Not impressed by G2 portrait

[jrohland]

This was taken with the G2 set to the Portrait option. I would like the background to be very out of focus. It is not. I would like this mode to do a better job.

Anyway, comments on how I could get the G2 to do a better portrait are welcome.

http://www.oort.net/images/img_0009.jpg

John Rohland

[danielchtong]

http://www.botzilla.com/photo/G1focus.html

This link should give you all the reply you would need.

This applies to G1 & G2 as well

Daniel
Toronto

[simmonsrandal]

the link is dead.
do you have something you can post on focusing a g1?

[Don Ellis]

The link works... try again.

I've never used any of the camera's special modes. Instead, set to Av mode, set your aperture value to 2.0 (or 2.2 or 2.5 -- the lowest you can get it), and take your picture.

The suggestion to use a +1 or +2 close-up filter is also good, although you need an adapter and you have to be prepared.

Good luck.

Don

[eland]

John

All comments given are relevant.

The very short lenses on cameras like the G2 etc make obtaining shallow depth of field more difficult than on a similar 35mm or larger camera.

If you have the tele converter for your G2 use that for portraits as well as using the widest aperture on Av setting.

The longer the focal length the shallower the depth of field, all else being equal.

Also a longer focal length will allow you to stand further from your subject and will give less distortion.
Your image does show some distortion.

Failing all else, use the lens wide open as Don suggests and use the lens at its longest possible focal length.

The distortion in this image makes me wonder if the lens was indeed set at its longest focal length.

Another point worth remembering.
With relatively wide angle lenses if you tip the camera up or down, the verticals will appear to converge.

Here you have tipped the camera downward so the convergence of verticals is downward.

(Tilt the camera upward as in photographing a building and the verticals will converge upward. )

Lots of traps for the unwary.

Regards

eland

[eco_roy]

i have never used the portrait mode when taking a portrait.

the best way of controlling the DOF is using the AV mode, i think.

when at the focal length of 7mm, you can get the largest aperture 2.0, and 21mm the 2.5.

my experience is when you use the focal length 21mm and aperture 2.5, the dof is smaller than the combination of 7mm and aperture 2.0


enjoy shooting