Here’s what happens to DOF scales (Page 2): Pretty sure that it displays the focal length...I'm sure a firmware upgrade (if the manufacturer would care to do this) could include the...

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

jcboy3 wrote:

I can't think of a reason why they don't have that feature on mirrorless cameras. My Panasonic bridge camera (FZ200) shows a dynamic DOF scale when manual focus is engaged; very useful when setting hyperfocal distance. I always thought it could use some improvement, like a distance estimation, rather than having it eliminated entirely with the micro Four Thirds models.

Pretty sure that it displays the focal length...I'm sure a firmware upgrade (if the manufacturer would care to do this) could include the DOF measurement.

jcboy3

Cdouthitt wrote:

Pretty sure that it displays the focal length...I'm sure a firmware upgrade (if the manufacturer would care to do this) could include the DOF measurement.

Yes, they display focal length. What is needed is a distance display that shows current distance and the DOF range based upon aperture.

The difficulty in using a DOF calculator is that you don't get an estimate of distance from the camera. With a lens that has a distance scale, you can get a distance estimate when you have focus.

If the camera had a distance scale display, then you could focus on your near and far subjects, noting the respective distances, then adjust aperture and focus until the DOF display covered both of those distances. Which is what I do with my Nikon prime lenses (and was used to doing back in my film days).

It should be simple to provide such a display in modern cameras. The difficulty is in obtaining a distance estimate; with CDAF focusing, I'm not sure that information is available. But with lenses that support PDAF focusing, that information should be available.

HarryBinNC Loc: Blue Ridge Mtns, No.Carolina, USA

BebuLamar wrote:

I wonder why they don't put the DOF scale in the viewfinder or on the back LCD. The camera knows which distance the lens is focused at, it knows the focal length, it knows the aperture so it should be able to calculate the far and near distance.

My Fuji-X cameras have a depth of field scale in the viewfinder when in manual focusing mode. Another reason to love the Fujis!

selmslie Loc: Fernandina Beach, FL, USA

Cdouthitt wrote:

Since I can’t respond to Chris T’s post and probably half of the site can’t by now because he’s put us all on his ignore list...

Just because your camera doesn’t use DOF scales, it doesn’t mean that they’ve all gone away. Olympus pro lenses use them.

For several good reasons, DOF scales are pretty useless:

1. When you use a full frame lens on a crop sensor, they are not correct.
2. For the same reason, when you crop the final image and print it or display it, the DOF scale on the lens no longer applies.
3. With an autofocus lens, they become too narrow to read. Just look at any Nikon G lens and try to make them out.
4. Unless you are looking at a standard sized print from a standard distance, the DOF of the original image is no longer applicable.

And finally, for all of the reasons cited above, focusing on the hyperfocal distances is useless. If you are shooting a landscape and don't focus on infinity, the distant scene will be out of focus as soon as you enlarge the image.

Basil Loc: New Mexico

Cdouthitt wrote:

Many of my old FD lenses from the film days have a (crude) DOF scale.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

My AdaptAll #23A has the standard scale for a zoom lens, but beyond some point it doesn't tell us very much.

Paulie Loc: NW IL

Bill_de wrote:

We are waiting for links to the best ones.

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Joe Blow

DoF scales are only a rough estimate anyway. I seldom even think much about DoF. I just look at what I want to shoot, mentally pick an aperture / shutter that will give me what I want and go. I might try several shots varying the DoF in order to see what works best.

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

Joe Blow wrote:

DoF scales are only a rough estimate anyway. I seldom even think much about DoF. I just look at what I want to shoot, mentally pick an aperture / shutter that will give me what I want and go. I might try several shots varying the DoF in order to see what works best.

Agree...I suspect this was more important back in the days of film. The other thing that helps is shooting mirrorless as I’m going to get what I see on my evf. If I don’t like what I see, I adjust accordingly before snapping a shot.

Basil Loc: New Mexico

Cdouthitt wrote:

Agree...I suspect this was more important back in the days of film. The other thing that helps is shooting mirrorless as I’m going to get what I see on my evf. If I don’t like what I see, I adjust accordingly before snapping a shot.

If anyone cares, there are a couple of iPhone Apps that will calculate DOF. Most of the time, I just do like you and figure roughly how much I want in or out of focus and set Aperture accordingly, with some understanding of how focal length and distance to subject affects DOF.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Bill_de wrote:

We are waiting for links to the best ones.

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My best memories?

N4646W

Don't know about other DSLR"s, but Nikon's still have the DOF or Preview button. Not that user friendly, but gets you in the ball park.

Ron

Haydon

Cdouthitt wrote:

Since I can’t respond to Chris T’s post and probably half of the site can’t by now because he’s put us all on his ignore list...

Just because your camera doesn’t use DOF scales, it doesn’t mean that they’ve all gone away. Olympus pro lenses use them.

Clint it's sad you can't respond to him. Look at all the time you aren't wasting ;)

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

Haydon wrote:

Clint it's sad you can't respond to him. Look at all the time you aren't wasting ;)

I've thought about copying his topics each day and making duplicate threads to mock him, err, I mean to discuss the correct nature of most of his threads of which he derails, but that would just be a waste of my time and effort...although if all the people that were allowed to comment that he has banned, I'm sure it would make for some great reading/laughter throughout the day ;-)

BebuLamar

Certainly there are still lenses with the DOF scale but not all of them. Back in the old days virtually all lenses had the DOF scale. There are several reasons that the DOF scale isn't very common today.
1. The trend toward zoom lenses and 2 ring zoom instead of push pull makes it impossible to have the DOF scale.
2. AF lenses with the focusing distance inside a small window also make it difficult to put the DOF scale.
3. The DOF scale isn't all that useful and can not be read with any high degree of accuracy.