Depth of Field Display: Being a film camera guy, and not yet shopping for a DSLR I have a basic question. In using my Pentax MX (all manual) I relied heavily on being able to use...

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Depth of Field Display

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Mar 3, 2013 23:10:15 #

rpostss Loc: Bethesda, MD

Being a film camera guy, and not yet shopping for a DSLR I have a basic question. In using my Pentax MX (all manual) I relied heavily on being able to use depth-of-field preview to get the shot I wanted. Do digital SLR's have this capability?

Mar 3, 2013 23:13:56 #

dirtpusher Loc: tulsa oklahoma

Some do a preview button side camera.

Mar 3, 2013 23:18:31 #

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

rpostss wrote:

Some do; many don't. It you are interested it having DoF preview, those members who have it will let you know what make/model to consider.

Mar 3, 2013 23:42:06 #

Wendy2 Loc: California

I have the 5D Mark II and it has it. So does my 30D, but that is quite old and there are much better cameras available.

Mar 3, 2013 23:43:24 #

wilsondl2 Loc: Lincoln, Nebraska

My Nikon D80 and D90 do. Another way with digitel is just take a shot and look on your monitor and see what the depth of fiield looks like. It may be better than the button - Dave

Mar 3, 2013 23:46:15 #

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

Many of us are old school film photographers, who finally bit the bullet and went digital. I bought two Nikon DSLRs, so I get to use my 40-year old Nikkor lenses, manual with aperture rings and DoF markings.

Also, Nikon bodies with built-in focusing motors have a DoF Preview button for use with auto-aperture lenses.

Mar 4, 2013 00:12:35 #

rpostss Loc: Bethesda, MD

wilsondl2 wrote:

My Nikon D80 and D90 do. Another way with digitel is just take a shot and look on your monitor and see what the depth of fiield looks like. It may be better than the button - Dave

Interesting. I had thought of that.

Mar 4, 2013 00:22:32 #

busted_shutter

D5100 does not.

Mar 4, 2013 02:06:50 #

DOOK Loc: Maclean, Australia

I recently bought Peterson's book on Understanding Exposure & learned how to preview your Dof if your camera doesn't have a Dof preview button. Just turn the lens very slightly, as if you going to remove it. It works fine. Just relock the lens & Bob's your uncle.

Mar 4, 2013 03:08:27 #

tainkc Loc: Kansas City

My Sony has this button also. I have tried it and it seems like a waste to me. If you are an old film guy, You don't need that button anyway.

Mar 4, 2013 06:19:47 #

coldavo

Hi Ron,

Most, if not all, of the new Pentax DSLRs have the DOF button. They also have the immediate feedback of the picture taken but, for Macro, I feel that the DOF button is best.

Two advantages of the Pentax is
(i) the shake reduction is in the camera body - not the lens. This means that all of your lenses have shake reduction.
(ii) ALL of the older lenses will work on the new cameras. You need an adapter (easily obtained on eBay) for the older screw thread lenses and, of course, they are limited to manual operation. With adapters I use M39 Leicaor Enlarger type lenses and Microscope mount type threads for Macro (try that with a Canon or Nikon).

I have an old 500mm Mirror lens that now has shake reduction - as will all of your "M"s "K"s and "KA"s.

The quality of the new Pentax DSLRs are marvlous machines - look up their reviews.

All the best,
Col

Mar 4, 2013 06:20:38 #