Lessons - the best place?

PsiFox said:
Organise a TP meet at wherever the hide is. Bring cakes and you will get some help

Jays kites and buzzards will help too.
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I'm in Germany, but normally I'd work for cake...
 
Hi,
Please don't give up!! I can't help you with our feathered friends but focussing maybe!
What I did when I struggled was to practise on a series of objects in a structured way. You could put various 'targets' up in the garden some very close together and staggered, others at distance. Then take practice shots using AF and at different apetures. Have a look at what you have done and see which are sharp and which are not. Repeat the shots that didn't come out well and you will figure what works for you.
I did this for a while and finally figured [in a no pressure situation] what was working and why, it also gave me a lot more confidence when the real shot counted.
The more you practice the luckier you will get!!

Dunc
 
Briony said:
:shrug: told you I should give up as there is no hope
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Hmmmm how often do I feel like that too:( I seem to have the same issues Nicki, so thank you for starting the thread, looks like there is going to be lots of help and advice which I think I will find useful too :)
 
Just a thought from a non canon user.

When you hold down the shutter button halfway and recompose, is it possible, if your canon is set to continuous focus, that the physical point of focus is changing to match where the in camera focus point is overlaid?

Do you have the* button set to AF lock. if so use this to focus before you press the shutter.

Someone elses thoughts here

Focusing with AF lock a bit trickier
When the (*) is set to AE lock, the camera still locks focus and exposure together when half-pressing the shutter. However, this is not the case when the (*) is set to AF lock, where the camera locks focus when that button is pressed.

Because I take a lot of wildlife photos, I decided to switch the (*) button to AF lock [camera manual page #158: C.Fn-10 shutter/AE lock button]. I didn’t realize the camera no longer focused when half-pressing the shutter button.

No wonder my photos weren’t properly focused.

I should have known though, because there was no audible focus lock sound and no focus confirmation light. What did show in the viewfinder and on the LCD was a *. I now realize it was a reminder to hit the (*) button to focus.

Always something new to learn in digital photography.
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There are loads of really good replies here. Someone made a good point about the continous focus setting on your camera, probably worth checking the manual to see how it's set. I also agree about trying on some stationery objects. I know it can be boring but if you master your camera it's worth it. 
 
Nicki, just to demonstrate you are by no means alone..........check out the clarity of that grass :bonk:

DSC_075820100321.jpg
 
First thing I would do is get the camera checked out for any AF problems. I have read of the 450D having some issues and seen at least one report of it on this site, might at least be worth a google.
No point going any further if its a mechanical problem and far cheaper to get looked at than paying for tuition

Then its a matter of starting simple and analyse each step of your picture taking, just a process of elimination until you have found the cause of your troubles.

Could be wrong, but you appear to be something of a perfectionist, my daughter is and I know how these sorts of thing drive her potty. Don't think you will give up so get a plan of action and find out where its going awry

You will crack it i'm sure and very satisfying it will be too
 
You don't have a UV filter on do you? Can affect focussing.
 
Duncan.F said:
Hi,
Please don't give up!! I can't help you with our feathered friends but focussing maybe!
What I did when I struggled was to practise on a series of objects in a structured way. You could put various 'targets' up in the garden some very close together and staggered, others at distance. Then take practice shots using AF and at different apetures. Have a look at what you have done and see which are sharp and which are not. Repeat the shots that didn't come out well and you will figure what works for you.
I did this for a while and finally figured [in a no pressure situation] what was working and why, it also gave me a lot more confidence when the real shot counted.
The more you practice the luckier you will get!!

Dunc
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Will do Dunc and Thank you:thumbs:

Laurie 29,

No I took the UV filter off as I thought that may be causing the problem.

Tijuana Taxi,

You have hit the nail on the head yes I am a perfectionist always have been and always will be, I hate it when my cakes sink they go to the chickens:lol:

Thank you for all your replies, I know where my friends are :thumbs: ;)
 
Is it worth practising manualling focussing? That way you are in control, not the machines!
 
Arkady said:
No it bloody can't!!!
FFS if you're going to comment get your sodding facts right!
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In fact Arkady I have been told on more than one occasion that this is the fact so that is why I have removed it.:shrug:
 
Briony said:
In fact Arkady I have been told on more than one occasion that this is the fact so that is why I have removed it.:shrug:
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Told by whom?
Do you seriously think those of us who've been using them for over thirty years might have noticed by now if they did?

This is a typical example of internet rumour being touted as fact with no empirical evidence to back it up.
 
Briony said:
In fact Arkady I have been told on more than one occasion that this is the fact so that is why I have removed it.:shrug:
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Basic Physics supports Arkady on this one.

Unless you're into homoeopathic photography and want to ignore the science that is.

Backfocussing has been a bit of an issue for me of late, especially as I've been shooting at 2.8 and below much more recently. I've managed to address most of the issues I experience by not using a focus and recompose technique (my normal, portrait shooting method at higher apertures) and switched to selecting my AF point instead. Took a whle to get fluid, but now I'm only a little slower than when I F&R.
 
I'm definately not a sciencey person but have always had UV filters fitted to every lens and never noticed a problem with focus.
 
OK, whilst it may be the cheapness of the UV filter, but particularly whilst shooting Macro, my camera struggles to focus with the UV filter on it.
 
lawrie29 said:
OK, whilst it may be the cheapness of the UV filter, but particularly whilst shooting Macro, my camera struggles to focus with the UV filter on it.
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Well... :shrug:...that's a first for me...
 
I've had problems with diagonal artifacts when using a cheap UV filtesr but no focus issues.
 
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