Beginner- First NON-Auto Mode pictures
I am just beginning to learn about photography. And these are my first ever pics taken that aren't on auto-mode lol. Can only go up from here! If anyone can tell me how I can get a baby in focus while he's flying at me that would be great! Thanks a lot :)
PS - this is James
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Re: Beginner- First NON-Auto Mode pictures
Are you using manual focus? While manual focus is wonderful to get super sharp images of still objects, set your camera in AI servo mode and use Autofocus. This is basically the same as the green box setting, it works best for something moving toward or away from you. You will have to take care that focus does not track the hand reaching out.
Focus on the eyes!
Also, a smaller aperture will give more depth of field. This will hide minor focus errors. Try f/5.6 or f/8. You will have to increase ISO if in low light, its always a trade off, so try different settings. Make sure your shutter speed isn't too slow, use 1/focal length at the minimum.
Re: Beginner- First NON-Auto Mode pictures
Quote:
Originally Posted by schweepes
PS - this is James
Hi James [;)]
Quote:
Originally Posted by schweepes
I am just beginning to learn about photography. And these are my first ever pics taken that aren't on auto-mode lol
If it's not Auto-mode, how did you make these shots? I asume AV-priority with auto ISO?
Quote:
Originally Posted by scalesusa
set your camera in AI servo mode and use Autofocus
Ditto that. Using the centre point only to focus might help increasing the right spot of the focus area. While all points might hunt at other things than the important ones. At least when I started out, all my subjects where in the middle of the frame due to the centre point, but they were sharp where I wanted them to be sharp. And with all those megapixels you can crop a bit. I found that this method works great for the spontaneous shots.
Quote:
Originally Posted by scalesusa
Also, a smaller aperture will give more depth of field. This will hide minor focus errors. Try f/5.6 or f/8. You will have to increase ISO if in low light, its always a trade off, so try different settings. Make sure your shutter speed isn't too slow, use 1/focal length at the minimum.
I can only see the Exif of the 3rd picture: 18mm f3.5 ISO-3200 1/25sec.
So in this case, it's probably the 18-55 IS kitlens which has been used and it has been used in AV mode with the aperture max opened. Assuming this is auto-ISO, there is no way this shot could have been made any better with a smaller aperture like f5.6 of f8. Unless with use of artificial lighting.
Anyway, keep on practicing, you'll be fine! Shoot a lot and you'll get to know your camera much better and you will get better results every time.
Jan
Re: Beginner- First NON-Auto Mode pictures
James is adorable! Your shots aren
Re: Beginner- First NON-Auto Mode pictures
Thanks for all the helpful advice! I took these in AV priority. I got a rebel t2i for my bday, and it came with a 18-55mm f5.6 lens, so that
Re: Beginner- First NON-Auto Mode pictures
Re: Beginner- First NON-Auto Mode pictures
Quote:
Originally Posted by schweepes
I've seen Al Servo in the camera but still don't know what it means lol. More wikipedia tomorrow for me!
Have you now?
Quote:
Originally Posted by schweepes
I think it may be awhile before I get the manual focus down.
Don't bother with Manual focus for a long time. They didn't invent autofocus for nothing [;)] Manual focus is better for certain situations, but for the normal day use and especially with moving subjects like your son....don't bother!
Good luck and I hope we get to see great results [Y]
Jan
Re: Beginner- First NON-Auto Mode pictures
<span style="font-size: small;"]<span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;"]Hi schweepes,
<span style="font-size: small;"]<span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;"]welcome to the forum!
<span style="font-size: small;"]<span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;"]
Quote:
Originally Posted by schweepes
I recently got the 50mm 1.8, so I'll try with the smaller aperture now.
<span style="font-size: small;"]<span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;"]It appears that you are thinking in reverse, 1.8 is a wider aperture than you currently have and it can really try your patience. More on that in a minute, first a quick explanation of aperture settings. The lower the number the wider the lens opens to let in more light. The numbers also do not go in a straight progression. For example, f/2.8 is a wider aperture than f/4.0, but, in fact it (f/2.8) allow in twice as much light as the f/4.0 setting. One major advantage to the wider aperture (lower number, ie. 1.8) is that by allowing more light to hit the sensor you can take pictures in lower ambient lighting with out a flash, or as much flash.
