Out of focus

[g4crx]

Can someone help me understand why both people in this pic aren't in focus?

I'm using a D5200 with a 35mm f1.8 prime lens. I normally shoot at f1.8 because I like the DOF effect, is the person on the left out of focus because it was set at f1.8 or something to do with the use of the cameras focus point setting? I may have set it to center weighted so when I focused on the subject on the right it primarily focused on just that?

Thanks in advance.

Ash

 

[Horoscope Fish]

The reason is the wide aperture you used, assuming it was f/1.8 as mentioned.

Wide aperture = shallow depth of field. Dropping down to, say, f/4 or thereabouts, would have brought both faces into sharp focus.

Also, "center weighted" has to do with how the camera is metering for exposure and this does not affect focus or depth of field.

...

 

[Eyelight]

The two ladies are at different distances from the camera. Since you focused on the one on the right, the one on the left is beyond the depth of field created by the wide aperture.

Using a smaller aperture as suggested above or moving to the left to get both ladies in the shallow depth of field you were using would help. Another option would be to move back to increase the DOF and then crop the image.

Edited to Add: Ladies can be a little soft, so you could make this image work by softening the the forward subject slightly, so they both appear soft.

 

[g4crx]

Ah brilliant, that makes sense. So if I have more than one subject and especially if they are not level as in the case above then best to increase the f stop? If they were both sided by side I assume they both would have been in focus?

 

[g4crx]

..... Another option would be to move back to increase the DOF and then crop the image.

Ladies can be a little soft, so you could make this image work by softening the the forward subject slightly, so they both appear soft.

So stepping back would reduce the chance of having the second subject being out of focus even if they were not in the same DOF? That's good to know as using f1.8 makes it easier to shoot in low light.

I take your point on the soft image, but currently don't have any post processing software, I'm trying to learn the fundamentals of taking decent photos in the first place as I'm still a noob lol.

 

[Eyelight]

Ah brilliant, that makes sense. So if I have more than one subject and especially if they are not level as in the case above then best to increase the f stop? If they were both sided by side I assume they both would have been in focus?

I think you have it.

 

[Eyelight]

So stepping back would reduce the chance of having the second subject being out of focus even if they were not in the same DOF? That's good to know as using f1.8 makes it easier to shoot in low light.

I take your point on the soft image, but currently don't have any post processing software, I'm trying to learn the fundamentals of taking decent photos in the first place as I'm still a noob lol.

Stepping back increases the depth of field as does using a smaller aperture or a wider angle lens. Moving close to the subject, using a longer (more telephoto) lens or wider aperture all reduce the depth of field.

 

[g4crx]

Also, "center weighted" has to do with how the camera is metering for exposure and this does not affect focus or depth of field.
...

Sorry I got confused with focus points, I meant changing the auto focus points from single/9/21/39 point focus. For example if I had it set to single point focus would it just focus on one person if they were both in the same DOF but a little bit apart?

 

[hark]

If you take a look at this online depth of field calculator, you can plug in the numbers and see how much area will be in focus. How far you are from you subject also factors into the equation. If you are close to your subject, you will have a shallower DOF than if you are a long ways away from it.

Online Depth of Field Calculator

 

[Eyelight]

I took the liberty of making a small adjustment. I can remove this if you prefer.

 

[g4crx]

That's a great tool :encouragement:

 

[g4crx]

Thank you, no that's fine - good to see what's possible, I'll get into post processing at some point. Just want to concentrate on taking photos for now.

Love this place, you guys are very helpful!!

 

[Horoscope Fish]

So stepping back would reduce the chance of having the second subject being out of focus even if they were not in the same DOF? That's good to know as using f1.8 makes it easier to shoot in low light.

This is correct. Distance to subject affects depth of field.

I take your point on the soft image, but currently don't have any post processing software, I'm trying to learn the fundamentals of taking decent photos in the first place as I'm still a noob lol.

I can suggest Cambridge in Color as a good place to get started learning the technical side of photography. The articles gets a little too technical sometimes, in my opinion, but the information is solid and most are pretty n00b friendly.

Another resource you might want to consider is the excellent Nikon D5200 Guide to Digital SLR Photography by David Busch. This will go into far more detail about what all those options and features on your camera do, and how you can use them. The Nikon manuals, in my opinion, are good for someone who knows enough already so as not to need them for anything but the occasional reference, or clarification. David Busch's book should accelerate your learning curve dramatically.

...

 

[Eyelight]

Sorry I got confused with focus points, I meant changing the auto focus points from single/9/21/39 point focus. For example if I had it set to single point focus would it just focus on one person if they were both in the same DOF but a little bit apart?

The various focusing options all result in a focus point (or plane) that is at a single distance from the camera. So, using a different number of points will not increase the depth of what is in focus, but shows you in the viewfinder all the points that are in focus (the same distance). More focus points gives you more info in the viewfinder and can help with moving subjects.

Also, some cameras have focusing options that attempt to focus on faces that are detected in a scene. You might want to explore the manual for this option.

 

[Elliot87]

As this is in the photo feedback suggestion I'd also add that the composition doesn't look great to me. I'm by no means an expert in this regard, in fact I'm a complete novice, but to my eye the lady behind almost looks like a second head protruding from the lady in focus. If they were side by side this would not be an issue and would help to get them both in focus. Alternatively getting the lady in the foreground to move her right shoulder back, so you can see move of the other lady might help. I do like the exposure and colours you've captured in this shot though!

 

[g4crx]

Elliot I agree, If I had moved more to the left all my issues would have been solved lol. It was at a wedding so a bit difficult to move around on a fully seated table, I'd have had to ask the person next to me to get out of the way.

 

[Horoscope Fish]

... I'd have had to ask the person next to me to get out of the way.

You're a photographer now, so it's okay to rudely boss people around so you can get your shot. ... !! !!

 

[g4crx]

Hahahah if only, but definitely need to be more assertive. Shall I go ahead and create a *cringe* facebook "G4CRX Photography" page and pretend I'm a pro? LMAO

 

[g4crx]

I did better with this though....

 

[Horoscope Fish]

Hahahah if only, but definitely need to be more assertive. Shall I go ahead and create a *cringe* facebook "G4CRX Photography" page and pretend I'm a pro? LMAO

How do you think the "Pro's" GOT to be be "Pro's"? Yeah, by creating a FB page that TELLS EVERYONE they're a Pro! I mean... DUH!

Oh, and don't forget you'll need a really BIG lens and a hat; you can't be a "Pro" with a really big lens and a hat. Don't worry about what lens, or if you know how to use it, just make sure it's BIG. The hat, really, *should* be stupid looking but that's getting more and more optional these days. The hat itself, though, is not an option; you must have one if you want to be taken seriously as a "Pro". So, yeah... Here's your To Do List: Really big lens, Stupid Hat, FB Page. And start referring to yourself as a "photog"; almost forgot that... Very important. Cram that into conversation at every opportunity. Create opportunities to cram it it in to conversations where none exist as necessary.

Post back when you've completed Stage One.

....