Comments on: 6 Tips for Controlling Depth of Field http://blog.epicedits.com/2007/02/27/6-tips-for-controlling-depth-of-field/ A Photography Resource for the Aspiring Hobbyist Wed, 15 Oct 2008 19:42:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Dakota http://blog.epicedits.com/2007/02/27/6-tips-for-controlling-depth-of-field/#comment-87700 Dakota Sat, 26 Jul 2008 06:12:00 +0000 http://blog.epicedits.com/2007/02/27/6-tips-for-controlling-depth-of-field/#comment-87700 Hi Brian i have a question of what i think applies to depth of field. I would like to know how to make an object that is close to me out of focus and make the object behind that in focus. I have a Fujifilm S700 10x digital camera. It says on the lens: f=6.3 - 63mm, 1:3.5-3.7 , 46mm. When i turn it on shutter speeds go from 4" to 1000, Apuretures are from f- 3.5 to f-13. Based on any or all of the info i provided can you help me with my question? Hi Brian i have a question of what i think applies to depth of field. I would like to know how to make an object that is close to me out of focus and make the object behind that in focus. I have a Fujifilm S700 10x digital camera. It says on the lens: f=6.3 - 63mm, 1:3.5-3.7 , 46mm. When i turn it on shutter speeds go from 4″ to 1000, Apuretures are from f- 3.5 to f-13. Based on any or all of the info i provided can you help me with my question?

]]> By: Brian Auer http://blog.epicedits.com/2007/02/27/6-tips-for-controlling-depth-of-field/#comment-61140 Brian Auer Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:21:27 +0000 http://blog.epicedits.com/2007/02/27/6-tips-for-controlling-depth-of-field/#comment-61140 You're right... new lenses for digital cameras don't have the f-stop rings. dSLRs control f-stops and shutter speed via scroll wheels on the camera body. Most lower-end models will have a single scroll wheel located on the grip at the front or rear, while higher end models will have two scroll wheels (front and rear). When in manual mode, aperture priority, and shutter priority, the wheels control the exposure settings. Cameras with a single wheel control both aperture and shutter speed with that wheel and there's usually some button that you have to push in order to toggle or switch the functionality of the scroll wheel. Manual focus is also possible, but the dSLR does a poor job at assisting the photographer with it. The focus rings have very short throws (in order to make autofocus faster) and there are no rangefinders built into the viewfinder. You’re right… new lenses for digital cameras don’t have the f-stop rings. dSLRs control f-stops and shutter speed via scroll wheels on the camera body. Most lower-end models will have a single scroll wheel located on the grip at the front or rear, while higher end models will have two scroll wheels (front and rear). When in manual mode, aperture priority, and shutter priority, the wheels control the exposure settings. Cameras with a single wheel control both aperture and shutter speed with that wheel and there’s usually some button that you have to push in order to toggle or switch the functionality of the scroll wheel.

Manual focus is also possible, but the dSLR does a poor job at assisting the photographer with it. The focus rings have very short throws (in order to make autofocus faster) and there are no rangefinders built into the viewfinder.

]]> By: Ethan http://blog.epicedits.com/2007/02/27/6-tips-for-controlling-depth-of-field/#comment-61107 Ethan Tue, 15 Apr 2008 15:48:17 +0000 http://blog.epicedits.com/2007/02/27/6-tips-for-controlling-depth-of-field/#comment-61107 Thank you very much, Brian. That makes much more sense. There is one more thing that you could perhaps clarify. Camera companies seem to spend so much space in their blurbs telling us all about the fantastic new developments at the expense of omitting useful information about manual settings. I've noticed that these cameras do not have an f-stop ring. In your experience, if a camera advertises itself as having fully manual capability, will there be an 'electronic' or virtual f-stop ring within its functions? Many thanks Ethan Thank you very much, Brian. That makes much more sense. There is one more thing that you could perhaps clarify. Camera companies seem to spend so much space in their blurbs telling us all about the fantastic new developments at the expense of omitting useful information about manual settings. I’ve noticed that these cameras do not have an f-stop ring. In your experience, if a camera advertises itself as having fully manual capability, will there be an ‘electronic’ or virtual f-stop ring within its functions?

Many thanks
Ethan

]]> By: Brian Auer http://blog.epicedits.com/2007/02/27/6-tips-for-controlling-depth-of-field/#comment-61101 Brian Auer Tue, 15 Apr 2008 15:38:55 +0000 http://blog.epicedits.com/2007/02/27/6-tips-for-controlling-depth-of-field/#comment-61101 Ethan, good question -- I'm sure you're not the only person to be asking the same when looking into dSLRs. The f-number designations on a lens is only an indication of the lowest f-numbers (or largest apertures). Most zoom lenses will have a range of f-numbers, which (in your example) indicates that the lens is capable of f/3.5 (and up) at 18mm and f/5.6 (and up) at 55mm. The max apertures of such lenses are typically somewhere in the range of f/11 to f/44 -- but you'll have to read up on the detailed specs for a particular lens to find out what that number is. Make sense? Let me know if you need more clarification. Ethan, good question — I’m sure you’re not the only person to be asking the same when looking into dSLRs. The f-number designations on a lens is only an indication of the lowest f-numbers (or largest apertures). Most zoom lenses will have a range of f-numbers, which (in your example) indicates that the lens is capable of f/3.5 (and up) at 18mm and f/5.6 (and up) at 55mm. The max apertures of such lenses are typically somewhere in the range of f/11 to f/44 — but you’ll have to read up on the detailed specs for a particular lens to find out what that number is. Make sense? Let me know if you need more clarification.

