I must have watched all of Mike's tutorial videos, but it's nice to come back and refresh the memory. It makes a change from watching the multitude of videos promoting the latest gear.
Thank you very much Mike for all the great videos that you have produced over the years. You were my 'goto' RUclips channel when learning the basics of Photography. I rate your teachings very highly Mike, so thank you :)
Thanks for sharing Mike....best tutorial on focusing I have seen....that is exactly what I have needed in my photography journey... your comments are so valuable.... cheers from Australia 😀
Groups and people are not for everyone and that's fine. If you're still confused by what's discussed in this video, please take advantage of the 7 free lessons mentioned in it. They'll give you taste of my Masterclass online course which I guarantee will help you ... MIKE🙏😊
Good video. I take a lot of shallow depth of field shots. I always get in close to the subject that I use for my focus point and try to get the background as far away as possible.
Very informative video, Mike. It never crossed my mind (at least not consciously) that things will not get any sharper, if the focus is already at or around infinity. This will now be burned in my brain forever. What seemed to me, one thing that really helped determining the right focus point, was the depth of field indicator in the screen. Was this a built-in feature of your camera or of the monitor on the flash-shoe (which model is this?). I would love to see another video where this focus recommendation would be made without this DOF indicator. Anyway, there is a lot to learn from your videos and they become a constant source of knowledge of mine. Have a good one …
Thanks @Happy Mystic. My camera's a Fuji XT2 midrrorless and the dostance scale is an option in the camera's display settings. I can't say for sure but it's likely any camera with an EVF can be set up to display something similr. Your comment about a vid on where to focus with out the scale is noted... MIKE🙏😊
Hello from Portugal... I just started with analogue photography with a Canon ae-1 program and I had an 80-200mm lens with zoom but the diaphragm doesn't close it's always open.. is it possible to work with the lens like that? Thank you I love watching your videos...
Thanks @Simao Alves. If I understand correctly you're saying the aperture is stuck wide open.. Yes you can still use it but there will be limitations. 1: unable to control depth of field 2: there will be times when exposures will be burnt out because the lens is wide open and you're already on your fastest shutter speed. you mught be able to get around this with a variable ND filter ... MB
@@MikeBrowne I primarily shoot pictures of architecture and social scenes. In Paris and museums for instance. Do you have any great tips? Maybe for a better lens? I'm not pro.. I have a Canon 90D with a 18-135 mm. I want to get better. ☺
It's an old XT2 Fuji. Can't say for sure but it's likely most mirrirless cameras with an EVF will have it as a disply option somewhere. Takes a bit of finding mind. Took ages to find mine to make this vid.... MIKE🙏😊
I tend to agree with them Willem. By the time you open the app and apply the settings to the camera you could have done a test shot and adjusted the point of focus / DOF accordingly in half the time. ... MIKE🙏😊
Can someone tell me, what exactly does it mean when you focus to infinity? I've noticed that the focus still seems to change somewhat even when you're moving your focus around in the area the camera calls infinity. For example, if I'm not mistaken, the other day I was taking a picture of the moon and if I set my focus to the very far end of infinity, the moon was out of focus. I had to move it in slightly, even tho the camera was still saying it was focused to infinity.
