Lens Aperture DOF Chart
Jan 4, 2021 14:48:27 #
Any ideas on the best way to generate an aperture/DOF chart for a prime lens?
Some of my old Nikon lenses have such a chart in the users manual but I can't seem to find one for a 58mm Voigtlander. It looks to be a pretty tedious exercise but it might be a good learning experience.
TIA
Some of my old Nikon lenses have such a chart in the users manual but I can't seem to find one for a 58mm Voigtlander. It looks to be a pretty tedious exercise but it might be a good learning experience.
TIA
Jan 4, 2021 14:50:02 #
Jan 4, 2021 17:34:14 #
Alphabravo2020 wrote:
Any ideas on the best way to generate an aperture/DOF chart for a prime lens?
Some of my old Nikon lenses have such a chart in the users manual but I can't seem to find one for a 58mm Voigtlander. It looks to be a pretty tedious exercise but it might be a good learning experience.
TIA
Some of my old Nikon lenses have such a chart in the users manual but I can't seem to find one for a 58mm Voigtlander. It looks to be a pretty tedious exercise but it might be a good learning experience.
TIA
If you have a smartphone, just download a free app. Much less tedious, and you are less likely to leave it home.
Jan 4, 2021 17:45:32 #
Ahh yes. I found a good app. Thanks all.
It wasn't intuitive to me that the DOF characteristics would not be unique to the lens. I was thinking that the lens design (number of lenses and groups for example) would have an effect.
It wasn't intuitive to me that the DOF characteristics would not be unique to the lens. I was thinking that the lens design (number of lenses and groups for example) would have an effect.
Jan 4, 2021 18:58:45 #
Alphabravo2020 wrote:
Ahh yes. I found a good app. Thanks all.
It wasn't intuitive to me that the DOF characteristics would not be unique to the lens. I was thinking that the lens design (number of lenses and groups for example) would have an effect.
It wasn't intuitive to me that the DOF characteristics would not be unique to the lens. I was thinking that the lens design (number of lenses and groups for example) would have an effect.
Nope just the focal length, aperture, format size and focused distance.
Jan 4, 2021 22:16:31 #
Alphabravo2020 wrote:
Any ideas on the best way to generate an aperture/DOF chart for a prime lens?
Some of my old Nikon lenses have such a chart in the users manual but I can't seem to find one for a 58mm Voigtlander. It looks to be a pretty tedious exercise but it might be a good learning experience.
TIA
Some of my old Nikon lenses have such a chart in the users manual but I can't seem to find one for a 58mm Voigtlander. It looks to be a pretty tedious exercise but it might be a good learning experience.
TIA
My Voigtlander 58mm has a DoF scale.
Jan 4, 2021 22:36:11 #
Mac wrote:
My Voigtlander 58mm has a DoF scale.
Is it in your manual? My manual is only like 6 pages long and doesn't have a chart like that.
Jan 4, 2021 23:11:35 #
Orphoto
Loc: Oregon
One other confounding factor. If you plan on using this older lense on one of the higher resolution digital bodies, then the usual published circles of confusion are wayyyyyy too generous. Figure on obtaining depth at f11 comparable to what is listed for f8.
Jan 5, 2021 07:26:28 #
Gene51 wrote:
If you have a smartphone, just download a free app. Much less tedious, and you are less likely to leave it home.
Yes, and you take a picture with the cell phone.
Jan 5, 2021 07:28:21 #
Jan 5, 2021 08:19:02 #
tcthome
Loc: NJ
Alphabravo2020 wrote:
Is it in your manual? My manual is only like 6 pages long and doesn't have a chart like that.
maybe the info is online?
Jan 5, 2021 08:29:02 #
BurghByrd
Loc: Pittsburgh
The formula I have is:
((2xsubject distance)^2 x f stop x circle of confusion) / focal length^2,
All values must be in the same units (mm, feet etc.).
Nice to know what the formula looks like to see what influences the result but obviously this would be awkward to use in the field. Get one of the phone apps, they can be very helpful. Hyperfocal distance, a related subject, is also extremely useful to know.
((2xsubject distance)^2 x f stop x circle of confusion) / focal length^2,
All values must be in the same units (mm, feet etc.).
Nice to know what the formula looks like to see what influences the result but obviously this would be awkward to use in the field. Get one of the phone apps, they can be very helpful. Hyperfocal distance, a related subject, is also extremely useful to know.
Jan 5, 2021 09:44:16 #
"...Hyperfocal distance, a related subject, is also extremely useful to know..." Yes indeed BurghByrd... Back in the day (a.k.a. the 1970's) when I was shooting Kodachrome transparencies for a stock agency it is all I used with my 28mm and 52mm glass. My agency was very pleased with the results. Albeit pretty much not appropriate or germane for my 200mm lens. Here the ground glass and split prism viewfinder in my SLR were pressed into service with good effect...
I still have my F3 and it's optical view finder is head and shoulders over even high end DSLR's implementation... However the latest iterations of mirrorless apparently may have leveled the playing field here.
I still have my F3 and it's optical view finder is head and shoulders over even high end DSLR's implementation... However the latest iterations of mirrorless apparently may have leveled the playing field here.
Jan 5, 2021 09:50:07 #
Alphabravo2020 wrote:
Any ideas on the best way to generate an aperture/DOF chart for a prime lens?
Some of my old Nikon lenses have such a chart in the users manual but I can't seem to find one for a 58mm Voigtlander. It looks to be a pretty tedious exercise but it might be a good learning experience.
TIA
Some of my old Nikon lenses have such a chart in the users manual but I can't seem to find one for a 58mm Voigtlander. It looks to be a pretty tedious exercise but it might be a good learning experience.
TIA
I wonder if you can post a chart that you have. It seems such a chart must be quite long.
Jan 5, 2021 10:38:07 #
Alphabravo2020 wrote:
Any ideas on the best way to generate an aperture/DOF chart for a prime lens?
Some of my old Nikon lenses have such a chart in the users manual but I can't seem to find one for a 58mm Voigtlander. It looks to be a pretty tedious exercise but it might be a good learning experience.
TIA
Some of my old Nikon lenses have such a chart in the users manual but I can't seem to find one for a 58mm Voigtlander. It looks to be a pretty tedious exercise but it might be a good learning experience.
TIA
There is an app called “Digital DOF”
It is free and it will calculate DOF for any lens. You merely enter the type of camera, focal length of the lens, the aperture and the distance to the subject and voila you get near distance, far distance hyperfocal distance and how far in front and back of the subject that is in focus
BT
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