Depth Of Field

[Joan of Arc]

I am using a Canon EOS 450D.

Can someone please tell me what setting to use to take three shots that show three depths of field.

Yes I realise I should know but as I stated in photos post, I am having a really dumb day and want to get these shots done for assignment.

Thanks in advance.

[Kirislin]

Put your camera into AV and just take 3 photos with different f stops. Just play around.

[kja]

I am using a Canon EOS 450D.

Can someone please tell me what setting to use to take three shots that show three depths of field.

and want to get these shots done for assignment.

Thanks in advance.

What kind of assignment?

Depth of field changes with the distance to your subject and your aperture (in a nutshell). A wider aperture such as 2.8 will have a shallower depth of field at a given distance than a narrower aperture such as f22.

Here's a DOF calculator for you.

[Joan of Arc]

Thanks heaps. I tried Krislin'[s technique and couldnt see much change, perhaps I did something wrong. Will go back and have another go in teh day light.

[rubiton]

Try to find a sunny area outside. Put it in AV. Now go as low as the camera allows with your aperture setting (depending on the lens you are using this could be 5.6 or could be as low as 2.8). Setup a scene such as a pot or garden gnome (or something) about two metres from you and focus on that - set it up so there is another object or fence in the background say perhaps 4- 5 metres away (enough so that if you focus on close object on the low aperture setting the other object is out of focus. Then take a second photo with it set on say F11. Then a third one as high as the setting will go (if you can get F22 without the shutter speed being too low that would be ideal - this is where the sun can be handy).

Idea is on a 2.8 or 5.6 setting the front object will be sharp but back object wont be. second setting the background wont be as blurred and the final shot should nearly have the background relatively in focus. Play around with the object as 4-5 metres may be too great 2-3 metres may be enough.

[kja]

mercedes - what is the assignment?

A brick wall or a fence works well if you are looking for differences in depth of field at different apertures. Start at the widest aperture and take a shot. Go to f11 ish and focus on the same spot you did at the widest opening and take another shot. Then stop it down to f22ish and do the same thing. You'll need to shoot in a lot of light (think sunlight) if you don't have flash or your photos at f22 are bound to be dark

[Joan of Arc]

mercedes - what is the assignment?

A brick wall or a fence works well if you are looking for differences in depth of field at different apertures. Start at the widest aperture and take a shot. Go to f11 ish and focus on the same spot you did at the widest opening and take another shot. Then stop it down to f22ish and do the same thing. You'll need to shoot in a lot of light (think sunlight) if you don't have flash or your photos at f22 are bound to be dark

kja

I have been doing digital photography one night a week this term and have learnt a great deal. However for some reason I dont seem to be able to get my head around depth of field - just a mental blank I guess. I will certainly try your suggestion and rubiton's.

Thanks for your help and will post results if they work.

[Kirislin]

Try reading this, it's very good.

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=414088

[Ripley]

You can download a DOF calculator to your iphone/ipod now

Dr DOF. It works it out for you if you aren't sure how to calculate it manually.

http://support.phozmo.com/index.php?option...o&Itemid=38

what will they think of next?!