Putting the entire photo in focus in Manual

SirenWilliams

Senior Member
I have to admit, with my old DSLR, I spent a lot of time in Auto mode because the photos were great regardless, but after downgrading (i think it was a downgrade anyway) to my D3200, I've been forced to learn a lot about photography! ...Which is great!

But I still can't just get the whole dang photo in focus. I can easily pick my focal point using the little red dots, but what if I just want the whole photo in focus?? My old DSLR did it. My dang 5mp IPhone can do it and so can my Samsung Galaxy! So why can't I get my Nikon to focus on the whole photo? Am I crazy?

​Help!
 

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
I have to admit, with my old DSLR, I spent a lot of time in Auto mode because the photos were great regardless, but after downgrading (i think it was a downgrade anyway) to my D3200, I've been forced to learn a lot about photography! ...Which is great!

But I still can't just get the whole dang photo in focus. I can easily pick my focal point using the little red dots, but what if I just want the whole photo in focus?? My old DSLR did it. My dang 5mp IPhone can do it and so can my Samsung Galaxy! So why can't I get my Nikon to focus on the whole photo? Am I crazy?

​Help!
Well first of all you do understand that "M"anual is an exposure mode and has nothing to do with focusing, correct?

What does affect how much is in focus in your shot is the aperture you choose to take the shot. A smaller aperture (larger number (e.g. f/16 is a much smaller aperture than f/4)) will give you shots a deeper depth of field. This sounds like it's what you want, a deeper depth of field.

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You really need to learn more about photography. What you are wanting to know is about Depth of Field.

Real cameras can do it if shot correctly but you have to understand how aperture, lens length and focal point all interact. What you are looking for is a base line point and shoot with a very short focal length lens. Which is what your phone is.

Yes I shoot a iPhone and it does get great photos but it does not hold a candle to any of the Nikon DSLRs in the hands of someone who knows how to use it.
 

SirenWilliams

Senior Member
I do know that Aperture Priority Mode is the mode I'd want to have it in, but for the life of me, I can not get the entire photo to focus no matter what I do in that mode.
If I'm not mistaken, I have more control with ISO, etc, in Manual. So how do I keep control over all of my settings AND the aperture all at once?
After giving up on Aperture Mode, I just hang out in Manual, usually.
You mentioned length of lens.... Do you think it has anything to do with the lens I'm using?? I have this problem with both my 18-55 and my 55-300.
With that being said, if I buy that 18-300mm lens as an "all in one" for traveling, am I going to run into this issue??
 

Rob Bye

Senior Member
But I still can't just get the whole dang photo in focus. I can easily pick my focal point using the little red dots, but what if I just want the whole photo in focus?? My old DSLR did it. My dang 5mp IPhone can do it and so can my Samsung Galaxy! So why can't I get my Nikon to focus on the whole photo? Am I crazy?

Are you sure this is what you want? What you're seeking is a heck of a boring style of image. You'd surely be better off embracing the ability to isolate your subject from the uninteresting portions in the background.
 

SirenWilliams

Senior Member
Are you sure this is what you want? What you're seeking is a heck of a boring style of image. You'd surely be better off embracing the ability to isolate your subject from the uninteresting portions in the background.

in surf photography yes I want everything in focus. In most other things, I can focus fine.
 

SirenWilliams

Senior Member
You might want to look at the following threads that I create a while back, exploring the relationship between aperture and depth of field with two different lenses.

http://nikonites.com/education/25599-aperture-depth_of_field-relationship-nikkor-s-50mm-f1-4-a.html
http://nikonites.com/education/2552...tionship-vivitar-85-205mm-f3-8-tele-zoom.html

Thanks...
So this is probably a stupid question at this point, because I assume the answer is No. But, if I went with the 18-300mm lens, would this change? Is there anything I'd want to know if I did that?
 

Bob Blaylock

Senior Member
Thanks...
So this is probably a stupid question at this point, because I assume the answer is No. But, if I went with the 18-300mm lens, would this change? Is there anything I'd want to know if I did that?

As someone else pointed out, focal length is a factor that affects depth of field. The longer the focal length, the narrower the depth of field.
 

nzswift

Senior Member
To get "everything" in focus is pretty much impossible unless you're willing to try a pinhole camera with a looong exposure. Not ideal for surfing. To achieve what you are after is quite difficult. If you were shooting something static then a wide angle lens for DX (say a 12mm lens) at the smallest aperture, but then your surfer would be a dot in a wide panorama. You probably need to get at close to the subject as you can with a DX lens of about 140mm -200mm and set a shutter speed of say 1/400 at the smallest aperture with auto ISO
 

J-see

Senior Member
A simple increase of your depth of field (for surfing) can be done by shooting the subject large (using less focal length and thus having a small surfer in a big sea) and then in post cropping smaller. Depending upon the quality your photos have to be, this might be enough.

You don't really increase your DoF but in the cropped version that plays no role. That way you also can shoot the lens wider open.
 

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
Thanks...
So this is probably a stupid question at this point, because I assume the answer is No. But, if I went with the 18-300mm lens, would this change? Is there anything I'd want to know if I did that?
What you need to do is educate yourself on the basics of digital photography. Head over to THIS SITE and start with the tutorials on "Exposure" and "Focusing Basics" and branch out from there when you're ready. There's a lot to know about digital photography and those tutorials will get you started in the right direction.

If you want to be in full control of your camera, meaning shooting in manual and so forth, you reeeeally need to understand the exposure triangle and how to get your camera to accurately capture what you're seeing. Point and Shoot cameras are called "point and shoot" for a reason but they're capability is limited in order to make them easy to use; much like a bike with training wheels. Shooting your 3200 in full manual is like jumping in the driver's seat of high performance fighter jet: There's more you need to know and your previous experience on the bike probably isn't going to be of much help.

Google "Digital Photography tutorials" or get a book or two on your camera and dive in. I can suggest The D3200 Digital Field Guide as a great book to get you started. This book will get you up to speed very quickly but is not as comprehensive as some others; it's not meant to be. It will get you comfortable with all the settings and all the features of your camera though and put you well on the path. Another good book that covers a LOT more (and the book most people will suggest) is D3200 Guide to Digital Photography. Either one, or both, would serve you well.

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