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View Full Version : another dumb question!


Spinning
12-20-2009, 09:16 AM
ok I played around today with my camera, 50D. Outside....I was playing with manual focus. And no matter what I did what I wanted to be in focus was not sharp.
Here is my dumb question.
I wear glasses for driving but I do not use them to take pictures. It is too uncomfortable and the glasses are usually in the car. I spin the focus knob so it seems sharp and in focus.....but could this be messing me up?
I will post pictures as soon as they are done up loading.
D Thompson
12-20-2009, 09:29 AM
I wear glasses as well except when I shoot. Here is what I have done to help me with what I see thru the viewfinder. Put the lens in AF and let it lock focus. Then use the diopter adjustment, should be a small thumbwheel around the viewfinder, and adjust it until things look in focus. It has no effect on the focus, merely how you see it thru the viewfinder.
Spinning
12-20-2009, 10:43 AM
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c225/Sondracot/IMG_0891.jpg
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c225/Sondracot/IMG_0894.jpg
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c225/Sondracot/IMG_0895.jpg
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c225/Sondracot/IMG_0896.jpg

I hope those were all the ones I used manual focus....
Csae
12-20-2009, 02:31 PM
Doesn't the 50D have AF Confirmation ?

The first two look out of focus, your dog shots in the other thread also looked OOF for me.

I say put it on a tripod, Manual focus, then check the focus on liveview.
Spookonthe8ball
12-23-2009, 10:59 AM
The sharpness issue may be due to shutter speed. I see most were taken at 140mm that bumps up to 224mm considering the 1.6 crop factor of the 50D. At 1/200 shutter speed you are borderline for slight image movement. Was image stabilization on? Try a tripod like Csae suggested with IS off and the auto timer on to fire the shutter, or increase the shutter speed to around 1/300 when you are zoomed out like that.
Spook
adam75south
12-23-2009, 01:38 PM
true, at 140mm you're really pushing it with 1/200s. i don't even like going under 1/200s with an 85mm on full frame. i usually try to double my focal length with shutter speed. so 50mm at 1/100s or faster, 85mm at 1/160s or faster, etc...especially on a crop camera.