Controlling Depth Of Field
Jan 13, 2013 13:28:02 #
Suppose you want to take a picture of a harbor, there is a nice wrought iron fence in the foreground, boats in the middle ground, and buildings in the distance. What is the best way to get everything in sharp focus? I still feel confused, should I autofocus or use manual? Should I use the smallest aperture and focus on the fore, middle, or background? My brother who taught photography but has passed, said something like at "setting at 22 everything is in focus from 10 feet to infinity" Now I am not sure what that meant either.
Jan 13, 2013 13:31:36 #
georgevedwards wrote:
Suppose you want to take a picture of a harbor, th... (show quote)
George go to the top o the forum and go to search, do a search on depth of field there are a ton of ??? similar to yours. Good luck
Jan 13, 2013 14:02:01 #
georgevedwards wrote:
Suppose you want to take a picture of a harbor, th... (show quote)
a DOF calculator may also help:
http://www.dofmaster.com/charts.html
Jan 13, 2013 14:48:11 #
Jan 13, 2013 14:58:20 #
georgevedwards wrote:
Suppose you want to take a picture of a harbor, th... (show quote)
1. Smallest aperture possible - what your brother meant.
2. Wide angle lens.
3. Image stacking.
4. Buy a Lytro, but even then you would have to decide what area to view in focus.
Jan 13, 2013 16:22:29 #
I recommend you get the book "Understanding Exposure" by Brian Peterson.
Jan 13, 2013 16:27:21 #
Hypofocal distance...so that is what my brother was talking about. Never came across that term that I can recall and I have read a lot of books and searched a lot of websites-you learn something new everyday!
Thanks
Thanks
St3v3M wrote:
Google Hyperfocal Distance http://goo.gl/QbX3J
Or ask more about it here if you need more help.
Or ask more about it here if you need more help.
Jan 13, 2013 16:31:44 #
I'm going to vote with Mac, here. Reason being, after your question about DOF is easily understood and answered, you'll still have tons of information that will help answer future questions by simply flipping some pages. You won't have to wait for others to help with the questions, you'll have your answers instantly!
Jan 13, 2013 16:56:00 #
Thanks for all those tips, now as I look at my Nikon D3200 with the 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 lens, I notice the only scale on it is the range of the zoom, 18-55. No aperture, no distance...I look through the viewfinder and info screen but there doesn't seem to be any indicator of focus distance? Just have to guess, or use one of those makeshift cardboard triangles I saw described on one of the links? I feel like I bought a Cadillac with no rear wheels...you get what you pay for for, I know.
Jan 13, 2013 17:08:12 #
georgevedwards wrote:
My brother who taught photography but has passed, said something like at "setting at 22 everything is in focus from 10 feet to infinity" Now I am not sure what that meant either.
If you had a prime lens it would probably have a depth of field scale like example below. It shows setting the focus at 30 feet and aperture at f22, you would be in focus from 14' to infinity.
Harder to to this with zoom lenses, though not impossible.
Jan 13, 2013 17:12:34 #
I am sure it is a good book, I will save the info in my photography file, but somtimes one hopes for an answer that isn't just "spend more money" or "look harder" or "go somewhere else, here are the directions" If I had to spend money to answer every question I would have been broke long ago. I have been criticised severly by those less intellectually inclined to "stop asking me so many questions!"
Danilo wrote:
I'm going to vote with Mac, here. Reason being, after your question about DOF is easily understood and answered, you'll still have tons of information that will help answer future questions by simply flipping some pages. You won't have to wait for others to help with the questions, you'll have your answers instantly!
Jan 13, 2013 17:19:12 #
Jan 13, 2013 17:20:45 #
Yes, I noticed that my Nikkor 50mm f1.4 prime has such a scale just like the sample above...but so does my Tamron 28-300mm zoom for my Canon Rebel XTi, although it does not have the small depth of field scale where the red triangle is on the sample photo. I am starting to get the feeling that Nikon, although excellent at what they do, have a habit of leaving out little essential things to torture you with and feed that "buy more Nikon stuff" addiction I am starting to feel.
GoofyNewfie wrote:
If you had a prime lens it would probably have a depth of field scale like example below. It shows setting the focus at 30 feet and aperture at f22, you would be in focus from 14' to infinity.
Harder to to this with zoom lenses, though not impossible.
georgevedwards wrote:
My brother who taught photography but has passed, said something like at "setting at 22 everything is in focus from 10 feet to infinity" Now I am not sure what that meant either.
If you had a prime lens it would probably have a depth of field scale like example below. It shows setting the focus at 30 feet and aperture at f22, you would be in focus from 14' to infinity.
Harder to to this with zoom lenses, though not impossible.
Jan 13, 2013 17:33:26 #
When I used my fathers film camera, never paid any attention to numbers-ignorance was bliss. All I did was focus on a middle ground with split image manual focusing, set the shutter at 1/30 second (or more) and use the smallest aperture I could get without even looking at an f number. I know I can never go back to film, but jeez, this stuff is getting mind-boggling complex. Instead of calculating every picture with math, can you just reach a happy medium of getting familiar with your lens, and get a feel for a hypofocal distance...say set for maximum DOF, keep out anything under 10 ft and focus on something 20ft away?
Jan 13, 2013 17:47:27 #
georgevedwards wrote:
I am sure it is a good book, I will save the info ... (show quote)
I got the Exposure book from the library. After reading it, I bought a copy because I knew that reading it once would not be enough. I bet there are used copies on Amazon.
EDIT: When they say "Like New," it often means brand new (but not always).
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0817439390/ref=sr_1_sc_1_olp?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1358117273&sr=1-1-spell&keywords=understanding+exposrue&condition=used
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