Focussing on eyes

Southdowns

Southdowns

Suspended / Banned
Messages
2,820
Name
Mark
Edit My Images
Yes
I seem to keep missing the focus on my subject's eyes, mostly using my 50mm prime.

It's not the lens or camera; when I auto-focus on something inanimate, it's spot on, but I just can't get it right on eyes most of the time; it's as if the camera is focusing on the cheeks instead, even though I have the focus point (it's set to point focus) bang over the eye.

I'm not making it easy for myself because I tend to use f1.8 for a nice blurred background, but it should still be possible, right?

I get better results using manual focus, but rarely have time to use that as these aren't often static models; they're kids and family!

Any tips for getting nice sharp eyes in portrait shots, as at the moment I'm throwing far too many away? :(
 
you'll still get blurred backgrounds in you change the aperture two or three stops, then you can focus on the cheek, nose or eyes and be in focus..
just move the subject away from the BG
 
You have to remember that the actual focus area is larger than the point you see. And that it's looking for an area of contrast. Unless you're in very good light, the eye will fall into shadow. The nearest area of contrast is usually the eyebrow, I doubt the camera has found something on a cheek to focus on, lowering the camera slightly will stop the AF finding the eyebrow.

But as others have said give it 2.8 and you'll still get OoF backgrounds.
 
Cheers Steve, Phil, I'll give a smaller aperture a go.

I didn't mean the camera was using the cheek to focus, more that it tends to be the cheek that looks in focus, which would make perfect sense with what you're saying about focussing on the eyebrow.

Thanks for your help :)
 
Every 50mm prime I've tried has been pretty soft at f/1.8. Close the aperture by a stop or two to sharpen things up and increase the depth of field. Move the subject further away from the background, if that's an option, to maintain the blur.
 
Id go for about F4.5 and focus on the eye then recompose, as said if you want soft BG then if the model to move away from the BG think your prob lies in the moving subject to be honest, bump up your ISO to get a faster shutter and us AI if your cam has it
 
I often shoot in small bursts when using my 85 /1.2 as it only takes a little bit of movement from the photographer or the subject to knock it out of focus. In a burst of two or three shots you may end up with one being slightly sharper than others.

Stopping down isn't really the answer, you only ever have one plane truly in focus regardless of the aperture. You should work on getting that right, rather than trying to hide it with a deeper depth of field.

As you'll have noticed yourself, shooting at f/1.8 has a completely different look to shooting at f/2.8. So, if you want an image that looks like it was shot at f/1.8, you'll have to shoot it at f/1.8 ;) and practice.
 
Jayst84 said:
Stopping down isn't really the answer, you only ever have one plane truly in focus regardless of the aperture. You should work on getting that right, rather than trying to hide it with a deeper depth of field.
Click to expand...

Id agree with the focal plane as well :thumbs: at higher F, pretty much same for macro as well, focal plane is all
 
Cheers everyone.

Munkee, I don't think it's general softness, because there are extremely sharp parts of the image even at f1.8, it's just that I'lm missing the "target" :)
 
So, it's not the camera or lens....there is a third factor ;)

On a serious note, 1.8 is always tempting to use. As said give it a go at a few other F stops and see what happens.

Cheers.
 
posiview said:
So, it's not the camera or lens....there is a third factor ;)
Click to expand...

An yes; it must be my models. I'll trade them in for a new set!
 
Don't focus and recompose. Place an AF point over the eyes in the viewfinder, and once locked on, shoot. Don't move position after locking that point on.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top