 Kevin Stack |
Depth of field on compact digital camera. Hi, I have a Canon powershot A620, and would like to know how to reduce DOF. I am wanting to blur the background. I've tried different settings, but DOF is still too large. Thanks, Kevin
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- Carlton Ward Contact Carlton Ward Carlton Ward's Gallery |
Hi Kevin, I don't know your camera, but if you have Manual or AV (aperture priority) settings, you should be able to set your DOF to what you want. I use a varied DOF all the time to get the effects I want but I shoot in manual mode always. Good Luck...
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Alan N. Marcus |
Hi Kevin, Carlton's advice as always is sound. Alan Marcus
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W. |
Alan and Carlton are right, of course. It is good to keep in mind that compact cameras, with their very limited focal length, have inherent limitations with their DoF selection. If you really want full flexibility in DoF selection you will need a full-frame dSLR.
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Christopher A. Vedros |
"compact cameras, with their very limited focal length, have inherent limitations with their DoF selection." True "If you really want full flexibility in DoF selection you will need a full-frame dSLR." Not really true. I can get incredibly shallow DOF with my Digital Rebel and 50mm f/1.4 lens. Kevin - to shorten your DOF, use Portrait Mode, then back up and zoom in on your subject. Using the longer focal lengths of your zoom lens will help reduce DOF. Chris A. Vedros
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Alan N. Marcus |
Hi again Kevin, Depth-of-field is that expanse on both sides of the point focused upon that remains acceptably sharp (in focus). The span expands or contracts with aperture changes. Maximum depth-of-field is achieved when tiny apertures are utilized. These are the larger numerical values (tiny openings) such as f/22 or f/16 etc. Depth-of-field extends 2/3 away (further) from the camera and 1/3 towards (closer) as measured from the point of focus. Say the camera is focused at the 10 foot mark. If a tiny aperture is in use, the zone of acceptable focus is likely 6 feet thru 25 feet. Knowing that depth-of-field extends further to the rear, one can focus on a point closer than principle subject. This technique minimizes depth-of-field at the subject plane. Say your portrait subject is 10 feet away; have him/her extend a hand as a focus target. Focus on the hand at about the 8 foot mark. You can lock focus by centering on the hand and then gently depressing the shutter release, half way (incompletely). Maintain pressure as you re-compose and then fully depress to commence exposure. Depth-of-field is a function comprising aperture setting - lens focal length plus distance focused upon. Longer zoom (telephoto) settings reduce depth-of-field. Large aperture opening (f/4 or f/5.6) yield reduced depth-of-field. Your camera has a zoom range of 7.3 – 29.2mm. The 29.2mm max zoom will yield greatly reduced depth-of-field. Most books and teachers apply association with the 35mm film cameras when thrashing out optical issues. Using this logic your zoom lens functions just like a 35-140mm zoom as mounted on a 35mm full frame camera. This is true because your camera sports a chip that is reduced in size as compared to the full frame dimensions of the 35mm film format Perhaps the most important association is; in portraiture one should attempt to reproduce the subject minimizing distortion. This is achieved when the zoom is set to 105mm or greater on a 35mm. This is true because at higher than normal magnification (zoom), the photographer is forced to step back to compose. This act normalizes prospective yielding an image near the prospective seen by the subject in the make-up or shaving mirror. This reduces the whimper “I don’t photograph well” or “The camera lies”. For your camera, due to the smaller chip it sports, will be a zoom setting of 22mm or greater i.e. a setting near the high end of the zoom. Best of luck, Alan Marcus
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W. |
Quote "If you really want full flexibility in DoF selection you will need a full-frame dSLR." Not really true. I can get incredibly shallow DOF with my Digital Rebel and 50mm f/1.4 lens. And you'll get still MUCH shallower DoF if you screw that lens onto a 5D, Chris.
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Christopher A. Vedros |
I was just pointing out that it's not helpful to make people think that they have to buy more expensive equipment to get better results in their photography. When someone asks about getting shallower DOF with their compact digital, telling them they need a 5D is not helpful. When an amateur asks about waterproof cameras for a vacation, telling they need a Nikonos dive system with underwater strobes is not helpful. Keep it real,
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W. |
The alternative is sending people up the garden path, they spend money on stuff you KNEW in advance wouldn't bring the results the O.P. has his/her sights set on, with disappointment, and wasted time and money as an end result. That is helpful, Chris?
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Kevin Stack |
Hey, I experimented with the portrait mode and got some results. Guess I can't expect a compact to perform like an SLR. A Nikon D80 is on my wish list. Thanks everone for the input. Kevin
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- Carlton Ward Contact Carlton Ward Carlton Ward's Gallery |
Hi Kevin, After reading a review, the PowerShot A620 does have full manual control. You should be able to set DOF, Shutter speed & ISO. The review photos did show unusable photos from noise when shooting night pics at iso400. Other than that, it appears to be a very good P&S camera. http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/canon/powershot_a620-review/index.shtml
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