kernel bleep Loc: Charlotte, NC

The only mirrorless camera I own is my Z50 so I don't know how or if other manufacturers have managed here but...

When using the Z50, I sometimes miss the depth of field scales on my 35mm and DSLR lenses. I didn't use them every day but they were sure handy when I did need them. This bit me about a week ago while taking photos of some fungus/mushrooms growing on a log. I had my trusty 18-140mm Z50 zoom and would have liked to have used the scale to set the aperture to get just the near and far shrooms in focus.

Maybe there's a way to accomplish this that I don't know about.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

DOF scale removal was a cost cutter???

I used them a lot, when they existed.

BassmanBruce Loc: Middle of the Mitten

I have a dof calculator on my iphone.
Free and I assume accurate.

Sidwalkastronomy Loc: New Jersey Shore

What's the name of that app? Thanks

phot0n0ob

PhotoPills ain't free, but is a rather comprehensive planning app for - outdoor - photo shooting and can do much more than just provide DOF tables.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Ditto.

Mine (Android) is DOF Calculator Pro by Aimen RG. They make a free version also.

https://play.google.com/store/search?q=Aimen%20RG&c=apps

Timmers Loc: San Antonio Texas.

First, a lens can have a depth of field scale wrapped around the barrel, that is true. Now, it is impossible to have one for a zoom lens because the scale is represented for the focal length of the lens and zoom lenses have variable focal lengths so this make marking a depth of field scale on a zoom lens impossible.

There exists another "fly in the ointment" as they say. As you move ANY lens from it's infinity position the lens focal length changes (you are moving the lens further from the receptor and so you are INCRESING the functional focal length). In a fixed focal length lens this is not a problem as the maker of the lens corrects for the increase of the lens focal length to adjust the depth of field scale engraved on that lens barrel.

In addition, there are other factors in play, such as the effect referred to as the 'circle of confusion' This is about what is considered as sharpness/resolution for the lens at a certain f stop. (This is all rather simplistic), but it helps to understand that there are issues with regards to the use of a depth of field scale marking.

In the practical real world of photography there comes a point where you need to place your trust in the lens maker. Carl Zeiss and E. Leitz (Leica) are regarded as primo makers. Some lenses made by the large Japanese optics firms are up there as well, but this is limited to only their 'specialty' optics. There is a primary reason that Leica does not produce a zoom lens.

With a Mirrorless camera you can get an adaptor and put fine German optics on that camera. I use a Sony A7 digital body. I use only Zeiss and Leica lenses to make photographs. I have no auto focus with the camera, every thing is made using the depth of field scale and placing the lens in the proper position to ensure a sharp in focus image. With the exception of certain narrow types of photography the benefit of what is called zone focused lenses using the depth of field scale engraved on the lens barrel.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

My old SLR zoom had a logarithmic scale on the lens for DOF that "fanned out" for shorter focal lengths, different sections of the scale were visible depending on the focal length selected. It is not impossible....... Just an added cost process.

stogieboy Loc: Marlboro, NY

I will say that while PhotoPills is not free, it is worth EVERY penny. I use it not only for DOF, but also to find the phases of the moon, moon/sun rise and set times and locations, as well as for star shots. They have a very handy calculator to get pinpoint or trails without any trial and error, specific to your camera and lens combinations.

tgreenhaw

Some of my Canon lenses, e.g. 85mm 1.4 have it and I agree it's really needed on lenses with a very narrow depth of field.

What would be really nice if it showed you in the viewfinder. Canon - Nikon are you listening?

BebuLamar

Does it have a distance scale at all?

BebuLamar

With modern camera the DOF should be in the viewfinder. Oh well but they don't bother to make it as their distance information isn't all that accurate.

tgreenhaw

I must misunderstand your point on that one as they make Vario lenses, e.g. the Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-70 f/2.8 ASPH Lens

BassmanBruce Loc: Middle of the Mitten

Easy DoF, it’s by google which I didn’t recall.

Urnst Loc: Brownsville, Texas

My Olympus cameras have depth control buttons like old fashioned film camera. With the button depressed you can see the depth of field in your EV.