[gadgetman]

Okay a strange question this but hopefully someone may be able to help. We have a Canon EOS350D with a Canon Lense EF20mm 1:2.8 72mm UVhaze (sharp cut) at work to take photographs of wooden templates. We then input picture through some software which we trace around the template. The templates are a set thickness and distance away from the wall and can be up to 3000mm by 1200 with curves and cut outs in. The wall is a deepish blue with pale green/brown templates.
The camera is setup in Automatic mode on a tripod but there is a window to the right which alters the lighting. I could blank window out but at present this makes picture too dark. When we zoom in on the edges they are out of focus. I am not sure if the camera is focusing on the wall or template. Could anyone please recomend settings that would be appropriate. I realise that the light will have an effect on most but which are constant.

If necessary could meter the light to set white balance,
what should i use for shutter speed, aperture , exposure level.

Any help would be welcomed.

[stevegreen]

It might be worth posting one of the pictures up so we can see whats happening. It sounds to me as if the focus point is on the wall If the camera is selecting f/2.8 and the template is 30cm away from the wall thats why the edges are not in focus.

Good news is that if you have a tripod you can set the camera to Av mode and select an smaller aperture and let the camera decide shutter speed to get the right exposure. It's not going to be helped by the window light but as you say, that can be blanked out.

[gadgetman]

Originally Posted by stevegreen

It might be worth posting one of the pictures up so we can see whats happening. It sounds to me as if the focus point is on the wall If the camera is selecting f/2.8 and the template is 30cm away from the wall thats why the edges are not in focus.

Good news is that if you have a tripod you can set the camera to Av mode and select an smaller aperture and let the camera decide shutter speed to get the right exposure. It's not going to be helped by the window light but as you say, that can be blanked out.

Template is only 6mm thick. On automatic mode when I half press shutter shutter speed shows at 60 with aperture 4.0.

[stevegreen]

Originally Posted by gadgetman

The templates are a set thickness and distance away from the wall and can be up to 3000mm by 1200 with curves and cut outs in.

Ok, I'm not understanding this part of your original post.

It matters not how thick the actual templates are, it's how far they are away from the wall that the camera is possibly focussing on. It sounds like it's a depth of field issue which is giving you 'blurred' edges.

What focus setting do you have the camera on?

Again, if you have a picture that you could post I could get a better idea of what your problem is.

[gadgetman]

Originally Posted by stevegreen

Ok, I'm not understanding this part of your original post.

It matters not how thick the actual templates are, it's how far they are away from the wall that the camera is possibly focussing on. It sounds like it's a depth of field issue which is giving you 'blurred' edges.

What focus setting do you have the camera on?

Again, if you have a picture that you could post I could get a better idea of what your problem is.

The templates are 2860mm away from the camera. At the moment it is on automatic for setting ans focus.

[onefivenine]

gadget, can you switch the lens to manual focus and focus on the template yourself. Perhaps put the camera in Av mode and change the aperture to f/8. Use exposure compensation to increase or decrease the shutter speed and check the preview until you get a shot that you're happy with.

[gibbsy]

If the template is just one colour or tone then this is what I would suggest. First set the aperture to f/8 in aperture priority, then spot meter for the middle of the template. Let's say for argument's sake that this gives you 1/25 sec at f/8. Now set the camera to manual and dial those settings in. To focus take one of the sharpest edges of the template as close to the middle as possible. Keeping the shutter button half way down recompose and shot. In the good old bad old days of film cameras without all the bells and whistles this shot would have been easy peasy.