Focus

Question: How do you keep sports pictures in focus? Sports like snowboarding/skateboarding. I was wondering how you keep them in focus when taking pictures, cause they are usually moving fast and you don't have a lot of time to do manual focusing and if you use auto focus sometimes it doesn't focus in time or it will focus on the wrong thing. Which is better to use for snowboarding/skateboarding pictures, manual focus or auto? And are there any other tricks for focusing when taking pictures of snowboarding or skateboarding or any fast moving things like that?

Answer: If your camera has it, Auto Focus Tracking helps a lot with that. It basically recognizes the subject, and for the most part, locks on focus to it. http://www.nikon.com/about/technology/core/software/caf/index.htm http://imaging.nikon.com/products/imaging/technology/d-technology/autofocus/02sensor/index.htm @villainonales He didn't say that the shutter speed or motion blur was the problem at all. He's talking about focusing on a moving object....You should try reading the question first...

Question: What is Back Focus when referring to camera lenses? Or front focus for that matter? I have been reading lens reviews lately and I came across a review from someone stating,"This lens tends to back focus at xxxmm or front focus at xxxxmm." What does this mean. Thanks.

Answer: Back focusing and front focusing refer to the tendency of a lens - or sometimes the camera body - to focus slightly behind (back focus) or slightly in front of (front focus) the intended subject when using autofocus. In some cases, it can be eliminated by adjusting the lens at a repair center, and Canon has recently added a feature to the 1D Mark III that allows the individual user to make adjustments on the camera.

Question: How can i focus on my subject sharply while the background will be hazy? I'm using a point and shoot camera: Sony Cybershot H50. I have aperture from 2.6 to 8. Aperture 2.6 should give me the least depth of field. But i wonder why the pictures are not coming out as i am expecting. Someone please help. My camera can handle all manual controls but i have no idea how to focus manually on this camera though the reviews says it have a manual focusing system. Please Please HELP!

Answer: Your subject is standing too far away from you so you're probably reaching the hyperfocal sweet spot (google hyperfocal distance). Even on wide-open apertures, you can have everything in "focus" if the subject is too far away, to the point where the subject becomes part of the background (instead of middle ground or foreground). Either create distance between subject with the background using a telephoto lens, or have the subject stand closer to the camera and compose for a medium shot - all the while maintaining wide aperture.

Question: How can I become a focus group recruiter? I know a ton of people who want to participate in focus groups-- how can I become a recruiter for market research/focus group companies? How can I get started in the field by getting lists of focus groups? If you have helpful information, please let me know! Thanks.

Answer: It's good that people want to participate in a focus group BUT they have to also qualify for the focus groups. Typically companies are looking for certain categories of people. I know of a local company, there are three here I know of, that run focus groups and the recruiters are basically minimun wage jobs. They call people in their database and ask a series of questions, score the responses and then let the person know if they qualify for the group or not based on the responses. Check your yellow pages for Market Research firms if you want to work for one and then call and see how you can apply. I have participated in focus groups and many firms limit you to once in six months with their particular firm.

Question: How do I focus my rifle scope reticule and image at the same time? I've had this issue for two scopes now. I cannot seem to keep both the reticule (standard cross-hairs) and the target image in focus. I have tried refocusing the reticule multiple times now and it looks fine on blank backdrops, but as soon as it is moved to an object, one or the other goes out of focus. Any advice? These are simple air rifle (GAMO and BSA) scopes.

Answer: Hi Does your scope have an adjustable objective? If not that may be your problem. If its just a simple Gamo or BSA scope it may not have adjustable objective. An adjustable objective is a dial around the end of the scope, or a knob on the left side of the scope housing that allows you to adjust your scope's parallax to a certain distance by moving these adjustments until a clear picture is obtained. If you have a fixed objective scope then the parallax is pre set to a certain distance and can't be changed. That may be why you can't get everything in focus. Hope that helps Scott

Question: What are manual settings and how does manual focus work? ok i need to know what are manual settings in compact cameras... not really SLR, and also what is manual focus and how do you operate it. (for manual focus, for example if you're taking a picture and you want the camera to focus onsomething towards the corner of the picture, can this be adjusted through manual focus and how do you adjust this?) yep ok lets assume the compact does have manual settings... what are they?