Hi @Christopher Pape. Good question. Firstly, Infinity is only the distance from the camera, beyond which everything will be sharp regardless of aperture. What that distance is varies lens to lens and camera to camera. Why does the lens manually focus beyond infinity??? I believe it's because in extremely hot or cold conditions the effective focal length of the lens may change due to the effect of the temperature, which causes expansion or contraction. If the focus just stopped at infinity and you were shooing the Australian desert or arctic - you may be unable to focus so they add in this bit extra just in case... I'm sure there's more online by better qualified people than me if you'd like to know more... ... MIKE🙏😊
When i use my phone(pixel 7 pro) landscape shots at infinity focus. The rightest part of the image gets little soft. But when i click to focus it that part sharperns and right part gets a little blurry. Even though both are far and at infinity focus. Is this natural behavior
Just in case any beginner out there is wondering how to take that second scene with the grass in focus with the houses blurred, you would simply move closer to the grass, focus on it, and use a wide aperture (low f-stop number). You may realize to get that shot, you might end up being within 5 feet or so of the grass at let say f2 or so (rough starting point.) Use aperture priority mode on your camera and it will set the shutter speed for ya, so you wont have to dial in the quick shutter speed and put needless ware on your shutter. Then you can make a note of the speed, spin it over to full manual and then make it a little quicker or slower to dim or brighten it or keep it in A and just use the -/+ button to change the shutter speed to brighten or dim, which is even quicker and easier. You can throw a long lens on too, to get a shallower depth of field, for places you want to do this with, but can't walk there (be it water or bank, or other object preventing you access to get close.) The longer the lens, the shallower, so reach for a deep telephoto.
Yes, as far as I know the only way to find out is try it and see - unless your lens has a distance scale o the barrel which will give you the distance in feet and meters...
This may teach how to manipulate camera software, and that is probably enough for most users. However, it says nothing about why depth of field exists, why changing aperture modifies DOF, and fails to point out that what is a designated DOF is an arbitrary determination, which may be different from one lens or camera maker to another. In short, it shows how to parrot a DOF determination based on the readout of your camera, but really nothing at all about DOF. Some Course?
Got it @Randall Stewart. I'm interested to know how would you go about explaining where to focus and that sometimes there is no depth of field to consider, to someone who is a beginner - WITHOUT making their head explode with the maths and physics of how it works? I welcome your suggestions... MIKE
Mr. Browne is the best photography educator on RUclips. Period. 👏 🙏
Absolutely. 🖒👏
Thanks @James Amoh ... MIKE🙏😊
I must have watched all of Mike's tutorial videos, but it's nice to come back and refresh the memory.
It makes a change from watching the multitude of videos promoting the latest gear.
Good to hear!
Thank you very much Mike for all the great videos that you have produced over the years. You were my 'goto' RUclips channel when learning the basics of Photography. I rate your teachings very highly Mike, so thank you :)
Thanks Andrew ... MIKE🙏😊
Best photography teacher ever…. Much appreciated Mike.
Wow, thanks @Smiffy ... MIKE🙏😊
To many social media photographers on RUclips these days talking absolute nonsense , thank god for mr Browne keeping it real ,great work Mike ….
Thanks very much stuffed - I do my best 🙏
Another block buster, what an amazing mentor he is👌.
Wow, thanks Tanweer... MIKE🙏😊
cheers mike i used to watch youre uploads many years ago youre a good teacher
Thanks ... MIKE🙏😊
Thanks for sharing Mike....best tutorial on focusing I have seen....that is exactly what I have needed in my photography journey... your comments are so valuable.... cheers from Australia 😀
Thank you. Happy to have helped! ... MIKE 🙏😊
This is exactly what I need to know! Thank you for this video.
Great to hear - thank you :-)
Another great lesson Mike. I dont have the DoF scale turned on on my XT2, but I can see how it would be useful to experiment with it for a while.
Thanks, glad it was helpful Stuart... MIKE🙏😊
Ah - now I get some of that infinity thing . . . . . .I hadn’t really noticed or paid attention to that before. Thanks Mike!
my pleasure Denise ... MIKE 🙏😊
Exactly the informative, and interesting, video I have come to love from you over the past few years Mike. Really very useful indeed.
Thanks ... MIKE🙏😊
Don't have any camera gear... but still i love what you teach ❤️
Thank you sir 🙏
Hey thanks Sugriv ... MIKE🙏😊
Nearly ten years of photography and I am still vexxed by this. I'm still intimidated by group shots.
