AF question for Head shot

[hiri]

Hi All,
need an advice.
i am new on SLR. i just bought 50D and 24-105mm L
and i can't get a sharp head shot picture with out a photoshop

my "head shot" questions :
1. using canon aiAf switch to the center point.
should i aim it to the eyes then recompose
or to the nose/cheek/ just any parts of the face?
(assume: using f/4 or 5.6 and the distance is less than 5 meters away)

2. will it be easier to get a sharper image if the distance to the object
is more than 5 meters/ infinity?? (assume: using f/4 or 5.6)

3. for head shot, which one is better?
using longer focal w/ further distance to the object
or shorter w/ shorter distance?

4. is it true, a more expensive camera tend to produce softer image but
more detail ?

thx very much

[dkspook]

Hi All,
need an advice.
i am new on SLR. i just bought 50D and 24-105mm L
and i can't get a sharp head shot picture with out a photoshop

my "head shot" questions :
1. using canon aiAf switch to the center point.
should i aim it to the eyes then recompose
or to the nose/cheek/ just any parts of the face?
(assume: using f/4 or 5.6 and the distance is less than 5 meters away)

2. will it be easier to get a sharper image if the distance to the object
is more than 5 meters/ infinity?? (assume: using f/4 or 5.6)

3. for head shot, which one is better?
using longer focal w/ further distance to the object
or shorter w/ shorter distance?

4. is it true, a more expensive camera tend to produce softer image but
more detail ?

thx very much

Use one shot af, focus (w. one of the outer points) on one of the eyes. Recompose if needed, Press shutter button. :)

Which aperture are you using? Focus-recompose with a shallow DOF is tricky business...

[cdifoto]

I try to always choose the AF point that lays right over the nearest eye. Focus-recompose can be dangerous when you have a small depth of field in which to work.

[bsaber]

my "head shot" questions :
1. using canon aiAf switch to the center point.
should i aim it to the eyes then recompose
or to the nose/cheek/ just any parts of the face?
(assume: using f/4 or 5.6 and the distance is less than 5 meters away)

2. will it be easier to get a sharper image if the distance to the object
is more than 5 meters/ infinity?? (assume: using f/4 or 5.6)

3. for head shot, which one is better?
using longer focal w/ further distance to the object
or shorter w/ shorter distance?

4. is it true, a more expensive camera tend to produce softer image but
more detail ?

thx very much

1. What others have said.
2. No
3. Usually longer focal length is recommended because it reduces distortion of facial features.
4. No

Hope that helps.

[hiri]

Thx to 3 of you: dkspook, cdifoto, bsaber

for focus then re compose on headshot picture
is aperture (f) 4 is "dangerous"?

[bsaber]

Depends but in general I would say yes.

[hiri]

hi bsaber...

i see your pics from the flickr
the adeline and aoni is cool & sharp - very nice

if f.4 is "dangerous" so what f to considered safe for re compose?

and if i shot using big aperture like f=1.8 and can not use recompose technique
what should i do to have a sharp headshot pictures like yours..

thx...

[beegeeboy]

Hi,

I've learnt lots by trial and error too! I never focus and recompose now, I use the nearest focus point to the eye and singal that one out - same as CDiphoto says. With a narrow DOF as soon as you recompose you're asking for trouble. Well, that's what I found anyway!

David

[bsaber]

hi bsaber...

i see your pics from the flickr
the adeline and aoni is cool & sharp - very nice

if f.4 is "dangerous" so what f to considered safe for re compose?

and if i shot using big aperture like f=1.8 and can not use recompose technique
what should i do to have a sharp headshot pictures like yours..

thx...

First, thanks! :D

As David said above you should select the focus point closest to the point you want to focus on. For me f/5.6 is "safe" for focus and re-compose. Anything less than f/4 you should use the focus point that is closest to the point of interest. It also depends on the lens and camera to subject distance. For example, if you're using a wide angle (let's just say the 17-40L) and shooting at f/4 @ 17mm on a crop camera. I find that you can still do the focus and re-compose without too much trouble assuming that the distance to the subject is ~3 or more.

Hope that helps

[hiri]

thx everybody..
will try and practice again...
next week i have a models hunting session...
will try to upload later

@bsaber : i am reading your blog at this moment

[bsaber]

thx everybody..
will try and practice again...
next week i have a models hunting session...
will try to upload later

@bsaber : i am reading your blog at this moment

Haha, what do you think? :D

[hiri]

To Bsaber:
well... i think you need to make a link and change the layout so it will be more attractive and easier to read.
regarding the contents: no problem.. and helpful for newbie

[bsaber]

To Bsaber:
well... i think you need to make a link and change the layout so it will be more attractive and easier to read.
regarding the contents: no problem.. and helpful for newbie

What do you mean by make a link? Thanks for the feedback. :)

[hiri]

from my 1st model hunting:
learning from all of you
i shot using f/5.6 and f/8

@bsaber: about link... it will be easier if ican jump to the date/ week i want
you only divide them by months.. or a link for an articles.. you don't always write articles everyday,right? let's say when i am only interest at reading an articles...

[hiri]

here.. two more

[bsaber]

Those look great hiri! I've been planning on doing exactly what you're saying and will do some when finals are over. Looking forward to seeing more of your work.