How to focus for self portraits?

[m_achines]

So far, I've been taking hundreds of the same picture and praying just one of them will be in focus the way I want it to be :bang:

 

[Daysleeper40]

I find this really difficult too but the advice I was given is to manually focus on something and then replace the something with yourself. Good luck!

 

[c4rv3r]

That's what i do when i take them with my point and shoot, just keep auto-focussing until one of the photo's is decent Lol. You could get somebody to sit on a chair exactly where you will be sitting, manual/auto focus them with a tripod, and then sit there yourself. I guess that won't leave crispy clear images though.

 

[c4rv3r]

I find this really difficult too but the advice I was given is to manually focus on something and then replace the something with yourself. Good luck!

I did this also, but rather than focus on something and then replace it with myself, i simply focused on something which was the same distance as myself, in relativeness to the camera distance, and then took the shot, it turned out fine.

I guess its just hit and miss with self portraits, i'd still say that auto-focus gives the most crisp results.

 

[corbystock]

I guess a small apeture could help along with the advice above & maybe rely on some cropping in order to maximise the effect of the small apeture.

 

[Will H]

Might be worth investing in a cheap remote release.

I've got a really cheap Yong-nuo one, which instantly solves the problem because, unlike self timer, it focuses just before it takes the shot

 

[c4rv3r]

Will's suggestion definitely seems like your best option Alex. And its one i will definitely be trying soon!

 

[Harvey_nikon]

Might be worth investing in a cheap remote release.

I've got a really cheap Yong-nuo one, which instantly solves the problem because, unlike self timer, it focuses just before it takes the shot

this, however my cheapy one only focuses some of the time.

Think it cost me about £3 off the bay

 

[Will H]

this, however my cheapy one only focuses some of the time.

Think it cost me about £3 off the bay

Mine was a little more than that but only about £20 or so IIRC - it's one of the ones that also works as an intervalometer and the like. Definitely worth the money though IMO

 

[magicaxeman]

The way I do it is to connect the USB cable and use live view along with a remote release, half depressed it focuses, fully pressed it takes the shot.
Before that I had a rotating screen and composed on that with my compact.
Before that I focused on a fixed object then made sure I had enough DOF that my face would be in focus.