Comments on: how can i focus on a nikon camera? http://www.weddingeventphotography.com/2009/how-can-i-focus-on-a-nikon-camera/ Photographers and Special Events Wed, 8 Feb 2012 19:27:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Nathan Grammatico http://www.weddingeventphotography.com/2009/how-can-i-focus-on-a-nikon-camera/#comment-893 Nathan Grammatico Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:07:28 +0000 http://www.weddingeventphotography.com/2009/how-can-i-focus-on-a-nikon-camera/#comment-893 Although, you can't compare the Focus of a SLR camera to that of a point and shoot, you can get a relatively close effect. All you have to do is stand a few feet away from the subject, and zoom the lens to the subject, Focus, and the background should be blurry. Without zooming, to a certain extent, you can't create this effect with a point and shoot camera. Short and Simple Happy Shooting :) Nathan Although, you can’t compare the Focus of a SLR camera to that of a point and shoot, you can get a relatively close effect. All you have to do is stand a few feet away from the subject, and zoom the lens to the subject, Focus, and the background should be blurry. Without zooming, to a certain extent, you can’t create this effect with a point and shoot camera.

Short and Simple
Happy Shooting :)
Nathan

]]> By: LEM http://www.weddingeventphotography.com/2009/how-can-i-focus-on-a-nikon-camera/#comment-892 LEM Tue, 13 Oct 2009 05:25:15 +0000 http://www.weddingeventphotography.com/2009/how-can-i-focus-on-a-nikon-camera/#comment-892 What you want to do is achieve a shallow depth of field (that's how photographers call the effect you described). There are three things you can do to manipulate DOF (short for Depth of Field) Your camera is not an ideal one for this effect due to small matrix, but it is possible. So let's try. Here are the ingredients for your pie: 1. Use wide aperture. Set camera to "A" mode (Aperture priority) and open wide (the smallest number is the widest). 2. Long focal length - that means zoom in all the way! 3. Distance to subject. The closer you move in, the shallower depth of field.... Seems easy? Well, not really... because... Ingredient 1 conflicts with 2, and 2 conflicts with 3!!! Yes, that's when you have to make compromises. The longer the focal length (the more you zoom in) the narrower is the maximum aperture (you'll see numbers increase if you set it to max, and start zooming in)... Then the more you zoom in, the further you have to stay from subject to fit it into frame... That's why it's not so easy, so try experimenting. Usually long focal length helps a lot, if you photograph an insect, you should be fine, but for a portrait, you may not want to zoom in all the way, so that you can move in closer... Experiment with all three, and eventually you can get what you want. I suggest, start with a really small object, an insect or a flower. Here you can zoom in and move close. You'll get beautifully shallow dof. Then move on to bigger objects, and see what works better for you. Good luck, LEM. What you want to do is achieve a shallow depth of field (that’s how photographers call the effect you described).

There are three things you can do to manipulate DOF (short for Depth of Field)

Your camera is not an ideal one for this effect due to small matrix, but it is possible. So let’s try. Here are the ingredients for your pie:

1. Use wide aperture. Set camera to “A” mode (Aperture priority) and open wide (the smallest number is the widest).

2. Long focal length - that means zoom in all the way!

3. Distance to subject. The closer you move in, the shallower depth of field….

Seems easy? Well, not really… because…
Ingredient 1 conflicts with 2, and 2 conflicts with 3!!!

Yes, that’s when you have to make compromises. The longer the focal length (the more you zoom in) the narrower is the maximum aperture (you’ll see numbers increase if you set it to max, and start zooming in)… Then the more you zoom in, the further you have to stay from subject to fit it into frame…

That’s why it’s not so easy, so try experimenting. Usually long focal length helps a lot, if you photograph an insect, you should be fine, but for a portrait, you may not want to zoom in all the way, so that you can move in closer… Experiment with all three, and eventually you can get what you want.

I suggest, start with a really small object, an insect or a flower. Here you can zoom in and move close. You’ll get beautifully shallow dof. Then move on to bigger objects, and see what works better for you.

Good luck,
LEM.

]]> By: fhotoace http://www.weddingeventphotography.com/2009/how-can-i-focus-on-a-nikon-camera/#comment-891 fhotoace Sat, 10 Oct 2009 17:10:51 +0000 http://www.weddingeventphotography.com/2009/how-can-i-focus-on-a-nikon-camera/#comment-891 Ah, you are talking about selective focus ... using a long lens and wide open aperture to throw the background out of focus. LEM has nailed it. Try using his suggestions and you will have some success. What we have here are unrealistic expectations. P&S cameras no matter how high the quality, precision the lens, unless you have total control over then aperture and shutter speed, you cannot duplicate images made by a fully adjustable 35 mm SLR or DSLR. There is another issue you have to contend with as well. Tiny sensors produce incredible depth of field. For what you want to do, buying a DSLR at nearly the same cost of the P80 may have been a better choice. If you have been reading the Camera venue for a while, many of us old timers suggest that before spending any money, to make sure that all the features you need are supported by the camera or camera system you invest in. More on Bokeh Ah, you are talking about selective focus … using a long lens and wide open aperture to throw the background out of focus.

LEM has nailed it. Try using his suggestions and you will have some success.

What we have here are unrealistic expectations. P&S cameras no matter how high the quality, precision the lens, unless you have total control over then aperture and shutter speed, you cannot duplicate images made by a fully adjustable 35 mm SLR or DSLR.

There is another issue you have to contend with as well. Tiny sensors produce incredible depth of field.

For what you want to do, buying a DSLR at nearly the same cost of the P80 may have been a better choice.

If you have been reading the Camera venue for a while, many of us old timers suggest that before spending any money, to make sure that all the features you need are supported by the camera or camera system you invest in.

More on Bokeh

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