Question regarding correct focus

CruisingComet

CruisingComet

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Hi all.....

I managed to get out and have a walk around properly for the 1st time today after several weeks due to a recent operation.
I took quite a few shots, most of which I'm extremely dissapointed with I have to say, most are pretty flat and dark.

Anyway I was looking at this particular shot earlier in Canon's zoom browser and it showed me the focus points, obviously it
would appear that I wasn't focused on the mill, so without sounding too dumb I hope... what should I be doing to get the wind mill correctly focused?

2h7la2p.jpg
 
you should be able to move the AF point to the one on the far right of the screen (the one placed over the windmill)
 
I can't comment on how a canon works, but if it was a Nikon - I would place the subject I wanted to focus on in the middle of the frame - push the shutter release halfway down to focus (and hold it there) then recompose the pic.

Have you got it on single point focus? that might make a difference.

good luck :)
 
HopefulM said:
I can't comment on how a canon works, but if it was a Nikon - I would place the subject I wanted to focus on in the middle of the frame - push the shutter release halfway down to focus (and hold it there) then recompose the pic.

Have you got it on single point focus? that might make a difference.

good luck :)
Click to expand...

Yeah that's what i did, focused on the mill then recomposed (Holding the shutter halfway down) then took the pic - just threw me abit when i saw the focus points in zoom browser.

It's set for One Shot focus
 
It looks like you're set to auto AF point select, which its why its using 3 at once. just select the far right point and then you won't have to recompose?
 
CruisingComet said:
Yeah that's what i did, focused on the mill then recomposed (Holding the shutter halfway down) then took the pic - just threw me abit when i saw the focus points in zoom browser.
Click to expand...

The question is then, how does the zoom browser determine where you were focussed? Does it calculate the most in-focus area of the picture or is the focus point used to take the picture recorded in the exif and then shown with the grid centred on the picture? I suspect it's the latter.
 
CruisingComet said:
Yeah that's what i did, focused on the mill then recomposed (Holding the shutter halfway down) then took the pic - just threw me abit when i saw the focus points in zoom browser.

It's set for One Shot focus
Click to expand...

Try just selecting a single focus point and ensure that point is on the part of the subject you want in focus - your actually showing three active points in you picture.
 
I always tend to set the focus point at what i want in focus, this can be done by pressing the button top right at the back of your camera and adjusting which point you want with the wheel.

HTH

spike
 
CruisingComet said:
Yeah that's what i did, focused on the mill then recomposed (Holding the shutter halfway down) then took the pic - just threw me abit when i saw the focus points in zoom browser.

It's set for One Shot focus
Click to expand...

One shot focus mean it will only take 1 shot.... use the button which looks like a cross while looking through the view finder, you'll see which autofocus points are being used. Use the small toggle switch, this will select the position of you autofocus point by moving it around your diamond. Have a read of the manual under the section "Selecting the AF Point" or the section "Focusing an Off-Centre Subject" either of these will get you your desired shot.

Sorry to bore you with motorsport, but just to visualise my point, focus point was to the right of centre focusing on the front of the car as it came towards me, so centre or autofocus points aren't always the best ones to use
IMG_4393copy2.jpg
 
I think zoombrowser indicates the points used when focus is acheived, if you then recompose the shot, the subject obviously away from the points used, still OK if you keep half pressed. When you look at your shot in ZB the points used are shown they will not move to where the subject now is in the frame, I hope you follow that.
 
Bristolian said:
The question is then, how does the zoom browser determine where you were focussed? Does it calculate the most in-focus area of the picture or is the focus point used to take the picture recorded in the exif and then shown with the grid centred on the picture? I suspect it's the latter.
Click to expand...

Yeah I'm guessing it's the latter too, don't really know TBH

Thanks for all the feedback guys, will check out the settings
 
artyman got it right. Zoombrowser shows what focus points were used to focus the image when you first pressed the shutter button and locked the focus. The fact that you subsequently recomposed your image means that the focus points you used are no longer over the subject on which you originally focussed.
 
artyman said:
I think zoombrowser indicates the points used when focus is acheived, if you then recompose the shot, the subject obviously away from the points used, still OK if you keep half pressed. When you look at your shot in ZB the points used are shown they will not move to where the subject now is in the frame, I hope you follow that.
Click to expand...


Scarecrow said:
artyman got it right. Zoombrowser shows what focus points were used to focus the image when you first pressed the shutter button and locked the focus. The fact that you subsequently recomposed your image means that the focus points you used are no longer over the subject on which you originally focussed.
Click to expand...


That makes sense, thanks.
 
The 450d has cross type focus points only in the centre, this will give you the best AF results. For the type of landscape work I would half press for focus using the centre AF point only, then re-frame and shoot.

Where there is less time to re-frame, select the appropriate AF point.

This shot is flat because of the overcast sky. You can improve this with curves, but basicaly you are stuck with what you have.
 
artyman said:
I think zoombrowser indicates the points used when focus is acheived, if you then recompose the shot, the subject obviously away from the points used, still OK if you keep half pressed. When you look at your shot in ZB the points used are shown they will not move to where the subject now is in the frame, I hope you follow that.
Click to expand...

Absolutely. The software only knows which point you used to focus, not whereabouts on the image you placed it, if you focus/recompose you'll end up with the conundrum you see.

PS is that Cley?
 
The focus looks fine to me. Any residual doubts about sharpness you have may well be due to the lens that you are using - is it the kit lens?
 
You do appreciate that whenever you reduce an image in size - you must resharpen it? Like so....
 
CT said:
You do appreciate that whenever you reduce an image in size - you must resharpen it? Like so....

4407875747_3b864c1e40_o.jpg
Click to expand...

He doesn't have "edits" ticked?:nono::p
 
It's a fair cop Guv. :D
 
Yep It's straight out of the camera, I've not done any processing / sharpening.

It's ok... I don't mind the image being edited, how do I change this setting?

I'm guessing f8 is about right, as I understand the sharpest image is often obtained between f5.6–f8?


Edit: I found the image editing box and have now ticked it
 
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