Unacceptable focus problem...what the hell!

04/17/2011 06:21:35 PM · #1

This happened to an entire series of shots that I took today. It's been happening consistently on each shoot I do at some point. This is a 100% crop:

//kevingearyphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/100crop.jpg

I originally thought it might be a focus/recompose problem so I started manually choosing the focus point that was resting over the eyes during composition.

This is totally RAW out of the camera...obviously the focus is totally missed. Like I said...this was on a series of pictures, not just one.

50mm 1.4 at f2 and 1/1000.

This is unacceptable. Is this a lens problem, camera problem, or technique problem???

Here's the full shot web sized:

//kevingearyphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/20110417-_MG_4183.jpg

Edit: Here's the link to the entire gallery: //kevingeary.smugmug.com/Portraits/sarahlamb

Message edited by author 2011-04-17 22:23:09.

sjhuls

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

04/17/2011 06:30:43 PM · #2

It might be your f stop I hardly ever shoot with that DOF it is really difficult to get the focus spot on. I usually prefer to use an f stop of around 7. That way if I am a tiny bit off the focus is still relatively good.

04/17/2011 06:34:36 PM · #3

Looks like a technique problem to me. With your aperture at f/2.0 you'll have a crazy small DOF, and only a portion of your photo will be in sharp focus. It looks like it's sharper around her legs and the stump in front. Expose for her face and focus on her nearest eye. Adjust your distance to the subject and/or aperture until you get the desired DOF.

I doubt it's the camera or the lens. Make sure your not set on AI Servo for your focus mode as well. I would set the camera to manual mode as you did...select the center dot (don't let the camera select a zone etc. ) and do what I described above to see if you get better results.

Dave

KristinaG

Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS

04/17/2011 06:40:05 PM · #4

What DCNUTTER said. Many lenses also have focus problems when they are either all the way zoomed in or the aperture all the way open.
I own the same lens as you and I try to never ever go below 2.4 because the quality just really decreases after that.
Since in this picture you have several blown out portions, I definitely think you had enough light to have a smaller aperture. Especially since you wanted all of her body in the picture.

MattO

Nikon D4

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

04/17/2011 07:01:25 PM · #5

I'll also suggest that even with a lens hood shooting into the sun like that even the best lens will require that you shade the lens from the sun while focusing to allow contrast autofocusing to work.

giantmike

Canon EOS R6

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM

04/17/2011 07:20:10 PM · #6

As a possible after-the-fact solution, have you tried Topaz InFocus? If you don't have it, there is a 15 day trial, and it's probably worth at least giving it a shot.

If you haven't heard of it, InFocus uses deconvolution technology to try to restore out of focus photos. I have used it on a number of my own photos, and they turn out decent (at least for web use, I haven't tried printing any of them).

jmsetzler

Sony Alpha a6000

Sony 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 E-mount

04/17/2011 07:22:24 PM · #7

The 50mm lens is not a good choice of lenses for that composition. I have had similar problems with mine in the past. If you require a shallow depth of field on a shot like that you will get better results with a longer lens at a longer focal length.

David Ey

Nikon D80

Nikon AF Micro-Nikkor 60mm f2.8D

04/17/2011 07:27:08 PM · #8

What is Focal Length ?

04/17/2011 08:32:52 PM · #9

I can't shoot at F8 and get the DOF that I want. I understand that shooting at F8 gives you a better chance of getting your subject in focus...but I bought a 1.4 lens so I could blur the background. F8 doesn't give me the look I want...so that's not a solution.

Is it that hard to make a lens that works acceptably at it's widest aperture? I don't see the point of having a 1.4 if you have to shoot at 2.8...

04/17/2011 08:33:38 PM · #10

Originally posted by DCNUTTER:

I used to use the center dot and that was bad also...cause focus recompose changes the depth of field after you lock focus. So that's not a solution either.

04/17/2011 08:35:00 PM · #11

Originally posted by jmsetzler:

I'll soon have the 85 1.8 and the 135 f2...

