critical in closeup shots, any deviation in distance will throw focus off easily.

2) Once you have established focus, turn OFF the autofocus on the lens..AND turn off VR. Now you can shoot multiple shots without worry about focusing and missing that special moment.

Hope that helps a little,

all the best,

Pete

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April 25, 2008

Don't use AF-C for this.

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April 25, 2008

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April 26, 2008