]]> By: Ethan http://blog.epicedits.com/2007/02/27/6-tips-for-controlling-depth-of-field/#comment-61061 Ethan Tue, 15 Apr 2008 13:29:40 +0000 http://blog.epicedits.com/2007/02/27/6-tips-for-controlling-depth-of-field/#comment-61061 Hi Very interesting and informative article. I'm looking at buying something like a Nikon D60, but, being new to DSLRs, the f-stops offered seem very narrow on something like the 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G DX VR Lens. To me, 3.5 to 5.8 hardly feels like a choice at all. Am I missing something? Thanks Ethan Hi

Very interesting and informative article. I’m looking at buying something like a Nikon D60, but, being new to DSLRs, the f-stops offered seem very narrow on something like the 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G DX VR Lens. To me, 3.5 to 5.8 hardly feels like a choice at all. Am I missing something?

Thanks
Ethan

]]> By: Brian Auer http://blog.epicedits.com/2007/02/27/6-tips-for-controlling-depth-of-field/#comment-48157 Brian Auer Fri, 21 Mar 2008 00:31:56 +0000 http://blog.epicedits.com/2007/02/27/6-tips-for-controlling-depth-of-field/#comment-48157 Well I'm glad you found my blog! I'd love to cover the topics you're asking about, but I think I'll direct you to my friend for the moment. Neil Creek is writing a massive series at the digital Photography School right now. He's covering the very basic subjects at the roots of photography in a way that I've never seen before. So far he's covered <a href="http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/photography-101-light-and-the-pinhole-camera/" rel="nofollow">the nature of light</a>, <a href="http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/photography-101-lenses-and-focus/" rel="nofollow">lenses and focus</a>, and an introduction. At some point in his series, he'll probably be digging into depth of field, f-numbers, and camera controls. Well I’m glad you found my blog!

I’d love to cover the topics you’re asking about, but I think I’ll direct you to my friend for the moment. Neil Creek is writing a massive series at the digital Photography School right now. He’s covering the very basic subjects at the roots of photography in a way that I’ve never seen before. So far he’s covered the nature of light, lenses and focus, and an introduction.

At some point in his series, he’ll probably be digging into depth of field, f-numbers, and camera controls.

]]> By: Melinda http://blog.epicedits.com/2007/02/27/6-tips-for-controlling-depth-of-field/#comment-48142 Melinda Thu, 20 Mar 2008 20:59:50 +0000 http://blog.epicedits.com/2007/02/27/6-tips-for-controlling-depth-of-field/#comment-48142 Hi Brian I just got into your site by accident and I'm glad because I'm taking photography and the first month I didn't get it at all. But thanks to you and someone who I know is a photographer I understand it much more. Can please talk about small depth of field more with maybe some images as example like the Princeton image. Also how to get a blurred image to apply it to movement, how to be able to apply the rule of thirds. PLease I just don't get my professor I would appreciate it. Good job with the website, the writing is very comprehensible for photography. Thanks, Melinda Hi Brian I just got into your site by accident and I’m glad because I’m taking photography and the first month I didn’t get it at all. But thanks to you and someone who I know is a photographer I understand it much more. Can please talk about small depth of field more with maybe some images as example like the Princeton image. Also how to get a blurred image to apply it to movement, how to be able to apply the rule of thirds. PLease I just don’t get my professor I would appreciate it. Good job with the website, the writing is very comprehensible for photography.
Thanks, Melinda

]]> By: Busy with Blogs : OzLady’s Ramblings http://blog.epicedits.com/2007/02/27/6-tips-for-controlling-depth-of-field/#comment-40701 Busy with Blogs : OzLady’s Ramblings Sat, 09 Feb 2008 16:27:47 +0000 http://blog.epicedits.com/2007/02/27/6-tips-for-controlling-depth-of-field/#comment-40701 [...] now just need to look at different perspectives to photograph from, different techniques (such as utilising depth of field, and [...] [...] now just need to look at different perspectives to photograph from, different techniques (such as utilising depth of field, and [...]

]]> By: willi http://blog.epicedits.com/2007/02/27/6-tips-for-controlling-depth-of-field/#comment-34073 willi Mon, 14 Jan 2008 05:56:34 +0000 http://blog.epicedits.com/2007/02/27/6-tips-for-controlling-depth-of-field/#comment-34073 i was able to achieve good DOF photos with my point and shoot camera (canon ixus 4)! cf droplets and flowers photos in my flickr stream -- http://www.flickr.com/photos/bwillib/ i was able to achieve good DOF photos with my point and shoot camera (canon ixus 4)! cf droplets and flowers photos in my flickr stream — http://www.flickr.com/photos/bwillib/

]]> By: Lau http://blog.epicedits.com/2007/02/27/6-tips-for-controlling-depth-of-field/#comment-3865 Lau Tue, 24 Jul 2007 19:59:52 +0000 http://blog.epicedits.com/2007/02/27/6-tips-for-controlling-depth-of-field/#comment-3865 Very good article! I can increase my DOF effect with a P&S by using NeatImage in post precessing. It really works but only if like you said, I use the zoom or macro mode. This NeatImage stuff does not create the DOF effect, but it increases it. Very good article! I can increase my DOF effect with a P&S by using NeatImage in post precessing. It really works but only if like you said, I use the zoom or macro mode. This NeatImage stuff does not create the DOF effect, but it increases it.

]]>