But seriously...50mm on a crop should do what I want for portraits...

sjhuls

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

04/17/2011 08:39:56 PM · #12

It could also be a lighting problem, you have your subject really back lit(not that I don't like back lit subjects, I think it looks nice in this photo). But it doesn't look as though you have anything to fill in the front lighting. I find when I am shooting portraits the more light the better the focus. I would try using a flash or some strobes, or even reflectors to get more lighting on the face and see if that helps with your focus problem.

As far as DOF goes, I think you can still get a reasonably blurred out background with an f7.

04/17/2011 08:42:03 PM · #13

How far away in feet or meters do you think you were to your model?

smardaz

04/17/2011 08:43:48 PM · #14

well first of all, the picture has blown highlights......

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS II USM Lens

04/17/2011 08:45:11 PM · #15

Originally posted by smardaz:

well first of all, the picture has blown highlights......

LMAO....remembering other threads...you're too much! LOL.

smardaz

04/17/2011 08:46:34 PM · #16

Originally posted by DCNUTTER:

Originally posted by smardaz:
well first of all, the picture has blown highlights......

LMAO....remembering other threads...you're too much! LOL.

I must obey the inscrutable exhortations of my soul

hahn23

Canon EOS-5D Mark IV

04/17/2011 08:50:34 PM · #17

I have some ideas which may help, but first thing...

Update your Canon 7D firmware to 1.2.3, which is the most recent Canon official release. Your camera is operating under firmware 1.2.1. There might be some fixes in some of the missed firmware updates.

But, there is also supposed to be a 1.2.4 firmware update out there somewhere, as 7Ds are coming back from Canon service with 1.2.4 installed. Google it.

04/17/2011 08:53:44 PM · #18

Using the 50mm lens at f/2.0 with the subject at 20 feet (focus point) will give you a total DOF of 3.71 feet. The closer you get to your subject that DOF will become dramatically shallower. For instance, an BTW I'm going by the 7D or any other Canon body with the 1.6 crop factor...if you move just 5 foot closer to 15 foot your DOF will now only be 2.07 feet total. Move to 5 foot away from your subject you're down to inches...in this case only .22 foot or 2.64 inches of total DOF.

I still think her legs and the stump in front of her look sharper, but it's hard to tell at this resolution.

Dave

Message edited by author 2011-04-17 21:06:23.

04/17/2011 08:56:14 PM · #19

Originally posted by hahn23:

I'll have to go back to the Canon site now that you posted that and check to see if it's out. Not that I'm having any issues with my new 7D..but when I bought it, it was two firmware releases behind. Updated to 1.2.3,but now I guess I'll keep my eye out for 1.2.4. Thanks for mentioning that you've seen that release on some cameras Richard.

Dave

04/17/2011 08:56:58 PM · #20

Originally posted by smardaz:

Originally posted by DCNUTTER:

Originally posted by smardaz:
well first of all, the picture has blown highlights......

LMAO....remembering other threads...you're too much! LOL.

I must obey the inscrutable exhortations of my soul

Yes, it's a dirty job, but someone has to do it. Might as well be you right? LOL

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

04/17/2011 09:13:27 PM · #21

Just wanted to add that it's possible that the lens is front focusing, and at least the 7D has micro adjustment capabilities customized for each lens that you use if that turns out to be the case. I would exhaust any other possible cause before trying that though.

Dave

Spork99

OM System OM-1

04/17/2011 10:04:47 PM · #22

I think your lighting is probably giving the AF fits. Does the lens behave the same way when shooting other subjects?

If not, I'd say you just need to manually focus when shooting a strongly backlit subject.

RamblinR

Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III

Olympus 12-40mm f/2.8 Pro

04/17/2011 10:10:27 PM · #23

With the 7d have you tried the more precise focus point (the single square with the little square inside it). Focus this on the eye. It should be more precise for this type of work.

04/17/2011 10:22:50 PM · #24

Originally posted by Spork99:

I've had this problem before, not just with backlit subjects.