focus settings on D90

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cherokee1111

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when I leave all the points on I have to half press the shutter button several times to make sure what I want is in focus:thumbsdown:
when I made it a single focus point- centre - I get pics that are oof around it:thumbsdown:
so basically what are the best focus settings/combo that will give me more pics with more of the picture sharper? using 35mm and 85mm f1.8 primes.
thanks
 
Two choices. Set the AF to AF-S and AF area mode to single point.

Choose the centre focus point, put your focus point on the point you want in focus, lock focus with a half press on the shutter button, re-compose while holding the half press and shoot.

The above method does not work so well if you are using large apertures with narrow DOF as you may lose focus when re-composing. In this instance you can compose the photo, move the focus point to where you want it with the 4 way multi selector and shoot.
 
If you are using single point focus & getting OOF around that point of focus but that focus point is sharp then thats the point of it ( if using a wide apeture ) use a smaller apeture ( bigger number ) to bring more of the shot in focus.
 
Yeah, you are confusing focus with aperture.

To get more of the frame in focus, use a bigger F number.

Single point focus is the best bet for predictable results, but not good for tracking moving subjects. If taking a photo of a person, point the center point at the nearest eye, half press the shutter, recompose whilst still half holding the shutter and then shoot. At f/8 or so, you should have the whole head in focus and the background blurred a bit. To get the whole frame in focus you'll need f/11 or higher and that will mean a pretty long shutter speed.
 
thanks guys, good advice- I think I am trying too hard to get good bokey to POP the subjects. Using single point then half pressing and recomposing I found the lens refocusing by itself:(
what would be good settings to get sharp eyes but good bokey but not have the rest of the face/nose/ears too blurry?
 
You need to make sure the camera is set for when you focus, its stays focused, called single servo focus.

Or, select single point, put that point over the eye and press the focus lock button (if you have this set up) recompose and shoot. If you are head on with the subject, then f/5.6 should get the eyes sharp and the rest OOF.
 
All depends how close you are to the subject, the closer to the subject the more the chance of getting sharp eyes & blurry ears at a set apeture. Also using a focus point closest to the eyes should help as re-composing with a wide apeture ( small number ) can throw the focus off. I tend to leave the focus lock button on the back of the D90 turned off so i can quickly choose the focus point i want for each shot.
 
again, great advice:clap: I'm not really following it exactly or misunderstanding slightly, maybe I need to read the manual but its very basic.
 
cherokee1111 said:
thanks guys, good advice- I think I am trying too hard to get good bokey to POP the subjects. Using single point then half pressing and recomposing I found the lens refocusing by itself:(
what would be good settings to get sharp eyes but good bokey but not have the rest of the face/nose/ears too blurry?
Click to expand...

If the camera refocuses when you recompose then you have the AF mode set to AF-C (continuous) or AF-A (auto). You want to set it to AF-S (single) by pressing and holding the AF button and selecting AF-S by turning the rear control wheel or pressing the button again.

See page 54 of the D90 manual.
 
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