I'm perplexed...why does this happen?

Hi everyone,
Hope you can help. Why does the wrong person seem to be in focus in this picture...If zoom Browser is correct and I didn't re-compose why does this happen and what can I do in the future so this doesn't happen. Thanks for your help as usual.

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yikes.... if you did not recompose, either you stepped back or jerked back when you hit the shutter, or that lens is seriously front focusing. However... f/2.8 is not really ideal for taking photos of multiple people. Especially when you don't have them all on the same focal plane.

Perhaps the man in the middle was leaning forward when you composed the shot and he leaned back when you shot it? Aside from that it's either user error or your lens has a bad focusing problem (easiest problem to rule out).

Ah, the flaw in ZoomBrowser's ID of the focus point used. I would say you recomposed. Or hit the focus ring before shooting.

If you are using the shutter button to focus (haven't moved focus to the * button) the camera should not fire if it's out of focus and in normal single shot mode.

How accurate are those settings? Were you really at f/2.8 at 1/30 shutter speed at 50mm?

As previously stated, 2.8 is too shallow of DOF and 1/30 is too slow for a 50mm focal length handheld.

dave13 wrote in post #5601753
How accurate are those settings? Were you really at f/2.8 at 1/30 shutter speed at 50mm?

As previously stated, 2.8 is too shallow of DOF and 1/30 is too slow for a 50mm focal length handheld.

I would have pointed out the shutter speed being to slow, but the fellow that is in focus is razor sharp so it's obvious that camera shake is not an issue with this image. I assumed he used a tripod or some other support, or has really steady hands. The shutter speed/focal length relationship is more a guideline than a strict rule. Some people can hand hold a 50mm at 1/30 without issue, and some couldn't hand hold a 50mm at 1/90.... lol.

dave13 wrote in post #5601753
How accurate are those settings? Were you really at f/2.8 at 1/30 shutter speed at 50mm?

As previously stated, 2.8 is too shallow of DOF and 1/30 is too slow for a 50mm focal length handheld.

The exif data is straight from the camera and I believe I was in AV mode. 2.8 was used to eliminate the flash. Next, you say the SS is too slow but there is perfect focus on the wrong individual. I'm perplexed by that.

forkball wrote in post #5604908
I would have pointed out the shutter speed being to slow, but the fellow that is in focus is razor sharp so it's obvious that camera shake is not an issue with this image. I assumed he used a tripod or some other support, or has really steady hands. The shutter speed/focal length relationship is more a guideline than a strict rule. Some people can hand hold a 50mm at 1/30 without issue, and some couldn't hand hold a 50mm at 1/90.... lol.

No tripod here, I have pretty steady hands......

If it happens quite often it's a problem with either the lens or body not being right. Otherwise it's probably just a missed-focus thing. It just happens occasionally, especially if the focus point is over a low contrast point.

I could see where the pattern in the shirt could be viewed as somewhat of a "texture" and the camera just didn't get it right. Same thing whent the focal point is on a cheek for example, no contrast, so it just misses. It happens.

jseivert wrote in post #5608111
If it happens quite often it's a problem with either the lens or body not being right. Otherwise it's probably just a missed-focus thing. It just happens occasionally, especially if the focus point is over a low contrast point.

I could see where the pattern in the shirt could be viewed as somewhat of a "texture" and the camera just didn't get it right. Same thing whent the focal point is on a cheek for example, no contrast, so it just misses. It happens.

In a camera set up to focus and meter with the shutter button would the camera fire if it didn't achieve focus on the selected focus point?

No, if you see the little blinking light in the viewfinder it won't fire. (Assuming AF mode is set on the lens)

Edit: But since the red square lit up, the camera thinks it has focused correctly.

The 50 f/1.8 is pretty notorious for misfocus. It's possible that it misfocused and the guy in front just happened to be sitting the in focal plane it took.

What I'm getting at is that I think ZoomBrowser is simply showing you what AF point was active when the image was taken. It doesn't show you where that AF point was when focus was achieved.

Add this to the fact that unless focus was achieved (on something) the camera wouldn't take the picture.

Now we have a probable case of focus and recompose.

If you focused on the center AF point, did not focus and recompose and their was no movement/change in position by the subject or the shooter, then I'd say it's front focusing.

If this is always occurring then you have an issue and may want the lens calibrated.

Hey Boomer, can you let us know if this is a rare deal or if it's a constant problem?