Canon Powershot SX50 HS focus issue (1 Viewer)

[ebwilderae]

I debated putting this on the very lengthy discussion re the above camera but thought I would start here. So this lovely Crotals horridis (Timber Rattlesnake) is a gravid female and they seem to hang out getting as much sun as possible before giving birth (in a few days I reckon). I assume my problem is that I am not getting/creating enough depth of field so that the surroundings which are very close to the snake are all in focus with the snake. I was shooting on P setting and I have AF Frame set to Flexizone and Servo AF is on. I have digital set to 1.5. So snake in vegetation reads out 720 mm (in 35 format), 1/500 and f5.6. The other one reads 1128.28 mm 1/640 and f5.6. ISO is on auto and it chose 80. Not sure if these are the right variables to be looking at so would appreciate any input.

 

[ebwilderae]

So I guess that if I am to increase depth of field I need to push up the ISO which will allow enough light to handle. I'll give that a try.

 

[kitefarrago]

You're right, if you want a larger area to be in focus you have to decrease the aperture, which means pushing up the iso.

But why do you care about anything other than the subject being in focus? Admittedly, with something like a snake you are unlikely to get the kind of far removed background that isolates the subject, but if it were me I wouldn't mind some grasses looking a bit blurry as long as the snake is in sharp. Personally, I don't mind some of the subject being blurry as long as the eye is in focus, but I know a lot of people disagree with that take.

Andrea

 

[pshute]

Or you can use a slower speed, or a flash.

 

[ebwilderae]

Guess I am just wanting all the snake to be in focus. Appreciate your input, both of you.

 

[DaveAitch]

I'd go along with Andrea: by and large the eye(s) have to be in focus, the rest less so.
As has been said upping the ISO is one answer - or increasing the light with flash. Flash isn't easy to get right though.

The more you practise the more you will find the answers. (The good thing with digital is that it doesn't cost anything, other than time, to do that practising.) It can be a long hard slog to get that perfect photo. You can bet your bottom dollar that even those taking the best photos on here have had plenty of failures along the way.

One thing I would just add is that I don't like setting the camera to record the date/time on the photo. It's there in EXIF if needed, and is much easier to add later than it is to remove.

We don't have too many snakes in Britain (and none in Ireland) so I don't get much chance to try to photograph them unless I trot down to the zoo.

 

[Dongle]

create a model snake with some rolled up cloth (or something like) and practice out in the garden. Safer than a puff adder and a fer de lance which I came across last year.