Retarded question time on focusing...
Discussion
A prime opportunity for anyone I've annoyed to laugh and point at me for my lack of understanding 
So... after my little photo session with the missus couple of days ago, one thing struck me with all my pics.
Head shot - fine
3/4 shot - fine
Full body shot - complete loss of sharpness.
Is this likely to be me, a limitation of the camera body, lens... what do I need to look at first? When doing head or 3/4, I focus on eye / hold / recompose / shoot (only have 3 focus points on the D60). Obviously with a full body shot, the focal point is now big enough to pretty much just target the whole face, but surely SOME of it should still be sharp, even if not the eyes?!
Teach me oh wise ones for I feel dim witted.
oh - lens is Nikkor 18-70 BTW
So... after my little photo session with the missus couple of days ago, one thing struck me with all my pics.
Head shot - fine
3/4 shot - fine
Full body shot - complete loss of sharpness.
Is this likely to be me, a limitation of the camera body, lens... what do I need to look at first? When doing head or 3/4, I focus on eye / hold / recompose / shoot (only have 3 focus points on the D60). Obviously with a full body shot, the focal point is now big enough to pretty much just target the whole face, but surely SOME of it should still be sharp, even if not the eyes?!
Teach me oh wise ones for I feel dim witted.
oh - lens is Nikkor 18-70 BTW
Its hard to say without seeing the photo's / exactly what you were doing. Is any part of the photograph sharp?
There is no reason why you should be having trouble specifically taking full length shots really, except that it would be easier to miss focus and focus on the background as your "target" is smaller in the frame.
There is no reason why you should be having trouble specifically taking full length shots really, except that it would be easier to miss focus and focus on the background as your "target" is smaller in the frame.
If you're close to the subject and focus on the eyes and then recompose the focus will be totally out. When you focus you are fixing the distance between the camera and the subject, think of a tape measure between the end of the lens and your wifes eyes, as you move the camera the end of the tape measure moves in an arc and quickly moves away from your wife. Obviously if you are further back on a longer focal length then the effect is reduced (but longer focal length will have less depth of field anyway at the same aperture).
jimmy156 said:
Its hard to say without seeing the photo's / exactly what you were doing. Is any part of the photograph sharp?
There is no reason why you should be having trouble specifically taking full length shots really, except that it would be easier to miss focus and focus on the background as your "target" is smaller in the frame.
Unfortunately I have binned everything that wasn't sharp, will have to do some test shots. I've had the problem numerous time though - No part of the photo is sharp, it's all just, well substandard. Could it be to do with the lens at one end of the zoom? I can get such fantastic sharpness zoomed right in but zoomed out it appears much less capable.There is no reason why you should be having trouble specifically taking full length shots really, except that it would be easier to miss focus and focus on the background as your "target" is smaller in the frame.
dibbly dobbler said:
Is this not just a depth of field issue ? Are you shooting wide open ?
open or closed seems to make no odds so I don't think so.A Nikkor 18-70 should be acceptably good at both ends; I never had a problem with mine. Try some tests under more controlled conditions using a good AF target, eg something with contrast and texture. It could be the lens, or the body, or you 
ETA If it was a focus issue then the result WOULD be better at smaller apertures.
ETA If it was a focus issue then the result WOULD be better at smaller apertures.
Yellabelly said:
Davi, can you tell us what the focus are setting was, ie Matrix, Spot. Also which focus points were you using.
Also dependant upon the aperture used as to the Depth of focus that you will get. Google hyperfocal distance to get some idea of what it all means
I virtually always use single point single servo focus, the D60 only has 3 focus points, centre and two either side which I chose depending on which will allow me least re-composition movement. Also dependant upon the aperture used as to the Depth of focus that you will get. Google hyperfocal distance to get some idea of what it all means
LOL I read on hyperfocal a few weeks ago oddly enough - if I read it another dozen times I may remember a few bits of it :P
dibbly dobbler said:
Is this not just a depth of field issue ? Are you shooting wide open ?
Blurry full body, possibly shooting whilst wide open.Am I the only one that's thinking this sounds a bit phnaar phnaar
Sorry, I know it's not the Lounge, but it did pop up in the Pie and Piston list.
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