Focus On The Eyes

[vandecarr]

Does any one have tips for focusing on the eyes in photos? Not only in close ups but also in shots when you are further away by a few feet?

Is there an optimum distance that works best?

Any tricks or tips are appreciated.



Thanks,
Mike V

[Daniel Bates]

I assume you're talking about portraits? If using a zoom lens, I zoom in all the way, put my focus point over one eye, and focus (using the * button, which is a custom function on my camera). Then I recompose the picture and click the shutter.

[engstrom]

First of all if you're reasonably close you should avoid focusing on the eye with the center focus point and then recomposing. This will cause your picture to actually be focused behind your intended point. You should instead compose the shot the way you want it and then select the focus point closest to the eye and recompose as little as possible.

Also Daniel, you can't always zoom in, focus, then zoom out. Only lenses that are parfocal lenses will do that and most zooms that I know of are not parfocal. If it works for you then great, but watch out because it won't work for all lenses.

[Daniel Bates]

Yeah... I learned that technique on video where most lenses (that I know of) are parfocal. Old habits die hard, I guess...

[rogerfsmith]

If you camera has multiple focus points, which most of the modern digital have, then you simply compose and use the focus point closest to where the eye is to get a sharply focused eye. This is more difficult in low light, where those other focus points are less sensitive. In that case, you can use the focus/lock and then recompose method, but you need to compensate by moving the camera slightly forward or backward depending on experience. You basically want the final distance of eyes from sensor plane to be the same as when you locked focus. So for example, you lock focus on a model's eyes while you are standing, and then you kneel to recompose. The distance of the eye to the sensor plane is now further than it was before. So if you move slightly forward, you will restore the proper distance.
Cheers,
Roger

[vandecarr]

Thank you very much to all of you. You've all been very helpful and I appreciate it.


Thanks,
Mike V