Focus issue on camera

loggie24 · Feb 2015

Hi! I'm messing around with my camera i got a few months ago, but i have always had one issue with it when taking up close pictures of things. Say i'm shooting a bark texture, the top part of the image is always blurry, sometimes both top and bottom are. I have tried most of the focus settings (wide focus, local focus etc) but everything is the same.

My camera is Sony A58. Any help would be great!

EarthQuake · Feb 2015

When you're close up, the depth of field is very narrow. Use a higher aperture value. You may need to use a tripod or raise your ISO to maintain a fast enough shutter speed with a small aperture opening (larger aperture number). Shoot in A or M mode.

Also, read this book: [ame="http://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Exposure-3rd-Edition-Photographs/dp/0817439390"]Understanding Exposure, 3rd Edition: How to Shoot Great Photographs with Any Camera: Bryan Peterson: 0884798534707: Amazon.com: Books[/ame]

loggie24 · Feb 2015

Thanks a lot EarthQuake. Could you elaborate a bit more what you mean with using a larger aperture? Do you mean to zoom away as far as possible or opposite?

EarthQuake · Feb 2015

Go to A mode and set the Fstop. If you're at F4, turn it to F8. Try different combinations. I could elaborate more and explain the concept of depth of field, how focal length and aperture affects it, or you could read that book I linked. =P

Here is a quick summary as well: http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/depth-of-field.htm

loggie24 · Feb 2015

Man, i hate reading books... But thanks anyways

EarthQuake · Feb 2015

That book will take you a few evenings to read, it's really cheap, and then you'll have a much greater understanding of photography.

Harbinger · Feb 2015

I'm unfamiliar with that camera, but other than EQ's suggestion, you simply might be too close. All lenses have a minimum focus distance, if you're too close you'll get blurry shots no matter what.

Also, increasing your F-stop (the F number) is a decrease in aperture. Larger number = smaller aperture (hole that lets light through) = larger depth of field.

EarthQuake · Feb 2015

Yes, higher aperture value I meant to say.

Focus issue on camera

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