Blurry Focus on 4x5 Portraits

[xkaes]

I keep coming up against a problem where the focus on my portraits is not quite right , despite using a loop and double checking.

It might help if you tell us what camera you are using.

[Robert Opheim]

where are you focusing when you set up your images? I was taught on an 8x10 studio camera with a 4x5 back in a studio with defused studio bulb lights. The focus fell off quickly. We were taught to focus the lens on the highlights in the eyes. The first two images seem to be focused a bit forward of where they should be focused. The third image seems like it may have camera or subject movement - and appears a bit flat - there is also an area on the left that looks like a lighting or development issue. In the forth image the eyes highlights are in focus but not the nose. I would think that the lens should have been stopped down further so that the nose was in focus. The depth of field at f/5/6 is razor thin - maybe f/8 or f/11 would gain the needed depth of field. It does seem that we are always chasing shutter speed vs f stop on these sort of outdoor portrait images - also subject movement is a big issue with large format vs quicker medium format cameras. I have been able to use flash fill to help the shutter speed / depth of field issue on this type of outdoor portraits.

[Jim Noel]

You don't need a test chart. A sheet of newspaper is a wonderful test target.

[Daniel Unkefer]

I use the newspaper page that has the stock market listing, and used a sharpie marker to draw a crosshair on it. Mine is now very yellowed from age but still works good

[Ig Nacio]

Hi,

I would at least use f/8, or f/11, and even f/16
Don't worry, even at these apertures you should
be able to have in the pictures the 'creaminess'
you look for in the back- and foreground.

Should you have prefocused a 'reference point'
that may align with your subjects face/eyes?

Perhaps a shutter speed no lower than 1/30th,
or 1/60th of a second?

I still liked all the pictures the way they look!

Have a very nice evening/day!

Ig : )!!!

P.D. https://fstoppers.com/film/light-eat...raiture-164612

[Sandokan]

Usually when I am shooting a f1 lens on 35mm, when I miss the focus, either the other eye, eyebrows, nose or ears are in focus but not the eyes. In your shots with jpeg compression, I do not see anything in focus - what is in focus on originals? If nothing it could be vibration or subject movement (but that is hard to believe on all of them).

[Tin Can]

I loved reading newspapers

Digi only here

I have multiple saved from long ago events important to me