P&S camera question - DPChallenge Forums

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

01/03/2007 11:15:13 AM · #1

I don't know if it's just me - maybe I'm losing focus since having a baby a few weeks ago - but I cannot get a good SHARP in-focus photo lately.

I've got the batteries in the charger now - they were likely getting low. Would / could that make a difference in the focus of the photos ?

I'm using a Canon A85. It takes 4 AA batteries.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

01/03/2007 11:17:50 AM · #2

I don't see how low batteries would make a difference; if they get too low for functioning the camera won't take pictures. I mean, I suppose for one picture just before shut-down there might be an effect, but...

R.

Apple iPhone 5

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ED

01/03/2007 11:21:55 AM · #3

The camera should beep or otherwise indicate that it's got focus lock.

Sometimes if it's too dark, or there's nothing to lock onto near the middle of the frame, or if the scene is low contrast then the auto focus might not work.

quiet_observation

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

01/03/2007 11:26:24 AM · #4

Posting a thumbnail of an example photograph would help. Including the shutter speed, iso, aperture, what camera support you are using (like a tripod), and distance from subject also helps.

01/03/2007 11:26:38 AM · #5

I'm getting the focus lock square for the pics, but they are looking oof when I load them onto my PC.

01/03/2007 11:33:07 AM · #6

Originally posted by quiet_observation:

Posting a thumbnail of an example photograph would help. Including the shutter speed, iso, aperture, what camera support you are using (like a tripod), and distance from subject also helps.

Like this one

The camera was in auto mode for this, focus locked on my daughter's lower eye.

The kids are laying on thier backs on the bed, I'm standing on the bed looking down at them holding the camera.

Lighting was horrible too - but that's not the issue right now (overhead light And flash - I was so NOT thinking !!)

1/60
F2.8

fotomann_forever

01/03/2007 11:38:55 AM · #7

How tall are you Lea? I'm thinking that you were too close to the subjects to get focus... does look like the bed is in focus, although the kids are not.

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ED

01/03/2007 11:41:54 AM · #8

Originally posted by fotomann_forever:

How tall are you Lea? I'm thinking that you were too close to the subjects to get focus... does look like the bed is in focus, although the kids are not.

I'm a shorty - standing about 5'5" if I'm standing real straight and stretching my neck out.

I'd say I had the camera about 4.5 to 5 feet away from the kids.

I think I'll retry that post with the kids on the floor - I wonder if the mattress was too soft a surface to be standing on ?

fotomann_forever

01/03/2007 11:45:57 AM · #9

Originally posted by kashi:

I think I'll retry that post with the kids on the floor - I wonder if the mattress was too soft a surface to be standing on ?

That is possible, also, if you bounce a bit, the point of focus would change, especially being that close to the subjects and with that wide of a aperture setting.

Apple iPhone 5

01/03/2007 11:52:27 AM · #10

Yea, if you focus-lock before pressing the shutter all the way, then the focus point might change.

For that example you posted, all it would take is for you to move closer to the subject by 3 or 4 inches between getting focus lock and pressing the shutter.

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

01/03/2007 12:14:08 PM · #11

Originally posted by jhonan:

Most likely what happened, and has been happening, as most of my shots are taken with camera in one hand, baby in the other.

SJCarter

Canon EOS-7D

01/03/2007 12:17:03 PM · #12

I know that when I was using my little Gateway, I started taking MUCH better photos when I started using a tripod. My suggestion would be to try that - you might be surprised (I was).