Newbie here

[AvidVisionary]

Hello

Just started photography. Got a Canon 5D MKII with a EF 75-300m. Joined this forum because of the quality of photos I saw and liked very much.


Feeback is appriciated. I just started so still learning.









Thanks

[AvidVisionary]

Something better, I hope.

[TheFantasticG]

Welcome and all that funky jazz.

Were those taken with the 75-300EF?

[AvidVisionary]

Thanks for the welcome.

Yes they were taken with that lens. 5D mkii is very expensive so I was able to buy only one lens.

[j1mmyj4m]

Are you manually selecting one of the 9 points to focus with or letting the camera decide which point to use? I ask because it seems the lens is either front focusing a little or you're letting the camera decide where it wants to focus.

[AvidVisionary]

I am doing manual focus because automatic does not teach you much. I want hands on experience even if my amature work is foolish in the eyes of the professionals.

As I have mentioned, I am still learning about composition, framing, rule of thirds, completion circles etc...


Any advice you can give me to help in learning.


Also, what is completion circles? I looked on google but could not find an answer.

[j1mmyj4m]

Automatic focus is perfectly fine. What most refer to here when they say manual is the mode, which is where you have full control of the options in the camera. I would be willing to bet that the majority on this site use auto focus.

If you're just starting out, I would learn all of the settings of the camera and what they do, but stick with auto focus. You can still get creative and manually select one of the 9 focal points that the 5DMII has if you're trying to pick out a certain person in a crowd or a certain point on an object. You're telling the camera to use that area to auto focus on.

I think trying to learn all options and using manual focus is going to be tough. To get the basics, go page by page in your camera manual and practice each setting on the same subject or object.

Composition will come with practice. Take a look at a lot of photos on here that get good comments to get an idea of how to frame a subject and how to crop an image to be more pleasing. I'm still a noob as well so I try and soak up everything I can to go out and practice with.

As far as completion circles, I have no idea. I've never heard of that term before.

[bryanlindsey]

Originally Posted by AvidVisionary

I am doing manual focus because automatic does not teach you much.

In my opinion this will not help you at all. I have only used manual focus 3 times in my (albeit short) career, all while shooting objects (not people). And even then, the only reason I used it was because there was not enough light for the camera to do it automatically.

Try setting the autofocus to single-point focus, and move the focus point around with the directional button. I bet you get much better results and retain the control that you're looking for.

For what it's worth :)

[AvidVisionary]

Thanks for your response.

I like to use manual mode because I want full controll of my subjects. Automatic is ok but I prefer manual to have greater flexibility.

I thought my composition is good but since those photos I have taken, I now know I need to re-educate myself and rebuild on the blocks I have missed. I do have good framing but it is not industry standard. I need to rebuild my education on the parts I have missed in photography.

[AvidVisionary]

Ok. I am going to try single-point focus and automatic mode.

What is the name of the thing that you screw at the bottom of the camera to put on the tripod?

[Tom]

I like to use manual mode because I want full controll of my subjects. Automatic is ok but I prefer manual to have greater flexibility.

I think we are on two different things.

You can shoot with manual controls but auto-focus. This is what most people do. They are two separate things.

It is better to use auto focus over manual focus.
It is better to use manual controls (ISO, Aperture, shutter) over automatic controls (P, Av, Tv, etc)

[AvidVisionary]

Why would you want to auto-focus? I thought manual was the best way to go?

As in ISO, Aperture and shutter I like to make it manual.

But why use auto-focus over manual?

[j1mmyj4m]

Manual Focus is different than Manual Mode. Manual Focus is when you're adjusting the focus yourself trying to get the image sharp, which is what it looks like you were trying.

Manual Mode is when you have full control over Aperture, ISO settings, shutter speed, etc.

We're talking about two completely different things.

[tml]

Here is my 2 cents: It appears you are into portraits and candid street photography. I would get a 24-70 f/2.8 or just a 50mm lens and get really good with it. Buy some books on photography to understand more about depth of field... You don't need blurry background in every shot... part of it is because of the lens you are using. As far as auto or manual, whatever choice is fine as long as you get a good photo! At any rate, welcome to the forum and shoot a lot. We never stop learning. Tri

[Redneck]

Originally Posted by AvidVisionary

Why would you want to auto-focus? I thought manual was the best way to go?

As in ISO, Aperture and shutter I like to make it manual.

But why use auto-focus over manual?

Because the auto focus is a lot more exact than what you could adjust with your vision through a dark little viewfinder.
You set the focus point manually via spot metering but then you let the camera auto focus the point you've been setting.