If you want the background to be blurry while taking a photo of something 3-4 feet away, which setting should you use?

To achieve a blurry background while photographing a subject that is 3-4 feet away, the Portrait setting is the most suitable choice. This setting is designed to emphasize the subject in the foreground while softening the details of the background, creating a pleasing bokeh effect.

The Portrait mode typically uses a wider aperture, allowing more light in and reducing the depth of field. This shallow depth of field is essential for isolating the subject from the background, making the subject stand out sharply while blurring the background significantly. The effect is often desirable in portrait photography, where the aim is to draw attention to the individual being photographed.

In contrast, other settings like Landscape focus on capturing wide vistas with more detail in the background, Sports mode is optimized for fast-moving subjects with a focus on quick shutter speeds and less emphasis on depth of field, and Night mode is designed for low-light conditions but does not inherently prioritize a blurred background effect. Therefore, using the Portrait setting is the most effective way to achieve the desired outcome in this scenario.