Do some of the camera settings intimidate you? Do you want to learn how to develop your photography skills and learn how to use your camera effectively without always going back to the “auto” function? These challenges are for you!
This week’s challenge is: Manual Focus and Magnification in Live View
Explanation: This camera setting option is very useful if you want to get pin point focus on a subject. If you are using Live View (LCD viewing screen on the back of your camera) you have the option of magnifying the image you see in the screen to allow for tight focusing. Please read you manual for camera specific usage. For canon there are two buttons in the top right corner with a magnifying glass. One has a + and one has a -. These are the buttons to magnify in and out while in live view.
Using the LCD screen and manual focus is a great way to achieve very accurate focusing especially while your camera is mounted on a tripod and a trigger is used. Using the magnification button to zoom right in on a subject and then manually focusing till it is point point sharpe and hitting the trigger is the perfect way to nail your focus. This techneque can also be used handheld but requires a steady hand while in live view.
For this challenge and to get the most out of this function take two shots that has a subject far in the distance. Think of a field with a tree in the distance, the ocean with a boat far away or a city scape with lots of buildings in the distance. Start by setting up the shot (a tripod will be useful). Focus the shot manually using the view finder and take the shot. Now take the same shot but use the LCD screen and magnify onto a subject in the far distance and fine tune your focus manually. You can use the arrow buttons to move the point of focus. Again read your manual if you are unsure.
Experienced photographers who are knowledgeable in this particular setting are encouraged to offer “kind and constructive” suggestions on the posted entries. Those entering this challenge want to learn and improve.
This challenge starts today, Sept 23rd and will last through 12:00pm Central Standard Time (17:00 Zulu time http://www.zulutime.net) on Oct 2nd. All photos must be taken during these dates to be considered. Enter as many as you would like- the idea is to practice & learn. TAG YOUR PHOTO CSC-33 AND post your picture in this thread to receive feedback from other experienced photographers specific to this challenge.
Voting will take place Oct 4th (and remain open 24 hours) and the winner will be announced Oct 5th. The winner of the challenge will select an experienced photographer to host a new challenge. It is the winner’s option on who they want to host the next challenge; it may be someone they follow whose work they admire, or someone who is active offering suggestions on previous CSC challenges. The winner may also select an experienced photographer for the list of photographers who have agreed to host future challenges as another option. Here is the link to that list: http://365project.org/myhrhelper/365/2011-12-12
Expect to receive constructive suggests on how to improve your skills.
How to post your photo on this link:
1) Go to your page that has the photo you wish to post.
2) Copy the “share” code in the bottom right section of that page.
3) Return to this thread and paste the code under comments
I'll give it a try. Question. After you have 'magnified in' (+) and focused, do you take the shot there, OR do you hold that focus and 'zoom'(-) back out to live view'?
This is a technique I use frequently but mainly for macro shots where AF can focus on the wrong thing under the AF sensor. On some of the Nikon's you can programme the centre button on the multi direction selector to zoom in on 100% when pressed both in live view and display mode. Will try it on some longer shots.
@brav Great challenge! Thank you for hosting this. Oh, you have just helped me with my dilemma! I use manual focus but I usually always 97% of the time look through the viewer. I have an old 50mm that requires manual focus. My problem has been when I want to have my aperture between f1.8 - F3 I have trouble focusing. I take so many shots before I get it right. I never thought about using the live screen & enlarging the view! I will try this.
@myhrhelper@onie_m@smithak@kaesebiscuit@mrsbaldy I think this is what these challenges are all about. I only recently remembered you could do this magnification in live view and has help get some good focused shots.
@brav I just tried this - WOW what a difference. It has always been try to get the focus as best as you can but once you view it on your screen you notice how out of focus it was. This is a game changer for me.
Another one this evening:
(combined with the "zoom burst" technique challenge). Funny, there was still some blur on the rear chess pieces when I got the image onto the computer. Could be muck in or on the lens somewhere.
Edit: I forgot to say. The problem with this chess set is that it's really hard to get focus on the pieces, because they're transparent and translucent plastic. The autofocus won't do it at all. Whir. Whir whirr whirr. It was perfect for the Camera Settings challenge just for that reason :)
I find live view especially helpful when shooting macro flowers. Zoomed in you can see the smallest movement of the blooms as well as fine tune the focus.
Here are one of my shots for the challenge. This really was a great way to get better focus and I will no doubt be using it on a regular basis. Thank you for teaching it!
Had been told about this recently on a night photo walk and started to mess with live view more so happy to see this challenge. Love this feature!
Here's a shot from this morning.
I didn't realise you could zoom in on live view to focus manually. These camera setting challenges are a great insight to helping understand what is possible. I have used this technique several times now but have to admit not necessarily on subject that demonstrate the results too clearly. This was a subject I had in mind to enter but not necessarily with the mist. However it being so misty using the live view magnification did help focus in more accurately on the subject because the mist does obscure the detail when trying to focus through the view finder and I would imagine could confuse the auto focus.
@brav I just wanted to let you know that even though I didn't submit for this, I loved this challenge and it profoundly changed the way I set up my nighttime shots (which I use the tripod most often). All my shots in NYC were done using this. You'd have enjoyed being a fly on the wall listening to Junko ( @jyokta) and even Michael ( @michaelelliott) talk about what a useful camera setting this is. So thanks for posting it -- the timing was not good for me to submit, but it was perfect for our photo walk!
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(combined with the "zoom burst" technique challenge). Funny, there was still some blur on the rear chess pieces when I got the image onto the computer. Could be muck in or on the lens somewhere.
Edit: I forgot to say. The problem with this chess set is that it's really hard to get focus on the pieces, because they're transparent and translucent plastic. The autofocus won't do it at all. Whir. Whir whirr whirr. It was perfect for the Camera Settings challenge just for that reason :)
Here's a shot from this morning.