How can I set the Canon 70D to focus on everything in the image?

Question

With the focus settings i've been playing with, I'm not able to figure out how to get everything in focus, put only a focal point. I have wide angle Canon 10MM, and I set the aperture to f5.6. It seems i always have to choose a point to focus on and then the rest is not as clear.

thank you

Answer 1

The fact that you mentioned your lens, and emphasised that it was wide angle, makes we think you've been watching to much DigitalRev TV. What Kai says about wide angle lenses "always having everything in focus" is only true under 2 circumstances:



1: The lens is a fisheye (which yours isn't)

2: The aperture is narrow enough.



As Robster (great name by the way) mentioned, your aperture has a big part to play in what is in focus. f5.6 will keep everything relatively in focus, provided your subject is fairly close to your lens. If you are taking a landscape shot, or a photo of something in the distance, f5.6 is way too open. For general shooting, don't let the aperture go wider than f8 if you want most things in focus. For far away things, or when there is a lot in the frame at various distances, you should keep your aperture as narrow as possible (e.g f16 or above). f22-f28 is as high as most lenses go. These are ideal, but not always possible for correct exposure or appropriate in certain situations.



And in terms of the focus points, I'm not sure I grasp what you mean. If you have your AF zone set to manual, then you can only pick one focus point by yourself, unless your camera has group area AF. It may well have this, but I'm not a Canon user so I don't know. Check your manual to make sure

If the AF zone is set to auto, then the camera picks the focus area for you. My Nikon picks multiple points when set to this mode, but again I don't know about your Canon. I wouldn't recommend staying in auto AF all the time, as it isn't always accurate.

Answer 2

Put the camera on a tripod unless the light is VERY good.

Select f/22

Select a single focus point that sits over an object around 2/3 into the depth of the shot.

Shoot.

Everything will be in acceptable focus..



"Playing" with focus settings is not a good idea. It is like playing golf blindfolded hoping that you will hit that 1 in a billion lucky hole in one!!

Answer 3

It's a 10mm. Set to focus manually, then set aperture size to f/22. By applying DOF, set the infinity mark on the distance scale to the small f/22 on the DOF scale, your minimum focusing distance is whatever falls above the other f/22 on the DOF scale or use approximation if unmarked on the other side of the index line. This way you will get everything relatively in focus from that minimum distance to infinity.

Answer 4

When wanting most of the shot in focus, choose the Hyperfocal Distance which is typically 1/3rd of the way into the depth of the shot when set to around f8. Lock on it and recompose. F11 will give you greater DOF but may make your shutter too slow for the subject unless you increase the ISO and risk a grainy image.

Answer 5

Even at 10mm, f5.6 is too large an aperture to expect everything in the scene to be in focus. As has been said, you need to be shooting at much smaller apertures, such as f11, or f16, or even f22. If shutter speed drops too low, use a tripod. Using a 10mm lens, I can only assume you are shooting landscapes or architecture, so using a tripod should be part of the job.



If the act of working with the auto focus is bugging you, simply turn it off on the lens, (move the switch to M/F), and manually focus wherever you want.

Answer 6

The focus won't change. If you zoom in and focus to five meters then zoom out, you're still focused to five meters.