Focus - what am I doing wrong?

[Gaina]

Yesterday I went to a local park with a nice lake and had a jolly old time. When I came back I noticed that the focus 'sweet spot' is just above, below, left or right of where i want it to be and I'm tearing my hair out! haha. Here's a sample to show you what I mean (I wanted the swans head in focus) ...



Camera: EOS 350D
Lense: Sigma 70-300
Exposure: 1/125s at f/7.1
Exposure Mode: Auto
Exposure program: Shutter Priority
ISO: 200
Focal Length: 300mm
Metering Mode: Pattern
White Balance: Normal

Thanks in advance

[matt_xyz]

One possibility is that you were too close to the swan - were you within the minimum focusing distance of your lens? Failing that, you were presumably using the multi AF points i.e. the 7 or 9 autofocus points? If so, it might be wise to select only the centre AF point and you can then ensure that this is on your subject matter, the swan in this case. The camera appears to have automatically selected an AF point which isn't on the swan.

I hope this helps and isn't telling you things you already know

Matt

[Gaina]

Originally Posted by matt_xyz

One possibility is that you were too close to the swan - were you within the minimum focusing distance of your lens? Failing that, you were presumably using the multi AF points i.e. the 7 or 9 autofocus points? If so, it might be wise to select only the centre AF point and you can then ensure that this is on your subject matter, the swan in this case. The camera appears to have automatically selected an AF point which isn't on the swan.

I hope this helps and isn't telling you things you already know

Matt

Thank you Matt I was shooting from my Dad's car and the swan was quite a way from me but I have just fired up my camera and you're right, I mistakenly thought that having all the lights showing in the + meant it would all be in focus so I've re-set it to the centre point .

I'm now about to buy a 1G card because I filled my EOS and my little Ixus with alarming speed and I don't want to get caught out at Slimbridge

[matt_xyz]

You're welcome. The multi point AF can be useful, but you have to be careful which part of the image it locks onto. As I say, the safer option is just to use the centre spot unless the point of focus needs to be somewhere else (e.g. if you wanted the swan to be to the left or right of the image) in which case you can select one of the other spots.

Matt

[Gaina]

I have to say distance was a problem at some point because they were the most friendly swans I've ever met and often got too close to photograph! Here are some more pics....




Did someone ring the dinner bell?

No prizes for guessing these are NOT swans LOL...

[Gill Catton]

Oooh one of your swans has a darvic ring on its leg (big fat usually brightly coloured plastic ring). if you report in the code on the ring to the BTO sometimes you can get a history of that swan and give them usful data bout swan movements. I got sent a photograph of a particular swan's grandmother once it was ace!!
lovely pics, BTW, I like the head shot and the row of black- headed gulls in particular

[Gaina]

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

Oooh one of your swans has a darvic ring on its leg (big fat usually brightly coloured plastic ring). if you report in the code on the ring to the BTO sometimes you can get a history of that swan and give them usful data bout swan movements. I got sent a photograph of a particular swan's grandmother once it was ace!!
lovely pics, BTW, I like the head shot and the row of black- headed gulls in particular

Thanks for the info, next time I go up there, I'll make a note of the rings . I am thinking of making the rown of gulls into a DA print.