Question the cameras..

March 16th, 2010
So, i have a new Nikon CoolPix P100 (WHICH I LOVE!) but i cannot get pictures like iI get on my mom's Cannon Rebel. I am not saying what I bet you think I am suggesting (I fully understand the difference between our cameras). I am saying how do you get that effect of the picture where if you focus on one object, everything else is slightly out of focus? Care to explain..maybe in not a too high tech language? :)
March 16th, 2010
The effect you're looking for is sometime called boheh. Such as in a portrait of a person- the person is crisp and in focus but the background is blurred.

I imagine that your camera is much like other digitals, in that it has various presets on a dial for you to choose. I would say that the best way to acheive the results you are looking for is to set it to it's portait mode (it should be a little sillhouette icon of a persons head on your camera's dial)

I know you didnt want any technicals but i'll try to keep it as simple as possible. In that mode, your camera's aperture is going to open wide up. When this happens it creates what is called a shallow depth of field. There is an exception though. the closer your subject is to the background or foreground the less blur you get. for example. you take a picture of some one that is 1 foot away from a wall, and the wall may blur out a little but will remain mostly in good focus. the further you separate the person from the wall the more blur you will get in the wall. (so long as ou keep the focus on the person)

I hope this helps, and I hope that I didn't confuse you too much
March 17th, 2010
i think the Nikon coolpix P100 has an aperture priority mode (usually labeled A or AV).

Set this to the lowest setting it has (i.e. the smallest number) to give a greater depth of field that you are talking about (i.e. something in focus and the background blurry).

And like adrian says the more distance between the subject and the bit thats in the background the great the 'out of focusness' (DOF)
March 17th, 2010
Bokeh...my favorite word (facetious). Most point and shoots dont have the ability on some of the lower end ones. "think" the P100 has a manual override. If it does, you will need to go to a large opening (small number) on the Aperture. The Program function likely chooses between f5.6 -f8.

To get good depth of field, you need a lens which can open as wide as possible. At the Point and shoot prices, it just isn't the artistic possibility that most want for a P&S. Otherwise, they are phenomenal gizmos!

Face it, in the DSLR world, a real good Prime lens that provides great ...ahem...depth of field, costs more than a good point and shoot. Give some, take some.
March 17th, 2010
i think chris had some unpleasant past experiences with a man named bokeh ;)

haha i'm just playin man.
March 17th, 2010
Hey Mark, yeah, I'm a clown. Ms. Bokeh and I had a nasty relationship! I'm dating Depthoffield now!
March 17th, 2010
Thank you everyone..:)
March 18th, 2010
This was helpful to me also. Still get confused on lingo... :-/
March 18th, 2010
hahaha I certainly hope things work out for you this time around, Chris.
March 20th, 2010
Wu
@Chris Your'e dating Depthoffield? I thought I was! :: snaps fingers:: she gets around
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