Bluring Background

[wiz561]

Hi!

I recently purchased a A520 and really love it so far. I've pretty much read the instruction manual, but I find that it's easier to experiment yourself and didn't find the manual extremely useful.

My question is when taking a picture, how would you blur the background and only keep a certain part focused? I've placed the camera in M(anual) mode, tried auto film speed with a low aperature value (f/2.6) and a high one (f/8.0). So far, it doesn't blur the background as much as I would like.

Also, how does the camera know what you want to be in focus? I'm sure it depends on if you use the "spot" focusing, but so far, I've had no luck.

Last question! Does anybody know (or have) a web site where they post example pictures and give you hints on what to set the camera to?


Thanks in advance!

[Monarque1972]

With that kind of camera, it's pretty much impossible to get a nice blurry background, even with the proper settings (except in macro mode though). The sensor is just too small on those cameras. I've got the A95 and it's the same thing. So unless you switch for another camera, your last option is to learn how to artificially blur the background with some photo editing software. That's what I did and when you get the hang of it, the results can be extremely convincing!!


Good luck

[wiz561]

Ah, ok. I'm use to a 35mm SLR type of camera, and I guess things are just a little different. From reading the manual, it sounded like you could do this, but I guess you're just limited!


Thanks for the response!

[Benmok7]

Hi Wiz,
Use your zoom a bit, set the macro flower on, focus on the subject, lock the focus and compose your frame. This should give you a bit of a blur, but how much would depend on your DOF.

btw F2.8 is a big aperture F8 is a small aperture. These F values are fractions or inverse numbers.

Cheers,
Ben

[Benmok7]

Try www.usefilm.com
My pictures are there as well, although I don't do much macros.

[whchan]

I used to own a S50 and I was not able to get a nice shallow DOF since the sensor on those Point and Shoot cameras are so small (compared to 35mm cameras). I am using a DSLR now, with fast lenses, I have full control of the DOF. You can try to use the largest f-number, get closer to the object and using zoom... all the tricks you want, but it still may not get what you are after. I had a new born baby 9 months ago and been looking at those pictures in baby magazines (very shallow DOF..) and could not get anything even remotely close to them with my S50. This is one of the reasons I switched to a DSLR. Of cause with a DSLR, it gives a much much better perfomance for indoor shoots (espcically with a baby who is not very cooperate in posing for me).