Jul
13

Digital camera auto focus tips?

Posted by admin under Digital Camera

Digital camera auto focus tips?

I am trying to get better quality photos out of my digital point and shoot camera. The auto focus is not the greatest and when I use manual mode to stop down the apature, things get a bit more dicey.

I want to keep the subject in sharp focus while the foreground and background are pretty much out of focus.

The camera is just a Kodak Z740. Lots of features for snapshots but no manual focus or exposure bracketing.

One shot that came close to the depth of field effect I wanted is here:

http://howto.netmorale.com/viewtopic.php…

It's the first of the three that you see.

4 Responses to “Digital camera auto focus tips?”
  1. admin Says:
    July 13th, 2009 at 11:11 pm
    I agree with Antoni – the third image is great.

    I'd just like to add something. I'm just stabbing in the dark here but I'm wondering if you understand how an autofocus works. The AF is usually in the centre of the viewfinder (unless it can be set to the side) and will only focus on virtical lines of contrast. I'm not sure about your camera but it may work with horizontal lines as well.
    Anyway, it's usually best to hold the centre of the viewfinder on the focal point while holding the shutter halfway and once it's focussed, move the camera to how you want the subject framed before pressing the shutter all the way. After a few years of trying, my wife still can't focus an image :-)

  2. admin Says:
    July 13th, 2009 at 11:11 pm
    you may find this a little weird but i used to use petroleum jelly, i would smear it around the edges of my lens to get the desired effect your looking for until i was able to use photoshop :)
  3. admin Says:
    July 13th, 2009 at 11:11 pm
    the appeture range of point and shoots is poor, sounds like you are about to out grown the Kodak,

    so if you want exclusion (what people call blurryness) get a DSLR and learn light, exposure and technique.

    people seem to thumb this down (jealous or something) go do a night course or day course in photography, I studied for years and still do – seems to work for me

    PS the 3rd shot is pleasing

    a

  4. admin Says:
    July 13th, 2009 at 11:11 pm
    First things first, grab your camera's manual. If you have a macro mode, that will be your best bet. Usually though, you will need more light in macro mode with a point and shoot digital. Expect to use a wide aperature and no zoom at a close range.

    You can also enhance the effect or creat a faux one by using Adobe Photoshop or Corel Paintshop Pro Photo. To do so, use the selection tool, outline your subject, and then reverse it so that your subject is not what the selection is. Then use the Gausian blur at about 10-20% of the image's pixels.

    Lots of practice is needed to make it work, but you always have options.

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