Focus question for large groups

jenniferann

I was wondering if I could get some help with this, when shooting a large
group where the people are in rows, lets say 3 rows for this, which row
would you focus on? I need to make sure all faces are in focus and have
been having trouble with some of the faces getting fuzzy.
I am using a 17-70 Sigma lens, with 6.3 F stop, shooting in Manual, shutter at 50 with a flash, indoors.
I appreciate any help.

anonymouscuban

jenniferann wrote: »

I was wondering if I could get some help with this, when shooting a large
group where the people are in rows, lets say 3 rows for this, which row
would you focus on? I need to make sure all faces are in focus and have
been having trouble with some of the faces getting fuzzy.
I am using a 17-70 Sigma lens, with 6.3 F stop, shooting in Manual, shutter at 50 with a flash, indoors.
I appreciate any help.

I'd figure out the hyperfocal distance to the first row, center, and set focus to infinity. I'd also stop down the lens to f/8 and crank the shutter up to at least 1/150, if not 1/250.

Sam

Have a look at this: http://www.dofmaster.com/dofjs.html

Play with this a little bit and you will the relationship between focal length,
F stop, and distance.

Sam

Gael

anonymouscuban wrote: »

I'd figure out the hyperfocal distance to the first row, center, and set focus to infinity. I'd also stop down the lens to f/8 and crank the shutter up to at least 1/150, if not 1/250.

I'd do the same thing- and as an added bonus, a great majority of lenses are sharpest at f5.6-8.0

zoomer

Shoot it at 70mm. 5.6 is plenty of depth, you could get away with f4 also if you curve the people on the ends in.
I shoot large groups at 2.8 no problem(don't try it unless you are sure what you are doing)...as long as you are not too close to the group and you curve the ends in so everyone is the same distance from the camera.

Focus on the center middle person.

You should get your shutter speed up over 100 minimum. 50 shutter speed is probably where you fuzzy faces are coming from.

VayCayMom

Sam wrote: »

Have a look at this: http://www.dofmaster.com/dofjs.html

Play with this a little bit and you will the relationship between focal length,
F stop, and distance.

Sam

Bless you Sam ! I have never had a chance to try to grasp this concept, but now I have no excuse. Sometimes I am amazed any of my images turn out!