focus issues

R

Ruby Gold

Member
I set manual focus on my brand new (month old) 100B by zooming in to Z99, manually focusing and then zooming back out to frame the shot. When zooming back in close, I've had a little bit of a problem with soft focus on close shots, and I sent the camera in to be checked. The repair guy did find a slight misalignment in the focus which he said he corrected.

Just got the camera back and I'm still noticing a very slight soft focus when close in, so I'm wondering if it's me or the camera. I'm paranoid that I may have a defective camera, and I want to replace it if that's the case, but the soft focus is so slight, and I'm so new to the camera, that I can't tell if it's me or the cam. Just don't want to keep the camera if it's going to continue being a problem, even slight. Any test I can do that will help me figure this out?

I was doing studio lighting with a manual exposure of between 5.6 and 6.8, so I don't think it's an exposure issue.

I'm also noticing that across shoots, even when the face is totally in focus, the person's jewelry (true on three different shoots/people) is not. For example hoop earrings or necklaces are blurry while the face and neck are in focus.

I know shiny things can be a problem for auto focus, but I'm in manual. Any thoughts on why this might be occurring, and if this is an indication that wd confirm something's wrong with the camera? Or is it me?

I've attached screenshots showing the soft focus when more zoomed in (the man), and the blurry earrings, focused face thing.

All thoughts appreciated on whether it's me or the cam.

thanks-
Ruby
 

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I would suggest that when you are manually focusing you are moving the focal plane onto the subject a little too shallow. What I mean is the subjects face is coming into focus and your stopping, thus the front of the subject is in the good focus range whilst the back is slightly out. Try using a focus chart placed at the furthest part of the subject from the camera as in level with the back of the head.
 
Wow thanks--great advice. I've always thought that focusing on the eyes, tip of nose or mouth was the thing to do. With my old camera (Canon GL2), focusing on any of these places gave me a nice sharp focus for the whole face that stayed in focus. Is this a different thing with the DVX?

thanks-
 
Two other things--1. any idea where I can download a focus chart suitable for DVX video?

And 2. if I focus at the back of the head, won't that leave the eyes/face in softer focus?
thanks-
 
I like to use this one from sonnyboo for its simplicity. I actually have this printed on a 1mm card which is stuck to the back oof my clap board.

http://www.sonnyboo.com/images/tips/focuschart.jpg

I would also suggest (without checking) that whilst the DVX has a relatively wide depth of field that the focal plane on a GL2 is wider again and easier to achieve an all in focus result.
 
Thanks for the focal chart URL--just curious--what do the numbers on the chart refer to?

I'm posting a screen grab of the guy with his chain out of focus but face in focus, because it really does seem like if one is in focus, they both should be.

I get it that the DVX has a less wide focal plane for "in focus" than the GL2, but this seems, well, a bit much. How do you ever get a full subject all in focus then?

Look forward to your opinion and thanks again.
 

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As I said the GL2 would have a wider focal plane.

Imagine a cardboard box about 1m x 1 m as your focal plane. What you want is the cardboard box to be placed squarley over your subject. When you change focus you push the box backward and forward. What I was suggesting was the only the back part of your box is hitting his face causing it to be in focus whilst the back half is not.

Sorry clearly in the picture you show there he is not in focus. Your focus point in the image looks like its behind the subject. Its just showing up on his jewellery moreso probably because of its high reflection and square lines.

What are you using to check focus? Do you have a monitor? Are you using EVF detail set to on in the LCD?
 
Hi there. Again--thanks for the response. As for your questions--no, I don't have a monitor--have previously (with my GL2) just used the lcd screen as a reference for focusing, and I've not shot anything out of focus before.

Now, with the DVX is the only time I've had problems around focus, which is why I was thinking it was the camera, not me. I did try double-checking through the EVF, since it's supposed to be more accurate, with the detail both on and off--but have found focusing using the EVF much more difficult to ascertain than with the LCD--not sure why. Don't think I left the detail on when using the LCD screen.

As for the screenshot of the guy with the jewelry being out of focus entirely--okay, but, I'm wondering why, then, the earrings on the young woman in the previous post are out of focus when her face is in focus. Thoughts?
Thanks-
Ruby
 
There is a switch called evf detail. It gives an edge enhancement in your LCD for what is in focus.
 
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