Answer: Manual settings allow you to adjust things like shutter speed, aperture, and ISO independent of the camera. In auto exposure mode, the camera chooses the best settings according to the exposure reading taken from its light meter. If your camera has manual settings, you may override what the camera reads as the correct exposure to achieve a desired effect. But, you must still take into consideration the exposure measured by the light meter in order to correctly expose the shot. You really need to understand exposure to know why. This action varies from camera to camera so to learn how to do this on your camera, you should consult your owners manual. Manual focus is a seperate function from manual exposure. To do what you describe, you must learn whether your camera can move its focus areas, again by consulting your owner's manual. Most compact cameras do not, most compact cameras only have one focus area, and none have manual focus. If by chance yours does, look for a focus ring on the lens. If it doesn't have one, your camera does not have manual focus (there is no electronic focus adjustment that I've ever heard of). First, consult your owner's manual to see if your camera locks exposure and focus when you half-press the shutter release (most do). If it does, the easiest thing to do is put what you want in focus in the center of the frame where the focus area is, half-press the shutter release and lock focus and exposure. Then while still holding the shutter release half way, recompose the shot to put the area in focus wherever you want in the frame, then take the frame. So, if you want to focus on a person in any area of the frame that is NOT in the center (i.e, in the corner as you describe), follow that and it should work for you. Most, if not all, compact digital cameras are meant to be auto everything. Some provide manual settings, but most are limited to a min/max aperture and a min/max shutter speed. Compact cameras are not meant to be used manually. If you need manual exposure capability or manual focus capability, I recommend you get a digital SLR. Focusing is more sophisticated in an SLR because they have more advanced autofocus drive and acquisition modules that have multiple focus points of which can be chosen independently of one another as the primary, though they are still grouped around the center, just not dead center (there can still be a need to lock focus and recompose even on an SLR). Still, you don't get that with a compact, sorry to say.

Question: How does an Auto focus work in dslr cameras? Like 11 focus points, etc. Do you have to click or choose one of those square boxes in the viewfinder to for the camera to focus on the chosen subject? Many thanks!

Answer: You have several choices. Fully automatic - the camera decides which ones to use for focus. I hate that option with a passion since the camera so often wants to focus on something different than I do. Pick a focus point - that makes it YOUR choice and can be ideal in some situations. Central focus only - mine is nearly always set to that. I focus (i.e. push the shutter button halfway), then recompose and take the photo. Personally I couldn't care less if a camera offers 3 focus points or 300.... as long as I have one in the middle, I'm good.

Question: What to focus on in college if i want to start an animal shelter? I have graduated this year and i am taking a year off to work an will take a few college classes thru the community college during that time. Next fall i will start college but i don't know what to focus on since i want to start an animal sanctuary in my community (all we have is a pound and they have to euthanize them in a week if they can't find anyone else to take them). What should i major/minor in?

Answer: I am also going back to school to start a sanctuary, no kill shelter. I was given the great advice to major in business administration with a concentration in non-profit management. This will help you with figuring out funding, etc and ultimately to help more animals. Please see the answers to my question here: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AlNHgBomFrJ_VkY5YQIufArty6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20080209075923AAqNtrL Hope this helps!

Question: How to improve manual focus skills in photography? I have been using Autofocus for a long time. I am wondering how to improve my manual focus? Especially because im using a Canon 70-200mm f/4 with a 2X II extender, where there is not AF. In the viewfinder i think the focus is good, but when i view them on the PC the quality is bad. What is the solution?

Answer: Well, I used to shoot MF all the time (I had a D40x but only one of the three lenses I own is AF-S) so I have a few tips-shoot a lot more than you otherwise would. Make sure your diopter is dialed in correctly, and always press your eye right up against the viewfinder, and really strain to look for detail. It is possible to get excellent manual focus shots with a DX (or whatever Canon calls it) sensor if you really strain. In fact, I used to shoot sports with a 70-300 f/4-5.6, and an old Vivitar "Auto Thyristor" flash. The important thing is purely to use continuous and vary your shots slightly. Oh, and a good way to get used to seeing exactly what in focus looks like in your viewfinder is to just shoot at something a set distance away until you find a shot that is sharp in the LCD...and then look for that with future shots.

Question: How to focus more on studying instead of checking out hot guys? So yesterday I went to the park to study, since it was nice out. But I kept being distracted by hot shirtless guys running around in their shorts. What can I do to stop this behavior and focus on studying? I would hate to be stuck inside for the rest of my life every time I have to study.

Answer: Completing your studies are more important than the hot guys during studies. Make a deal with your self: For every hour of study time, reward your self with an hour to check out hot guys. At the end of your studies/homework, lump your "watch hot guys time " to-gather and enjoy the rest of the evening. Kill two birds with one stone.

Question: How can i get my microscope to focus? I can get it to focus on 40X and 100X, but i can't seem to get it to focus on 400X and 1000X. The cover slips always contacts the lens before i can get it to focus. Does anyone have any tips?

Answer: http://www.celestron.com/c3/support3/index.php?_m=knowledgebase&_a=viewarticle&kbarticleid=2110

Question: Whats the best way to focus on a project without being distracted? Seriously, now this project for English is due Monday and I still can't focus whatsoever. Is there any type of method I can use to focus on my project for a few hours, without being distracted by anything more interesting than my project? I'll try to ask in a different way since I kinda rushed the details. Let's say you're working on an important project for school. What do you do personally to stay focused, so you aren't distracted by anything else?

