She Stumped Me

Hi! I know this is likely to lead to some "read the manual" comments, but I've done so and I'm still stumped. A friend in my photography group has a Canon Digital Rebel XTi. We get the autofocus thing, and we get the selected AF point thing. But is there some way to get an "average" focus? Kind of an overall focus, or something that would allow a focus of a near object, and far, then an auto function to get those objects and everything in between as sharp as possible? Thanks!

I don't have a Rebel, but look and see if your camera has a DEP or A-DEP mode.

It's called A-DEP, take a look in the IM (page 72) for the explanation.
Most photographers however, don’t like it very much and rather calculate/estimate DoF themselves.

http://dofmaster.com/d​ofjs.html

When you choose a focus point that is it. However what you need to learn about is D.O.F. https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=53846

Here is a link that will lead you to some very helpful books. Also you have on your camera a depth of field preview button. It is normally located on the front of the camera where the lens mounts. Pressing it will set the lens to the chosen f stop and allow you to see what all will be in focus. Hope this helps.

I have never used DEP mode before, but it exists. If you want everything in focus, you could also stop down your lens to f/8 or f/11. Any more and you could get some diffraction that could ruin the detail you get. This kind of leads to hyperfocal distance. http://www.dofmaster.c​om/hyperfocal.html

You guys are awesome! Very diplomatic and very helpful! I thought this had to do with a focus setting, but you're right, it's as much a function of depth-of-field as it is focus. Kind of intertwined. Thanks again!

We aim to please!