Baby Chloe

one is way OOF
two seems OOF as well.

I can't read any EXIF data from your images. What lens were you using? Two needs deeper DOF to get the face in focus.

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4..

Shutter speed and aperture? I'm guessing you're trying to use ambient light and struggling to get a proper exposure, leading to a wide open aperture and a slow shutter speed. Ambient light can be great, but its often not enough indoors so I use bounced flash a lot. Just wait until she really starts moving.

I use my 50/1.4 a lot but rarely larger than f/2. You'll need to stop down quite bit to get both eyes in focus if you're near the minimum focusing distance and her eyes aren't the same distance from the camera as in the second shot.

See Attached

Stop the lens down for more depth of field. I'd use a faster shutter speed too. 1/60 is OK if she doesn't move, but you'll quickly get motion blur when she moves, especially in the hands which can move quickly. Raise the ISO to compensate for the smaller aperture and faster shutter.

I don't have a separate flash and with her being a baby obviously wouldn't use the popup flash so close to her, which flash would you recommend?

Also whats the maximum ISO you would recommend?

Thanks..

Dean.

deanbayley wrote in post #16070859
I don't have a separate flash and with her being a baby obviously wouldn't use the popup flash so close to her, which flash would you recommend?

Also whats the maximum ISO you would recommend?

Thanks..

Dean.

I have a 580EXII flash but anything that you can aim the head at the wall or ceiling will do the job. There's a number of non-Canon units like Yong Nuo that are a lot cheaper. ETTL units are more expensive than full manual ones, but easier to use.

As for ISO, I'd use whatever I needed to get the exposure I needed. High ISO noise doesn't show up too much on web sized images or small prints. High ISO noise can be addressed in post processing but if you get a shot with insufficient DOF or motion blur from a slow shutter, you're stuck with it. Some of my favorite shots of my kid are at ISO3200 which is my 5D's max.

Procamerashop have the 600ex at £350, could be a plan

deanbayley wrote in post #16070938
Procamerashop have the 600ex at £350, could be a plan

Getting a speedlite and learning how to use it opens up a whole new world. Go for it. She'll only be this age once.

You can find a cheap used 430EX II that should be great to get you started in the world of bounce flash. You should also check out http://www.dofmaster.c​om/dofjs.html and learn about depth of field.

I'm assuming you were pretty close to here so I guessed 3 feet away. That gives you not even 3/4" that would be in focus had you nailed the focus point. Once you stop down the aperture or get a little more distance from the subject the DOF gets deeper.

Subject distance 36 in

Depth of field
Near limit 35.7 in
Far limit 36.3 in
Total 0.67 in

In front of subject 0.33 in (50%)
Behind subject 0.34 in (50%)

Hyperfocal distance 3665 in
Circle of confusion 0.019 mm

Great shot but your pictures are out of focus.

My Dad lent me a 600EX to have a play with, a lot more options than i thought..

Took some shots with the flash bounced off the ceiling, what a huge difference.

Ordered a 600EX from procamerashop..

Thanks guys..

Dean.