DSC-P73 settings for specific effect - question

[Spiritisup]

Newbie here, so if I'm posting in the wrong place, please advise. I would like to know what settings I need to focus on a flower, for instance, and have the rest of the background sort of blur out. I have tried the macro and various other settings, but everything is always in focus. Occasionally the center is unfocused (a bit blurred), and the background is more in focus. Now if I could get the opposite, lol, I'd have what I'm aiming for. I have the Sony Cyber Shot DSC-P73

Thanks for any help!
Spiritisup

[qball]

try manual and decrease your F# to 2.8 and make it like F4.0 by zooming a bit and move back so the camera can focus macro. Also center focus helps. should be close try zooming/low F# and moving back and forth a bit.

Hope it works. Happy pictures.

[Spiritisup]

Thanks for the tips. I did try the manual setting, low F#'s, not sure how to judge 4.0 by zooming, but tried a few, but still same all in focus result. What do you recommend for the shutter speed. Perhaps that is the problem? I did use AF Center. When using the manual setting I wasn't able to use the macro. Changing the mode Set/Return in order to use Macro, made it very dark. Going back to the manual setting mode, I had good light.

[qball]

I'm trying to help.

Use low flash (so you can freeze the flower) and get enough ambient light to get the rest of the light in M: Make it so that you get the EV display get a -1.7 at least. Macro and center focus, then flash it. Use a low sharpening as well.

All I can say for now.

[rmajidi]

you must set your camera to flower macro . for take this this when set your camera to M mode you must set Your setting and push middle button again and set flower macro key on when this bottons was set a flower icon appeer on screen(lcd) if you need i take a photo here.

[BytePhoto]

Hi,

The depth of field is a lot greater with (non-DSLR) digital cameras than 35mm cameras,
so this might be the problem.
Try increasing the distance between the flower and the background. It's best to have a reasonable distance between the two
I took a few macros using this method and here's a couple showing this. They were taken with an Olympus E10 in macro mode.






And here's an 'advanced level' article on Depth of field and your digital camera

Hoping this helps.

[Alex]

I have a P93, which is basically a 5 MP P73. Maybe I can offer some settings to help:

1. Spin the "mode dial" on top to 'Set Up". The very first option is AF Mode. Change from default "Single" to "Monitor". This will force the lense to continuously refocus the image as you move the camera. More convenient than pushing the shutter halfway every time you move.

2. Turn the mode dial to "M". Zoom out to maximum wide angle. You have already seen how to toggle the "Set" and "Return" functions (in your post). You need to be in the "Return" screen (NOT "Set") to adjust your exposure (shutter speed and F#) while watching the EV to see the cumulative effect of both.

3. Again, in the Return screen, use the left and right arrows to get F2.8 The lowest F# is 2.8 at full wide angle, but only 5.2 at max zoom. The lower the number (the bigger the apperture opening) the more background blur. So, try moving the camera in and out (slowly) at F2.8, while the lens refocuses, and check what focus you see on the LCD.

4. While still in the return screen, use the up and down arrows to adjust the shutter speed. If you are not sure which way to go, just hold down one button until the image gets lighter or darker, and the EV goes negative to positive, or vice versa. Then try the other (Up or Down ONLY). If you hit left or right, you changed the aperture - which defeats your purpose (blurred background). Watch The "EV" at the bottom right of the screen. Try EV = zero first (by adjusting shutter speed). Then try EV = +1.6 and -1.6 to see how the shutter makes it lighter or darker (NOT blurred or focused).

5. Distance and focus: According to the book, you can get no closer then 19.75" to the subject without Macro mode - tele or wide. If you have to get closer than 20", switch to Macro: Toggle the Set / Return to Set, and push the flower button. Then toggle Set / Return back to Return to adjust exposure, as above. You CANNOT set Macro in the Return screen, and you CANNOT adjust shutter / aperture in the Set screen. In Macro, you can get as close as 4", at least according to specs. But don't forget to disable Macro if you get out too far / out of focus. Remember - Macro is for close-up ONLY!

6. Try the negative EV as qball recommended to "freeze" the subject. If that doesn't work, get a tripod or at least a monopod or stick to steady the camera.

I hope that this helps.

Stephen - If you hanen't stopped reading this boring drivel by now, those are some great shots!!

Alex

[BobSeber]

Background blur is an interesting issue, and it isn't directly related to depth of field. See here:

www.robertseber.com/calculators/backgroundblur.html