Focus

[FreezingRose]

Hi
Can someone help me with the focusing issue
I just have my first DSLR T1i, how can make my camera to focus where I want it to focus instead of letting the camera do the job? When I take picture of my two sons, one is in focus while the other is out. I've tried to change the AV value but it didn't help much. Thanks

[Rockney]

Use the center point, the red square in the middle..

[Marloon]

first of all this is in the wrong subforum. what you are looking for is the digital EOS Subforum.

second, in the creative modes (P, Av, Tv and M), you can press the top right button on your camera. all of your af points will light up and using the directional buttons found on the back of your camera, you can select the AF point that you desire.

[Parmcat]

Also check your Apperture...

If you are shooting wide open, you will have a tough time getting everything in focus!

[FreezingRose]

Thanks for fasting responds everyone, I'll check the other sub forum.

[SuzyView]

I moved this to General Talk as you do not have an image to SHARE.

[gjl711]

Hi
Can someone help me with the focusing issue
I just have my first DSLR T1i, how can make my camera to focus where I want it to focus instead of letting the camera do the job? When I take picture of my two sons, one is in focus while the other is out. I've tried to change the AV value but it didn't help much. Thanks This one sentence leads me to believe what your problem is, is not point selection but depth of field. One of the big difference between a P/S and a SLR is that the DOF in an SLR is much less than a P/S camera. The only way you can increase it is by using a smaller aperture.

For instance,with the standard kit lens at 55mm wide open at f/5.6 your DOF is just over 2 feet. That means if you focus on the nose of one son, the image is in focus approx 12" in front of his nose and 12" behind his nose. If son #2 is 4 feet behind son #1 he will be out of focus.

Change the aperture to f/16 and your DOF changes to about 7 feet with about 4 foot of the focus behind the subject. Trouble is that it also lets in a whole lot less light so other things need to compensate like ISO and shutter speed.

So, if your going to use your SLR for family type shots you do have to plan out the shot a bit better to get all the subjects in focus, or, do what I do. Continue to use your P/S for family snapshots as the DOF is much greater.

[rweakley]

all of your af points will light up and using the directional buttons found on the back of your camera, you can select the AF point that you desire.
Or you can use the scroll wheel near the shutter release to cycle through the AF points, which is a bit easier when looking through the viewfinder.

[Sorarse]

I agree with gjl711 in that it doesn't sound like it's his focus point that is the problem, as he explains that one of his subjects is in focus. It sounds more like a lack of DoF that is at the root of the problem.