<span style="font-size: small;"]<span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;"]Now to the patience trying part: although there are some tremendous creative uses for the wider apertures, the have a lot shallower depth of field. What this means in the simplest of terms -- for your immediate purposes -- is that even the most minor of out of focus (OOF) will result in a "soft" (less than sharp) picture. You may never be happy with f/1.8 on your T2i because the slightest mis-adjustment between the camera and lens will appear less than sharp focused. Canon knows about these tolerances and the solution they have is in the non-Rebel series cameras -- AF Microadjustment. What this feature does is allow you to dial the exact setting for a specific camera/lens combination. You may need to shot at f/4 or higher to obtain desirable results in your images. What scalesusa was suggesting was to try f/5.6 of f/8 as the smaller aperture, which they are. The down side is that you will need more light and/or higher ISO settings to get yopur images.
<span style="font-size: small;"]<span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;"]
Quote:
Originally Posted by schweepes
I've seen Al Servo in the camera but still don't know what it means lol.
<span style="font-size: small;"]<span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;"]What the AL Servo does is adjust the focus using an algorithm to compensate for movement, very useful with a toddler. [;)]<span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;"]You should set to that setting if it is not currently your default.
<span style="font-size: small;"]<span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;"]
Quote:
Originally Posted by ddt0725
James is adorable!
<span style="font-size: small;"]<span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;"]Can't argue with that! [:D]
<span style="font-size: small;"]<span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;"]Good Luck,
<span style="font-size: small;"]<span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;"]Chris
Re: Beginner- First NON-Auto Mode pictures
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris White
Canon knows about these tolerances and the solution they have is in the non-Rebel series cameras -- AF Microadjustment.
The solution is in most non-Rebel bodies. The recently-released 60D lacks the AF Microadjustment feature. The 50D has it, as do all current xD bodies.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris White
<span style="font-family:comic sans ms,sans-serif;"]What the AL Servo does is adjust the focus using an algorithm to compensate for movement, very useful with a toddler. [img]/emoticons/emotion-5.gif[/img]<span style="font-family:comic sans ms,sans-serif;"]You should set to that setting if it is not currently your default.
AI-Focus is another option, which acts like One Shot mode unless the camera detects that the pre-focused subject is moving, in which case it automatically switches to AI-Servo-type tracking.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris White
<span style="font-size:small;"]<span style="font-family:comic sans ms,sans-serif;"]
Quote:
Originally Posted by ddt0725
James is adorable!
<span style="font-size:small;"]<span style="font-family:comic sans ms,sans-serif;"]Can't argue with that!
+2!
Re: Beginner- First NON-Auto Mode pictures
Thanks for all the help :)
I tried the AI Servo, it's good with the 50mm, but with the 18-55mm it was taking too long...I had to catch a tipping over baby before it would focus.
I know what you're saying about the slightest error causing blurry pics...I should've picked something easier like rocks to learn with instead of my crazy baby.
Here's the latest attempts!
Thanks again for all your help guys!
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Re: Beginner- First NON-Auto Mode pictures
Quote:
Originally Posted by neuroanatomist
The solution is in most non-Rebel bodies. The recently-released 60D lacks the AF Microadjustment feature.
Sorry, I think of the 60D as the Super-Rebel. I should have clarified that a little better.
Quote:
Originally Posted by neuroanatomist
AI-Focus is another option, which acts like One Shot mode unless the camera detects that the pre-focused subject is moving, in which case it automatically switches to AI-Servo-type tracking.
True again. I personally have better results with my 50D using the AL Servo, my hit rate goes down with the AI Servo, so I use either One Shot or the AL Servo (AL most of the time). It could be my specific camera or me, but since the other options work well, I personally just avoid the AI Servo. Mileage may vary.
Re: Beginner- First NON-Auto Mode pictures
Quote:
Originally Posted by <span><span>schweepes
I tried the AI Servo, it's good with the 50mm, but with the 18-55mm it was taking too long...
That
is most likely a result of the 50mm lens fouusing quicker than the 18-55. I know
it is a pricey option, and I do not know your budget, but if you tried
an EF-S 17-55mm IS USM lens you would see the real potential of your T2i.
It may seem like a duplication of your 18-55, but it is in a whole
other place when it comes to quality -- and priced to reflect it. It
also has a constant f/2.8 aperture.
But, you are way ahead of me having
the DSLR with a baby James. I got away from my 35mm film and drifted to a
point and shoot until my kids got a little older and as a result, other
than annual purchases, I do not have the quality that you will be able
to achieve with what you currently have. As far as getting familiar with
manual settings, it will come to you with usage.<span>
I recently shot a parish talent show my kids were in and after a couple
of the rehearsals, I shot the two shows in full manual and I am very
pleased with the results. My largest issue is going through 3000+
images.
Enjoy James and your new camera,
Chris
