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Tips for portraits shoot
Topic Started: Mar 9 2008, 06:47 PM (1,299 Views)
ayukawa
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Alpha Elite Member
Hi all,

I am a DSLR newbie, trying to get nice portraits of my baby.
But first tries were a bit blurry. i was using Minolta 50mm f1.7.
I usually shoot at ISO 400-1600, shutter speed between 1/20 - 1/80, f1.7-2
I am not sure if it's motion blur or out of focus.

I am using AF-A, and spot focus setting.
Will i be better off using AF-C?

I also tried not to use flash, will this cause the focus not to be spot-on?

Hope to learn from u guys.
Sony Nex-5 dual kit lens | VC 15mm f4.5 Super-wide Heliar | VC 40mm f1.4 Nokton

http://nixphoto.zenfolio.com
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rOnGrEn
Alpha Elite Member
ayukawa
Mar 9 2008, 06:47 PM
Hi all,

I am a DSLR newbie, trying to get nice portraits of my baby.
But first tries were a bit blurry. i was using Minolta 50mm f1.7.
I usually shoot at ISO 400-1600, shutter speed between 1/20 - 1/80, f1.7-2
I am not sure if it's motion blur or out of focus.

I am using AF-A, and spot focus setting.
Will i be better off using AF-C?

Hope to learn from u guys.

Any examples of pics to show? Then will be easier to determine whats the problem..

Shutter speed of 1/20 to 1/80 though slow, is still possible to handhold it without handshake if you hold the camera correctly. But if your subject (baby) is moving, then you might have blurring caused by the motion.

Do take note that f1.7 to f2's depth of field is very very narrow, so that might be a factor also.

As to AF-A or AF-C, I would think you will not be better off using AF-C, as AF-C is a bit unpredictable at times. I personally use AF-S 99% of the time though, at least i get confirmation of where i am focusing on.
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ayukawa
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Alpha Elite Member
Hi Rongren,

Thanks for your response.
Unfortunately i don't have any website to post my sample pic right now.

What is the normal aperture use for portraits usually?

I think my dof is too shallow, so a bit of misfocus can blur the entire thing.
Sony Nex-5 dual kit lens | VC 15mm f4.5 Super-wide Heliar | VC 40mm f1.4 Nokton

http://nixphoto.zenfolio.com
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cecilsg
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Alpha Elite Member
ayukawa
Mar 10 2008, 12:50 PM
Hi Rongren,

Thanks for your response.
Unfortunately i don't have any website to post my sample pic right now.

What is the normal aperture use for portraits usually?

I think my dof is too shallow, so a bit of misfocus can blur the entire thing.

hi ayukawa,

i use photobucket to post my photos... it's free and not difficult to use. u might want to consider it. there are other free sites that the other bros use eg flickr etc

would love to see your photos :)
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Ming
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90609866
Hi ayukawa , we have a Topic which we had discussed over how to post photos here . Hope This helps .
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yannh
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Alpha Sniper Member
ayukawa
Mar 10 2008, 12:50 PM
Hi Rongren,

Thanks for your response.
Unfortunately i don't have any website to post my sample pic right now.

What is the normal aperture use for portraits usually?

I think my dof is too shallow, so a bit of misfocus can blur the entire thing.

Hi ayukawa,

Looks like you already have some idea on the blur pictures.
There's only 2 things to make your pictures blur,
1. Relative motion between camera & object during the shutter openning,
2. Out of focus.

Portraits lenses is very powerful because it can blur out uninteresting areas with the shallow DOF. That's the usefulness of it. Just make sure the most interesting point (usually the eyes) is sharp.
Sony Alpha.
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ayukawa
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Alpha Elite Member
Thanks everybody.
Now that i can post pics, please take a look at my baby pics and see whats wrong.
It is not so sharp, is it more to motion blur or dof too shallow?
I used ISO 1600 cause i tried to avoid flash on the baby.

Exif: ISO1600, 1/100s, f2.2

Posted Image
Sony Nex-5 dual kit lens | VC 15mm f4.5 Super-wide Heliar | VC 40mm f1.4 Nokton

http://nixphoto.zenfolio.com
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cjng
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Emeritus Alphadslr Official Passerby~shooting badly since 2004 and continuing

What a lovely baby u had :wub:
The pic look reasonably sharp to me, u just need to sharpen a bit more if u find it still soft
My Fotogallery

Hello CZ! bye bye G!
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Trigger Happy
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Alpha Jedi Member
use AF-S.

focus on eye, AF lock, frame and shoot.

AND, don't move forward or back at all. at 1.7 the DOF is so shallow that if you lean forward just a little the pic will be OOF because you're so close to your subject. i know because i've shot many pics of my son with the 50mm f/1.7.

take a look at some of his pics here: www.samuelchan.blogspot.com

btw when they get a little bigger (my son's almost 10 months now) you'll need a longer prime like 85mm or 135mm as they become curious/ camera shy or stop being natural and even pose for you :)

to get higher shutter speeds shoot in the daytime and near an open window. at night, a desk lamp (with a translucent plastic sheet to diffuse the glare) will help.
----------------------------------
Many are culled, few are chosen
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ayukawa
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Alpha Elite Member
Hi trigger happy,

Thanks for your tips.
What a lovely baby you have....cute and chubby hehe.

What shutter speed is enough for you to freeze the baby's movement?
I found that when i use shutter speed of 1/40 or slower it's a bit blurry since my baby keeps moving, it's looking better now that i use 1/60 or faster.
But i had to crank up the iso further.

Yeah i have to think about better lighting and keep an eye on the dof.
Thanks again trigger happy!
Sony Nex-5 dual kit lens | VC 15mm f4.5 Super-wide Heliar | VC 40mm f1.4 Nokton

http://nixphoto.zenfolio.com
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