Groups and people are not for everyone and that's fine. If you're still confused by what's discussed in this video, please take advantage of the 7 free lessons mentioned in it. They'll give you taste of my Masterclass online course which I guarantee will help you ... MIKE🙏😊
@@MikeBrowne I honestly should, I've watched and recommended your channel for years.
Super like for this video sir.
Everything is explained in nutshell. Wonderful
Thanks Dr.Nimish... MIKE🙏😊
Thank you very much Mike. You are the best
Have you look at my Masterclass course Elghazi? www.photographycourses.biz/courses/online-photography-course
Good video. I take a lot of shallow depth of field shots. I always get in close to the subject that I use for my focus point and try to get the background as far away as possible.
That's the way to do it Tony ... MIKE 🙏😊
What camera gives you that depth of field scale?
The one in the video is a Fuji XT2 - I expect other models have similar options to display this scale if you dig around the display settings
this was very helpful! thank you for uploading :)
My pleasure.
Very informative video, Mike. It never crossed my mind (at least not consciously) that things will not get any sharper, if the focus is already at or around infinity. This will now be burned in my brain forever. What seemed to me, one thing that really helped determining the right focus point, was the depth of field indicator in the screen. Was this a built-in feature of your camera or of the monitor on the flash-shoe (which model is this?). I would love to see another video where this focus recommendation would be made without this DOF indicator. Anyway, there is a lot to learn from your videos and they become a constant source of knowledge of mine. Have a good one …
Thanks @Happy Mystic. My camera's a Fuji XT2 midrrorless and the dostance scale is an option in the camera's display settings. I can't say for sure but it's likely any camera with an EVF can be set up to display something similr. Your comment about a vid on where to focus with out the scale is noted... MIKE🙏😊
Hello from Portugal... I just started with analogue photography with a Canon ae-1 program and I had an 80-200mm lens with zoom but the diaphragm doesn't close it's always open.. is it possible to work with the lens like that? Thank you I love watching your videos...
Thanks @Simao Alves. If I understand correctly you're saying the aperture is stuck wide open.. Yes you can still use it but there will be limitations.
1: unable to control depth of field
2: there will be times when exposures will be burnt out because the lens is wide open and you're already on your fastest shutter speed. you mught be able to get around this with a variable ND filter ... MB
Always enjoy your videos.
Thanks - Glad you like them! ... MIKE🙏😊
The further a subject is away from the camera the more it falls on the same focal plane and point of focus becomes unimportant. cheers Mike :)
You got it ... MIKE🙏😊
Brilliant as ever
Thanks Martin 😊
I like this. Really helpful 🙂
Glad to hear it!
Glad to hear it!
@@MikeBrowne
I primarily shoot pictures of architecture and social scenes. In Paris and museums for instance. Do you have any great tips? Maybe for a better lens? I'm not pro.. I have a Canon 90D with a 18-135 mm. I want to get better. ☺
always good tips..thanks Mike
Thanks ... MIKE🙏😊
Hi Mike What camera are you using that shows depth of field? Thankyou.
It's an old XT2 Fuji. Can't say for sure but it's likely most mirrirless cameras with an EVF will have it as a disply option somewhere. Takes a bit of finding mind. Took ages to find mine to make this vid.... MIKE🙏😊
Excellent Mike
Thanks @Redbank. Glad it helped ... MIKE 🙏😊
Nice one, Mike.
Thanks Brian ... MIKE🙏😊
I must say I’ve seen those little sheds there used by many many photographers it’s pretty popular
Colour by the sea - what's not to like... MIKE🙏😆
Love that old Benbo Mike.
Had it around 20 years and still goig strong ... MIKE🙏😊
To infinity and beyond!
ooooooohhhhh - indeed ... MIKE🙏😊😂
What if we have a subject (a person) at infinity focus.
Will the person as well as the background be in focus?
Yes. If a lens is focussed at infinity, everything at and beyond that distance is sharp at any aperture...
What about depth of field apps like ‘simple DoF’? I heard another youtuber saying these apps were pretty useless?
