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View Full Version : When shooting family portraits how do you get everyone in focus.

Jun Madayag
10th of January 2009 (Sat), 01:55
I took this shot to test and most of the time this is my common mistake. How do I get all my subject all in focus. should I use an aperture of f8 or more (or higher number)?

http://junphotography.multiply.com/photos/album/24/The_Zamora_Family#1
TheHoff
10th of January 2009 (Sat), 01:58
Yes, and focus in the middle of the group, not on the front.
Jun Madayag
10th of January 2009 (Sat), 02:22
Yes, and focus in the middle of the group, not on the front.


what aperture is generally acceptable for group portraits?
TheHoff
10th of January 2009 (Sat), 02:34
It is dependent on the focal length of the lens and size of the sensor --

http://www.dofmaster.com/dofjs.html
Jun Madayag
10th of January 2009 (Sat), 02:43
It is dependent on the focal length of the lens and size of the sensor --

http://www.dofmaster.com/dofjs.html


i just got my 5dmkII and also i use canon 40d. i generally use canon 24-70 f/2.8 canon 85mm and 50mm 1.4 for portraits
bobbyz
10th of January 2009 (Sat), 20:30
Typically I would start with f8 and won't hesitate to go to f11/f16 if I have to.
chardinej
11th of January 2009 (Sun), 08:56
It is dependent on the focal length of the lens and size of the sensor --

http://www.dofmaster.com/dofjs.html

The size of the sensor has nothing to do with it. Look at:

http://www.clarkvision.com/photoinfo/dof_myth/
bobbyz
11th of January 2009 (Sun), 19:52
The size of the sensor has nothing to do with it. Look at:

http://www.clarkvision.com/photoinfo/dof_myth/


Am I missing something?

The 1dmk2 picture is at f13, The p&s image is at f3.5. Now both have same DOF. The last image has 1dmk2 at f3.5 and DOF is quite small compared to p&s at f3.5.
JeffreyG
11th of January 2009 (Sun), 19:54
The size of the sensor has nothing to do with it. Look at:

http://www.clarkvision.com/photoinfo/dof_myth/

Are you sure you understood what you read in that article?

The author is positing that one can rely on the cleaner high ISO performance of a larger sensor in order to stop down far enough to develop the same DOF as is possible with a smaller sensor shot with a larger aperture and lower ISO.

This is hardly suggesting that larger sensors don't have less DOF as was being discussed in this thread, only that one can stop down enough to overcome it (and use higher ISO levels to preserve shutter speed as needed) with these large sensors.
Karl Johnston
12th of January 2009 (Mon), 12:37
Could always take x amount of shots for y amount of people to get x+y foucs. Paste each layer over each other in photoshop (make sure you use a tripod and nobody moves) then erase the out of focus people.
bobbyz
12th of January 2009 (Mon), 22:07
Could always take x amount of shots for y amount of people to get x+y foucs. Paste each layer over each other in photoshop (make sure you use a tripod and nobody moves) then erase the out of focus people.


Why make life so hard when you can do it my just setting the camer aperture?