Need some help about focusing on a picture

[raymonster]

Hello all.. I need some help about the focusing on my pictures. Whenever I snap with my
A700 the i realise my foreground is always not focus and instead the background is sharper then foreground. E.g the pic below I took. The front people are not focus and the back person is. May I know how can I solve my problems?? Thanks

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_itlOJ1GkIx...-h/zoo+139.JPG

[ninelives]

all lenses like that or only 1 lens? if all, then is it back focus problem(bf for short), you need to bring to service center. if 1 lens like that, sell that lens away. especially old lens, it wasn't design for DSLR( dont laugh, Tokina technicial told me that....).

otherwise, get A900

[Rashkae]

Originally Posted by ninelives all lenses like that or only 1 lens? if all, then is it back focus problem(bf for short), you need to bring to service center. if 1 lens like that, sell that lens away. especially old lens, it wasn't design for DSLR( dont laugh, Tokina technicial told me that....). otherwise, get A900

That tokina tech is an idiot. :P

As for the picture, are all your pictures like this? What are you setting as the focus point?

[raymonster]

To ninelives
i don't think its the problem of my lens as I am using the 18-250 but my camera. i already sent it in for front calibration still I got the problem. And I am a student I cannot afford a A900.. (i hope i could have one someday haha) but thanks for ur reply...

[raymonster]

To rashkae
Almost all, it’s either the background is sharp and foreground is not sharp... or one of either person is sharp when I took picture for 2 people (background is clear with no object or people). I am using a Local Focus Area (the 11 point one) is it the focus you talking about? Thanks for the reply...

[kkleong]

From the pic, it's either the centre or auto focus-point that you had chosen, right?
If it's auto, the back & right side are brighter, focus will tends to choose these areas.
If that the case, you need to change the focus point.

[Giorgio]

What's ur depth of field

[Rashkae]

Originally Posted by raymonster To rashkae Almost all, it’s either the background is sharp and foreground is not sharp... or one of either person is sharp when I took picture for 2 people (background is clear with no object or people). I am using a Local Focus Area (the 11 point one) is it the focus you talking about? Thanks for the reply...

Which of the local focus points did you select?

If it all comes down to it, join the other Sony guys for makan. We'll figure it out.

[sulhan]

Hiee...

Form the shot it looks like a shot taken with quite wide aperture and at a focal length that may be of a mid focal length. Focus point seems to be in the center. If the intended subjects were all the three, then a smaller aperture of say f8(or smaller...watch your shutter speed) could help with focus point locked on the front two person.

rgds,
Sulhan

[ninelives]

this is the exif of his photo :

Camera Make: SONY
Camera Model: DSLR-A700
Image Date: 2008:09:13 18:09:58
Flash Used: No
Focal Length: 35.0mm (35mm equivalent: 52mm)
Exposure Time: 0.013 s (1/80)
Aperture: f/5.0
ISO equiv: 200
White Balance: Auto
Metering Mode: Matrix
Exposure: program (Auto)

[GENO]

Originally Posted by raymonster To ninelives i don't think its the problem of my lens as I am using the 18-250 but my camera. i already sent it in for front calibration still I got the problem. And I am a student I cannot afford a A900.. (i hope i could have one someday haha) but thanks for ur reply...

i think its not the lens problem, where u live? see can test on other body anot. Me in west area.maybe u camera sensor detects XMMs only..Guys will be OOF!!

seriously , i think u are forusing too near issit..??and u fit the spot meter to the centre while u want to focus the side??

[doomslayerz]

Originally Posted by GENO maybe u camera sensor detects XMMs only..Guys will be OOF!!

[tsan81]

I think you got to check which AF type you are using.
Wide Focus Area, Spot AF Area, and Local or Focus Area Selection.

I suspect that you've chosen Wide focus area, but the camera's spot AF sensor locks on instead.

I'd refrain from using wide focus area because it dun always select the correct AF point for me. So I prefer to choose the AF point myself.

-------------
But if this still happens when you are using Spot AF, then get your fellow photographers to test with other lens to see if it is lens issue or camera issue or human issue.

[Atarandas]

hmm maybe you can post more other shots that you feel are back focusing for the bros to comment ?

I kinda agree with the rest that it could be just a matter of focus point and also perhaps you are taking the shots too close at a large aperture. From your picture , seems like you are shooting at a close range , hence , your 2 friends at the front appear to be OOF while others behind them are sharp.

[TME]

Well, the picture looks misfocused... and likely you're using the Wide Area Focus mode where the camera decides where to focus... most of us use the Local Areas Focus mode where you pick which of the 9 sensors to use. Usually the centre focus sensor is selected as it's the most sensitive and accurate. If the subject is off-centre, just point the central focus sensor on the subject and half-press the shutter to lock focus. Then shift the camera to recompose while keeping the shutter button half-pressed. The focus would be right (actually it's not exactly the same but it's too small to be seen). Misfocusing occurs at a higher rate with a wider lens...

[wootsk]

Though this is not common, but it could be because that the item you want to focus is shorter then your min focus length. This is because I assume that you are either using a prime lens or a zoom lens with very little zoom range trying to shoot close up. I made the judgement as your photo dun seems to have any or much barrel distortion. Most zoom lens with very huge range will have some distortion when shooting very close up. I have friends using the new canon lens 70 -300 and asking me why they always cannot focus well. They just started and might make such mistake.

FYI I am a helpful canon user who happens to browse pass this thread

[TME]

Originally Posted by wootsk Though this is not common, but it could be because that the item you want to focus is shorter then your min focus length. This is because I assume that you are either using a prime lens or a zoom lens with very little zoom range trying to shoot close up. I made the judgement as your photo dun seems to have any or much barrel distortion. Most zoom lens with very huge range will have some distortion when shooting very close up. I have friends using the new canon lens 70 -300 and asking me why they always cannot focus well. They just started and might make such mistake. FYI I am a helpful canon user who happens to browse pass this thread

The exif says 35mm... so it's likely he's using a standard zoom lens - I would guess a 18-70mm DT lens.

[navlem]

He has already stated he is using the 18-250mm zoom lens

[wootsk]

Originally Posted by navlem He has already stated he is using the 18-250mm zoom lens

Did he, ps me nv saw it.

[lenrek]

I think, you can either choose to zoom out or stand further away from them, so they would all be inside the focal point.

Just my 2cents suggestion.