Comments most helpful. I do think it was a bit out of focus to begin with. Having a little trouble adjusting to using my 50mm f1.4. Wonder if it would be better to manually focus.
Probably not, but there are various ways to tweak the way you use autofocus.
You can set the focus point, you can use continuos vs. single shot AF, and you can relocate the AF feature to one of the buttons on the back of the camera. I would usually do all three of those things when I shot Canon AF. Takes some getting used to, but you can hold down the button and it will track focus on the dot you set and then when you click the shutter it's immediate and you don't have to reposition the camera to compose.
Now I usually use manual, but my Fuji also has focus peaking and a zoom in live view, as well as a digital DOF scale when I use the Fuji lens. If I had a 50mm 1.4 with autofocus, I'd certainly use the AF.
Comments most helpful. I do think it was a bit out of focus to begin with. Having a little trouble adjusting to using my 50mm f1.4. Wonder if it would be better to manually focus.
I don't see why it would be better to manually focus for a portrait shot like this. Auto focus should be doing just fine, so long as you give it a second to do its job. Do you use focus lock (or its equivalent) when shooting with auto focus? In case I'm using the wrong term... I'm talking about when you hold the shutter button down half way to "lock the focus" on the faces (or whatever you want your focus to be) and then recompose your shot while still holding the button.
I'm talking about when you hold the shutter button down half way to "lock the focus" on the faces (or whatever you want your focus to be) and then recompose your shot while still holding the button.
Yes, I do this. But I'm wondering if I don't have my focus points set accurately. In taking some other pictures, all of which turned out blurry, I noticed that the focus was on something a little closer to me, like a knee or a boot. I tried to refocus on the face, but for some reason wasn't successful with that. Think I just need a lot more practice with this lens, and need to check to see if I have auto focus set correctly.
I would set the focus point so it will focus on the eye. I recently set one of the back buttons to focus rather than holding the shutter half-way down. Much easier than holding the button down while you re-frame. It also holds the focus until you push the button again. It takes a little getting used to, but I will never go back to using the shutter button for focus.
fwiw, back button focus is all the rage and its works well for moving subjects since it holds the subject while you snap away but for portraits where people are sitting still you are better off learning the basics to use and change your focus point and hit proper focus before you learn these alternate methods.
Does this happen with all your lenses or with one in particular? You may have a front- or back-focus issue. Your 7D allows you to calibrate the camera to each of your lenses specifically.
Since this isn't closeup of the face, I would have just used the centre zone to focus. No need to recompose or even select a specific point for a shot like this.
Does this happen with all your lenses or with one in particular? You may have a front- or back-focus issue. Your 7D allows you to calibrate the camera to each of your lenses specifically.
Doesn't seem to happen with my 24-105mm. Didn't know you could calibrate lenses individually. Something else I need to learn about! Wish the dog hadn't chewed up my manual.
Just to add my 1 cent: I agree with Paul, and would rotate photo to the left, so the man doesn't look like he is stepping back from this very pretty woman.
Just to add my 1 cent: I agree with Paul, and would rotate photo to the left, so the man doesn't look like he is stepping back from this very pretty woman.
Followed that suggestion and straightened it up. Looks a ton better.
also if you have PS CC you might try running Camera Shake reduction filter to see if it can sharpen it up a little or run a high pass layer over it may help.
