where to focus?

[mediyoga]

If I am in a joint like say Pizza hut with 6 - 7 persons and I want all included in the pic, I go at least 6 ft away keep the widest angle. Up the iso to 400, manual of say 80 and F 5.6 or so . On a retangular table with the head of the family on the narrow side and 3 on each side of the head person, who should I keep the focus on? I want all in focus!
Maybe I am asking a stupid query? Should I use manual focus?
Thanks in advance
Krishna Raman

[cdifoto]

It's about depth of field. Focus on the person or area central to the group and use an aperture narrow enough (big f number) to get everyone in the plane of focus. In darker venues, a tripod is a must. I doubt even IS would let you handhold a narrow aperture in a dark room.

[24Peter]

I think what you need to do Krishna is ask them to get up and all stand at one end of the table. Or like Don said, use a really small f stop. I'd add that you want to stand pretty far back away from the group to have any hope of getting them all in focus. It's times like these that a little Canon P&S camera with it's small CCD sensor and hugemongous depth of field is helpful.:)

[mediyoga]

Thanks Cdi and Peter. Peter, I wish I had a small P&S camera like you say. I think the best is a sony /canon that slips into one's pocket. Peter, I like your reply! Ask all to stand in one point! Thats really good:) . Methinks I should really buy a simple P&s some time!!
Cheers:)
Krishna

[24Peter]

Krishna - you didn't mention which lens you were using. I have this image of you with the 70-300 IS everytime I see one of your posts. But a wider angle lens like the kit lens should make it easier to get everyone in the shot as well. What lens were you using? (BTW - where are you located? For some reason I think you're in India. If you really have Pizza Huts in India, my condolences :( )

[mediyoga]

Peter, I do live in Chennai, India, by the sea side. I have a reasonably wide angle the 17-85 IS ( did not get a good copy of the tamron 2.8). Oh yes we have all the crap in India too, Pizza hut, Dominos, KFC/ Mac/ blah blah. BTW my nephew who lives in Buffalo NY likes the Indian Pizza hut flavour and I like the one there! But we are all health freaks to a great extent!

India has changed so much after globalization. Nokia, samsung and others are setting up plants here to manufacture cell phones. BTW the cell phone penetration in India is one of the highest in the world. Its a beautiful country with its own ups ands downs. Here is a pic I took with the olympus C 2500 L. which was a great camera. This shows the outside of a cave temple of the Buddhist age.
cheers:)