I tend to agree with them Willem. By the time you open the app and apply the settings to the camera you could have done a test shot and adjusted the point of focus / DOF accordingly in half the time. ... MIKE🙏😊
Can someone tell me, what exactly does it mean when you focus to infinity? I've noticed that the focus still seems to change somewhat even when you're moving your focus around in the area the camera calls infinity. For example, if I'm not mistaken, the other day I was taking a picture of the moon and if I set my focus to the very far end of infinity, the moon was out of focus. I had to move it in slightly, even tho the camera was still saying it was focused to infinity.
Hi @Christopher Pape. Good question. Firstly, Infinity is only the distance from the camera, beyond which everything will be sharp regardless of aperture. What that distance is varies lens to lens and camera to camera.
Why does the lens manually focus beyond infinity??? I believe it's because in extremely hot or cold conditions the effective focal length of the lens may change due to the effect of the temperature, which causes expansion or contraction. If the focus just stopped at infinity and you were shooing the Australian desert or arctic - you may be unable to focus so they add in this bit extra just in case... I'm sure there's more online by better qualified people than me if you'd like to know more... ... MIKE🙏😊
When i use my phone(pixel 7 pro) landscape shots at infinity focus. The rightest part of the image gets little soft.
But when i click to focus it that part sharperns and right part gets a little blurry. Even though both are far and at infinity focus.
Is this natural behavior
I'm sorry I don't know. I'm not a phone expert...
Just in case any beginner out there is wondering how to take that second scene with the grass in focus with the houses blurred, you would simply move closer to the grass, focus on it, and use a wide aperture (low f-stop number). You may realize to get that shot, you might end up being within 5 feet or so of the grass at let say f2 or so (rough starting point.) Use aperture priority mode on your camera and it will set the shutter speed for ya, so you wont have to dial in the quick shutter speed and put needless ware on your shutter. Then you can make a note of the speed, spin it over to full manual and then make it a little quicker or slower to dim or brighten it or keep it in A and just use the -/+ button to change the shutter speed to brighten or dim, which is even quicker and easier. You can throw a long lens on too, to get a shallower depth of field, for places you want to do this with, but can't walk there (be it water or bank, or other object preventing you access to get close.) The longer the lens, the shallower, so reach for a deep telephoto.
You got it dude ... MIKE🙏😊
What is the focal length of the lens?
Hi Jim. Recon it was 18mm at the beach huts and between 40 and 50 across the lake... MIKE🙏😊
How can you realize where infinity for a specific lens is? Trial and error?
Yes, as far as I know the only way to find out is try it and see - unless your lens has a distance scale o the barrel which will give you the distance in feet and meters...
In general focus on the most important part and use the depth of field for other parts. Things are not equally sharp within the depth of field.
"Things are not equally sharp within the depth of field." ??? Never had that happen personally.
So is infinity useless?
Great question @TheBrute268. Yes I guess so. Infinity is a concept it's useful to know about - but you can't pick it up or use it as a technique.
How about 1/3 -->2/3?
Please say more @Jim Mauch. Not sure I understand the question... MIKE🙏😊
@@MikeBrowne Is it right that the the focus or depth of field goes 1/3rd forward of the point of focus and goes 2/3rd behind the point of focus?
@@b991228 Which is not true. The fact that the depth of field can reach infinity proves it false. That is just some rule of thumb on normal distances.
This may teach how to manipulate camera software, and that is probably enough for most users. However, it says nothing about why depth of field exists, why changing aperture modifies DOF, and fails to point out that what is a designated DOF is an arbitrary determination, which may be different from one lens or camera maker to another. In short, it shows how to parrot a DOF determination based on the readout of your camera, but really nothing at all about DOF. Some Course?
Got it @Randall Stewart. I'm interested to know how would you go about explaining where to focus and that sometimes there is no depth of field to consider, to someone who is a beginner - WITHOUT making their head explode with the maths and physics of how it works? I welcome your suggestions... MIKE