Answer: Hm...I typically isolate myself in my room. I know you're not supposed to do more than sleep on a bed (for reasons of offset sleeping patterns) but I have a tendency to use my bed as a work space for projects, seeing the area is larger than a desk for paperwork. I also keep a light by my side as opposed to a blinding overhead light. Occasionally, putting the television on mute assists me in concentration, perhaps because it adds an unobtrusive alteration to the environment after long hours of work. Make sure you eat something before you begin your project! Oh, and my favorite tip for writing research documents on the computer would be to zoom out of the document considerably so that your text is fairly small. I find I write much more farther from the page, subconsciously assuming I am writing the same amount despite the smaller text. Good luck on your project =)

Question: How can I leanr to focus more on my homework and avoid distractions? I have the hardest times studying sometimes. This is really bad considering that next year, I will need to learn to be much more focused and into my studies. The thing is, I am in cejep right now[Quebec style] and that even if we have tons of homework I do it at the last minute. I can't keep doing that. I just can't seem to focus or find some kind of motivation. I want to study, I'll have my books open, but at the same time I'll have something else on my mind. I tend to get easily distracted by the littlest things. Any ideas on how to cope? Yes, I am in school to have an education. I will be going in Animal Health next year which is what I've been wanting since the age of 7. It's just that right now, everything feels like a waste of time because it has nothing to do with Animal Health whatsoever.

Answer: Okay, first let me ask you a question of my own. Are you in school to play cejep or is that something to do while you get an education? Now, if your education is your primary priority, begin to treat it as such. Make a list of your long-term goals and keep it in your face. If you catch yourself daydreaming instead of studying, look at that list. Those things you want in life will not happen by themselves. Remind yourself that the next game, last game, your friends, and/or whatever else distracts your mind will have to wait until you can give them your full attention once your homework is done. These will help take care of your internal distractions, but it will require you to take charge. It's a big world, and if you can't/won't rise to the occasion, somebody else can and will take your place, get your dream job, etc. How bad do you want it? Create a study area for yourself, as distraction free as possible. If you can't do that, use headphones with instrumental music (no words!) to help you block out whatever is going on around you. Get away from the TV. Turn off your cell phone. Tell everybody to leave you alone. (Get grouchy about it if you must---it's your grades after all, not theirs!) I hope this will help with your external distractions. Have you seen "Finding Nemo?" Dory has a mantra of her own I adopted when life gets tough "Just keep swimming, just keep swimming..." These tips won't change your life overnight, so be consistent with yourself. Reward yourself when you've done good. (But not by waiting to do homework!) If you slack, don't punish yourself, but keep thinking "I'll do better next time" and mean it, making note of what "went wrong" and correcting it for next time you hit the books. I wasn't even sure what cejep was when I first read your question, so I researched it quickly before answering you. If you can do THAT, hat's off to you! There's no way I could do it! That must require ENORMOUS energy and discipline. Now just channel that stuff into your studies, too. Good luck and God bless!

Question: What digital camera has good focus during video mode? I need a cheap in price digital camera that has good focus on video mode. Where i can focus on writing and small things like that.

Answer: I was going to say a true video camera, but you cannot fine cheap ones. In fact finding a P&S camera that you can manually focus is going to be tough, let alone one that will allow you to focus while shooting.

Question: How do you focus power/energy to certain parts of your body? My friend started taking a martial arts class. He told me that some of the more advance students there could "focus their energy" causing them to break things with there bare hands i would need to use a hammer for. Is this feat the works of physics or our inner spiritual abilities. And how can i do it? CTC, if only i had the money.

Answer: It's about physics, but you would have to mentally exert the move. The technique behind breaking objects is that instead of just punching the object, you have to imagine your going to punch through it, your mind will make you execute the punch properly with more energy. But it still takes practice. When you see some one about to break bricks or cement blocks, did you notice that they have a small pause before they do it? It looks like they're thinking deeply. Well, they are. Breaking objects is useless, but these techniques can be applied to real fighting. If you just imagine yourself kicking through an opponent, your kick will hurt more. You can also focus energy by 'taking' energy from the earth. If you stomp on the ground before you punch, you'll get a surge of energy from the stomp. Combine this with all the other techniques, like yelling or breathing out to contract your muscles, planting your legs, timing, and picking up momentum, then your strike can be 5x more powerful then a regular swing. Energy works in weird ways.

Question: What are ways to maintain your focus when driving? Hey, I've noticed that there are times, when I've driven down a pathway that I've done many times, my mind tends to go on "autopilot" because I'm so familiar with the street. However, this is a problem and I would like to stop it and really focus and pay attention to driving. Any advice? I've really tried to focus but my mind slips into autopilot and I start thinking about other things because it gets bores me easily. Thanks a lot.

Answer: Look at your speedometer, then the mirrors, and then the road. Just keep a pattern of darting your eyes like that. It will give your mind something to do. The big thing is more to focus the mind on something so it can't switch over, and if you keep changing your focus it won't have time to switch over. Although the first person had a good plan as well.