How can I get background blur with a compact camera that has no manual focus?
Asked 11/16/2013
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I’m trying to create noticeable background blur/bokeh with a compact camera such as a Nikon Coolpix P300, which doesn’t offer manual focus. I tried using macro mode to focus on a nearby subject, then recomposing for the actual shot, but the distant background still stays fairly sharp. During autofocus I sometimes briefly see the background blur, but I can’t seem to keep that focus setting for the final shot.
What’s the correct way to lock focus on a close subject with a camera like this, and are there any settings or shooting techniques that will maximize background blur on a small-sensor compact?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
12y ago
2 Answers
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You are correct in that you have to focus on a close object in order for far ones to be out of focus. To do that, macro is mode is a good start because it lets the camera focus closer but that camera, as most like it, will still focus to infinity in macro mode if that is where it decides to focus.
The way to lock focus with is to focus on something close object while keeping the shutter-release pressed halfway. Then, complete the shot with the framing you want. Note that you must be in AF-S mode for this to work. In AF-C, the camera will continue to adjust focus.
If that still does not work, you should know a few things to maximize your chances:
- Pick the brightest aperture you can. That is F/1.8 on your camera and is only available at the widest zoom setting.
- Maximize the ratio of distances between what you focus on and what you want out of focus.
Originally by user1620. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user1620
12y ago
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Yes—background blur increases when you focus close, not at infinity. On a compact camera, the usual way is to focus on a nearby subject, hold the shutter half-pressed to lock focus, then recompose and take the shot. This generally requires single AF (AF-S); in continuous AF (AF-C) the camera may refocus.
Macro mode can help because it allows closer focusing, but it doesn’t force close focus if the camera decides to focus farther away.
To maximize blur on a small-sensor compact:
- use the widest aperture available
- use the widest zoom setting if that’s where the lens is brightest
- focus as close as possible
- keep the background as far behind the subject as possible
Small-sensor compacts naturally have a large depth of field, so strong bokeh is limited compared with larger-sensor cameras. If the foreground also becomes blurry when you force close focus, that’s expected: only the focused distance will be sharp. For your example with poles 40–50 m away, you’ll need something much closer in focus and a much larger subject-to-background distance to see obvious blur.
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