Focusing help needed

[Shane]

I seem to have trouble focusing when taking portraits. When i look through the viewfinder the eyes look as though they are in focus, but when i get the pctures on my monitor i notice that i actually got the nose in sharp focus and the eyes are just out.

Any tips that would help me focus correctly on the eyes?

I like using manual focus, i like the extra control. i just need to know how to control it!

 

[RobbieW]

Is your appeture set right to allow that extra depth of focus?

 

[Shane]

Is your appeture set right to allow that extra depth of focus?

I think it was, i wanted a shallow DOF just so the eyes were the only thing in sharp focus.

What F number is recommended/prefered for Portraits?

 

[RobertP]

Lay a ruler on a table pointing away from you. From a similar distance to your portrait focus on halfway along and take a picture. If on the picture the focus is where you saw it then the kit is fine. If not then the lens or camera may need calibrating.

 

[CT]

Check that the viewfinder diopter setting is right for your eyesight. With the shutter button half pressed and the LED display showing in the viewfinder, adjust it till you get the sharpest image of the LED info you can. Do this either with or without specs depending on whether you normally wear them when taking pics.

Once you're sure this is set up correctly, if you're still getting the problem it could a front focusing problem with the lens/camera which can be calibrated if need be.

Setting a smaller aperture for more depth of field will help, but that's not aways what you want to do.

 

[Shane]

Lay a ruler on a table pointing away from you. From a similar distance to your portrait focus on halfway along and take a picture. If on the picture the focus is where you saw it then the kit is fine. If not then the lens or camera may need calibrating.

Okay, I'll try that. Thanks.

I'm hoping that its my untrained newbie eye :|

 

[Kev M]

Roberts check will help you if using AF but CT's check is the one for using MF.

 

[RobertP]

Roberts check will help you if using AF but CT's check is the one for using MF.

It will compare the image on the focusing screen to the image on the sensor. Adjusting the diopter will only make the image on the focussing screen clearer - not change the lens focus.

 

[Shane]

I've tried all of the above in manual and auto focus.
Everything seems okay.
I think my problem is seeing that the eyes are in focus through the view finder becuse the image is so small.

 

[Shane]

Are the view finders bigger/clearer on higher range cameras compared to the D40x?

 

[oldgit]

Are you using just 1 AF/focusing point?

Using the S/W that came with the camera it (canon at least) you can get it to show you which of the
focusing points were used. Check that this is spot on where you expect.

 

[cowasaki]

Lay a ruler on a table pointing away from you. From a similar distance to your portrait focus on halfway along and take a picture. If on the picture the focus is where you saw it then the kit is fine. If not then the lens or camera may need calibrating.

Top tip - I'm going to try this when I can be bothered getting out of bed..... better do it soon its after half eleven!