How do you focus for shallow DOF?

[blur]

When shooting with wide apertures such as f1.4 - f2.8 or any settings that result in a shallow DOF, how do you focus?

I am used to the re-compose technique whereby you pre-focus on the subject, then re-compose your picture. But most often when I use this technique when I want a shallow DOF, the focus is bound to "lari" (leaving me with OOF pictures).

So I'm wondering what are your techniques for focusing when you are shooting a picture with shallow DOF? Do you leave it to the auto-focus mode? Or do you manual focus?

Would appreciate any tips and advice.

[orionmystery]

For me, when i shoot bugs, i hv to compose first before focusing and snapping away. My 2 rupiah!

[ShaolinTiger]

Never focus and re-compose with shallow DoF as the slightest movement will render it out of focus.

Use your selectable focus points and use AF or just straight away use MF, and make sure you don't sway back and forth or that will change the focal plane too!

[blur]

Never focus and re-compose with shallow DoF as the slightest movement will render it out of focus.

Use your selectable focus points and use AF or just straight away use MF, and make sure you don't sway back and forth or that will change the focal plane too!
Precisely the dilemma I'm in. 350D only has 7 focus points, sometimes I had to select back and forth the point closest to where I want the focus to be, but this proves "time-consuming". If I use AF, it is not always where I'd want the focus to be. And MF? The viewfinder is so small it's a 100% gamble :D

Does anyone else here have the same crappy dilemma I'm in? Or maybe I'm just the crappy one?

[stockie]

Manual focus.

[blur]

Manual focus.
Hmm, I guess I need to brush up on this then! Thanks.

[neoro]

Hmm, I guess I need to brush up on this then! Thanks.

MF, back and for back and forth, after a few hundred shots, you'll get the "feel"

:D:D:D

[dtbh]

I do it the way ST described. Another way out for your predicament is to just snap the image without recomposing and crop for better composition. That should do it.

[bobtahar]

I do it the way ST described. Another way out for your predicament is to just snap the image without recomposing and crop for better composition. That should do it.

Yes! Thats the way aha aha.:rock:.. dont scare to crop.:pray:

[xman]

i do it the same like ST

u can't do in on the Canon? hmmm do i sense another drawback of using Canons here? hehehe go Nikon :P

[sinister]

Precisely the dilemma I'm in. 350D only has 7 focus points, sometimes I had to select back and forth the point closest to where I want the focus to be, but this proves "time-consuming". If I use AF, it is not always where I'd want the focus to be. And MF? The viewfinder is so small it's a 100% gamble :D

Does anyone else here have the same crappy dilemma I'm in? Or maybe I'm just the crappy one?

errr mine is only 5 focus point :(

[Fishhook]

for nikon its not hard..the direction button will make the focus point go where u want. AF does not effect where it focus,focus point do that. on nikon there is single area,dynamic area and auto area AF.

[ShaolinTiger]

Yeah I use all 11 focus points on my D200 regularly, only need to stick to center one if it's very low light or shooting something fast moving and want to track with AF-C.

[nitehawk]

u can't do in on the Canon? hmmm do i sense another drawback of using Canons here? hehehe go Nikon :P

U still. Depending on models, you have 45 on 1D series, 9 on 20/30/40D, etc.

[blur]

Thanks all for sharing your views and tips.


for nikon its not hard..the direction button will make the focus point go where u want. AF does not effect where it focus,focus point do that. on nikon there is single area,dynamic area and auto area AF.
Wow, that sounds so cool!

[easyihzy]

these are some article about focus recomposing

http://www.visual-vacations.com/Photography/focus-recompose_sucks.htm

http://www.mhohner.de/recompose.php

[ZulSim]

Never focus and re-compose with shallow DoF as the slightest movement will render it out of focus.

Use your selectable focus points and use AF or just straight away use MF, and make sure you don't sway back and forth or that will change the focal plane too!

What's the smallest f number in which it's OK to focus & recompose without going OOF? Above 5.6 or 8? Do you use AF Lock button to lock focus before recomposing? Thanks.

[ShaolinTiger]

What's the smallest f number in which it's OK to focus & recompose without going OOF? Above 5.6 or 8? Do you use AF Lock button to lock focus before recomposing? Thanks.

I'd suggest at least f/4 at very minimum, preferably yah f/5.6 or f/8.

I don't use AF lock, I use half pressed shutter if I do focus/recompose.

I generally don't though, prefer to crop or use selectable focus points for composition.

[ZulSim]

I'd suggest at least f/4 at very minimum, preferably yah f/5.6 or f/8.

I don't use AF lock, I use half pressed shutter if I do focus/recompose.

I generally don't though, prefer to crop or use selectable focus points for composition.

Thanks ST. Can we half press shutter/recompose with D80? Although I used to do this with my pns, I can't find this stated anywhere in the D80 manual. The video clip in Nikon Digitutor showed the use of AF Lock. What is the purpose of the AF Lock then? It's so much easier to half press the shutter. Sorry, so many silly questions. I am only a newbie.

[ShaolinTiger]

Thanks ST. Can we half press shutter/recompose with D80? Although I used to do this with my pns, I can't find this stated anywhere in the D80 manual. The video clip in Nikon Digitutor showed the use of AF Lock. What is the purpose of the AF Lock then? It's so much easier to half press the shutter. Sorry, so many silly questions. I am only a newbie.

DSLR usually have AE/AF lock, so you can lock both exposure and focus, just focus or just shutter, depending on which you like.

Half Shutter by default locks just focus I believe.

So yeah you can do this with D80.

You can read these for more info:

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1034&message=25118680

AE-L AF-L Button

This locks the focus or exposure. You select what it locks in Custom Setting 18 (http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d80/users-guide/menus-custom.htm#18). I set mine to lock exposure for as long as I hold the button.

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d80/users-guide/controls.htm (http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d80/users-guide/controls.htm)

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d80/users-guide/menus-custom.htm#18

[ZulSim]

Thanks ST. So if we use manual exposure by metering at the point of choice, then it will be easier to just half press the shutter release to focus & then recompose rather than using the thumb to press the AE-L/AF-L button & simultaneously half press the shutter release with the index finger. Am I right? Custom Setting #18 has so many options, AF Lock being one & that's the one I am wondering about its main function. Thanks.

DSLR usually have AE/AF lock, so you can lock both exposure and focus, just focus or just shutter, depending on which you like.

Half Shutter by default locks just focus I believe.

So yeah you can do this with D80.

You can read these for more info:

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1034&message=25118680

AE-L AF-L Button

This locks the focus or exposure. You select what it locks in Custom Setting 18 (http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d80/users-guide/menus-custom.htm#18). I set mine to lock exposure for as long as I hold the button.

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d80/users-guide/controls.htm (http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d80/users-guide/controls.htm)

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d80/users-guide/menus-custom.htm#18

[icyages]

the answer is D3 or D300 with 51 AF points!! :D:D

[ZulSim]

You will see tiny crosses all over the viewfinder. No problem of selecting one bang on your subject position for perfect focus. Get your money ready.

the answer is D3 or D300 with 51 AF points!! :D:D

[dwaynefoong]

select the nearest focus point and focus recompose

[Peisqo]

Hmm i've always been wondering about this too ... I'm using D40 ( shouldn't be different i guess ) ...

If i set my AF-L/AE-L button to PURE AF-L ONLY .... then pressing that button then recompose is EXACTLY same as pressing the shutter half way then recompose ? - Assuming i don't move front/back ... just left and right