The most basic question ever - please help

[scotty328i]

Bluriness (is that a word or just spelt incorrectly?)

Right I want to be able to take photos with the main object in focus and the surroundings out of focus.

I have a fuki s6500fd so should be capable but I am not!

Your help is greatly appreciated.

I will find an example ...

Thanks

[GetCarter]

You need shallow depth of field.

I have no idea about your camera, but if you have speed priority, set the speed to the fastest possible. (I know ... before the rest of you get on my back... this is the easiest way to explain ok!!)

Also, if you can change the lenses, use the 'longest' one you have.

Also, try and get the subject not to stand right in front of stuff.

Sorted.

You'll end up with something like this

or this

Edited by GetCarter on Monday 5th November 14:58

[Andy M]

Is the object static or moving?

Static - use as large an aperture as possible (eg f2.8). See: http://www.morguefile.com/archive/classroom.php?le...

Moving - learn how to pan. See: http://www.morguefile.com/archive/classroom.php?le...

[GetCarter]

Ah yes... I assumed static. If not, as Andy says.

[scotty328i]

static

But the aperture makes it darker no?

Sorry the lenses are not interchangeable but I have up to 300mm

[GetCarter]

Then keep it on 300 (and get back from the subject) and if you have control over exposure settings use one of the 'priority' modes (speed/apature - which will open and close the appature as you alter the speed, so it won't get darker, but the depth of field will get more shallow as the sutter speed gets faster).

Rule of thumb... high mm number and fast shutter speed = the effect you are after.

Edited by GetCarter on Monday 5th November 15:26

[pbsaxman]

GetCarter said:

What a beautiful image

[jagdpanther]

Its difficult to get the effect that you're after with that particular camera, I know this from experience!

I had the S5600 before I traded up for a used EOS 10D

Its the only way to go

[scotty328i]

Well I am always skint so not overly bothered about a bit of blur for the sake of £500

Just wondered if it could be done

I am now assuming it can

[jagdpanther]

I seem to remember some kind of screw on filters that offer a small amount of Bokeh....although I may have been asleep at the time!

Other than that, you could always use CS2?

[scotty328i]

Could buy a camera for the price of CS2

Thanks anyway

[Andy M]

scotty328i said:

Well I am always skint so not overly bothered about a bit of blur for the sake of £500

Just wondered if it could be done

I am now assuming it can

What you're looking for is called bokeh. It will be relatively difficult to create it with a small compact camera.

See: http://www.luminous-landscape.com/columns/sm-04-04...

[scotty328i]

Not small nor compact and has most functions of a DSLR although slightly limited

I believe the camera is capable just I am not

[GetCarter]

scotty328i said:

Not small nor compact and has most functions of a DSLR although slightly limited

I believe the camera is capable just I am not

See the twisty knob on the top... one of the letters will probably read 'S' - that's what you need it on... then there must be a button somewhere so that you can make the shutter speed fast!

[V6GTO]

pbsaxman said:

GetCarter said:

What a beautiful image

I prefer the self-potrait

[sam.r]

[GetCarter]

You can go off people you know!

[fluffnik]

scotty328i said:

static

But the aperture makes it darker no?

Sorry the lenses are not interchangeable but I have up to 300mm

I have a Fuji S9600 which has the same lens; bottom line, I'm afraid we're both (slightly) stuffed:

• The longer the lens, the shallower the depth of field.
• The larger the aperture - smaller f number , the shallower the depth of field.

At 300mm equivalent what we have, in fact, is a 66.7mm f4.9 lens which is both short and small aperture - we're never going to get the separation Steve gets with a real 300mm f2.8 lens even if we get as good at pointing in the right direction...

If we can control the physical separation of camera, subject and background to keep the camera close to the subject and the background distant we're in with a chance but if both subject and background are distant it's not going to happen.

Googling for "circle of confusion" might be enlightening.

...or not.

[scotty328i]

Had a quick go last night

comments please

not touched up or anything just straight off the camera

[jagdpanther]

I quite like that Scotty