How do you blur the background of a picture while keeping the subject in focus?

My best friend has been in search of how to do this for years. I think she would even buy a new camera if she knew it was capable of this function! Is there a way to blur using a non SLR digital camera? What type of camera would be the best for this effect? (preferably the least expensive option) Thanks!

Some digital camera have a function called aperture priority mode, you manually choose the aperture setting and the camera adjusts the shutter speed. This mode is mainly used to control the depth-of-field. Correspondingly, in the shutter priority mode, you choose the shutter speed and the camera chooses the right aperture.

Larger aperture (smaller f-number) produces shallower depth of field. Depth of filed affects how far away from the focus point the objects can be before they become increasingly blurred in the resulting picture.



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You can only do this if you have a camera lens with an adjustable aperture (it does not have to be an SLR, but that type of camera offers the greatest flexiblitly in lens selection). You also need a "fast" lens (low f-number). Then you take the subject at the closest possible distance and use the lowest-number f-stop on the lens. Adjust the shutter speed only to get the exposure. If the camera is automatic, you have to set it on manual or aperture-priority program.

GET AN SLR CAMERA, AND SHORTEN THE F-STOP (FOCAL LENGTH).
SOME AUTOMATIC CAMERAS HAVE A "PORTRAIT MODE" SETTING THAT DOES THIS. LOOK FOR THE SYMBOL THAT IS SHAPED LIKE A HUMAN HEAD.
THE BEST BEGINNER SLR IS THE CANON DIGITAL REBEL-XT, BUT IT IS EXPENSIVE AND ONLY COMES WITH A PORTRAIT LENS (35-80) AND YOU NEED MORE MEMORY AND BATTERIES. IT DOES HAVE AN AUTOMATIC MODE AS WELL.....AND YOU CAN BUY A LONGER LENS FOR IT.
A GOOD AUTOMATIC COMPACT DIGITAL IS A CANON SD-550 (UNDER $300) AND YOU STILL NEED MORE MEMORY AND AN EXTRA BATTERY.

Use the portrait mode in your camera, it will do exactly what you want.

If portrait mode is not available (I highly doubt this) , then the trick is to use the widest aperture you can get. Basically use the lowest "f" number setting in your aperture. This will yield a shallow dept of field and will blur the background.

All of the above answers are correct and address different techniques. I'm just showing you a photo taken with a digital SLR so you can see what is possible. If you REALLY want to have control over this, you need a DSLR.

http://www.members.aol.com/swf08302/drag...

YOu need to use a longer focal lens (telephoto or zoom) and increase the F/stop (make it bigger or lower in value) by upping the shutter speed and dropping the ISO to like 100.

You want like an f/3.5 or f/4 with a normal to portrait (60-90mm 35mm eqivalent).

Like some f the answers say, you need a camera with a real apperture and the ability to go into a apperture priority or manual mode of setting the expsure.

Set the F-stop (apperture) ro a relatively small number. Refer to the depth of field calculator to indicate the part that will be in focus. The rest will be blurred.

Depth of Field Calculator:
http://www.dofmaster.com/dofjs.html

Depth of Field
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depth-of-fi...
http://www.vanwalree.com/optics/dof.html

Hi, I recommand you to try google picasa.

picasa is a Google's photo software. It's what should've come with your camera.

It can Edit , organise and Share you picture and small video flips.

It's very easy to use and is free, just like Google

Download it free in here:

http://www.bernanke.cn/google-picasa/

Good Luck!

Shallow depth of field comes from (1) long focal length, which means zooming out to tele; (2) short camera-to-subject distance, which means moving in rather close, and (3) wide aperture, which means opening up the lens as far as it will go.

All of these are best done with an SLR, but non-SLRs can do at least one and sometimes even all three of these things.

Lastly, when ALL ELSE FAILS- she can learn Adobe Photoshop, select the object to keep in sharp focus, and blur everything else.

yes it is possible.
1 - using post processing = Photoshop
check this tutorial:
http://www.popphoto.com/howto/1522/digit...

2 - using the aperture settings. I have a Panasonic Lumix FZ-30 and I can do that from aperture settings like any DSLR is doing.