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Erik
Old School Freak
Joined: 10 Mar 2003
Posts: 2830
City: Boston MA, Wolfeboro NH, DelRay FL, Montego Bay, Jamaica
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 Posted: Aug 11, 2005 4:25 pm Post subject: Depth of Field in Digital Camera Photos |
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I've been talking to a really good designer and art school graduate that works in the same group as me - and he has a very specific reason why he dosent like digital camera photos. He says that digital cameras don't provide the nice 'depth of field' effect that standard film cameras can produce.
At first I didn't know what he meant. but now I do. In looking at my thousands and thousands of digital camera photos, I now notice that everything appears to be 'in focus'. As in the photo are kind of robotic, perfect captures of a scene. Almost every photo I have taken, kind of fits the description. Even my attempts to make a more artistic photo, result in washed out yet near perfect analogs of the original scene. Just without any attractive focus on one element or subject.
So to the photo experts out there: I am a digital photography convert who is not going to revert to film, BUT I do want to take better photos. I'm also in the market for a new digital camera. What should I be looking for, when it comes to manual settings and the like. Also, is there a specific method, when taking digital camera photos, that can result in a nice depth of field effect?
Thanks,
Erik |
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justsomeguy
Guest
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| Posted: Aug 11, 2005 5:29 pm Post subject: Re: Depth of Field in Digital Camera Photos |
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| Erik Jernberg wrote: | | He says that digital cameras don't provide the nice 'depth of field' effect that standard film cameras can produce. |
I will be blunt and say that he is clueless.
You can get a shallow depth of field and nice bokeh even with inexpensive point and shoot digicams, if you know what you're doing.
| Erik Jernberg wrote: | | Also, is there a specific method, when taking digital camera photos, that can result in a nice depth of field effect? |
As with film cameras, DOF is related to the aperature of the lens. Go with the lowest number and you'll get a sharp subject and a blurred background.
Another method would be to use a higher aperature, resulting in a slower shutter speed, and panning the camera with a moving subject to create motion blur in the background behind a sharp subject. |
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Zach M
Wakeboarder.Commie
Joined: 12 Jan 2003
Posts: 1638
City: Seattle
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| Posted: Aug 11, 2005 5:43 pm Post subject: |
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| Erik Jernberg wrote: | He says that digital cameras don't provide the nice 'depth of field' effect that standard film cameras can produce.
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Let me correct this statement first. Depth of field is the area in which a shot is in focus. Therefore, all photos have a depth of field, but the distance is different. A photo has a shallow depth of field if an object is in focus while everything else in front and behind that object is out of focus. A photo has a greater depth of field if more detail is visible throughout the composition.
The nice depth of field effect that you are talking about is a shallow depth of field. There should be no difference between digital and film cameras, except in the quality of the camera itself (a cheap digital or film camera will not produce the nice depth of field effect that a good film or digital camera will)
| Erik Jernberg wrote: | In looking at my thousands and thousands of digital camera photos, I now notice that everything appears to be 'in focus'.
What should I be looking for, when it comes to manual settings and the like. Also, is there a specific method, when taking digital camera photos, that can result in a nice depth of field effect? |
I'm assuming that you have been shooting with a point and shoot digital camera. If you want to truly upgrade, a digital SLR will help you have more control over your photographs. If you don't want to spend that much money, you can buy a digital camera that allows you to have full control over your manual settings.
There are three things that affect the depth of field in a photo. The first is the focal length of the lens. The smaller the focal length of the lens, the greater the depth of field. A 28mm lens will capture more sharp focus throughout a photo than a 200mm lens. If you are shooting with a point and shoot digital camera, there is not much you can do about this.
The second thing that affects DOF is the distance from the camera to the subject you are shooting. If you are close to an object, it will remain in focus while making the background out of focus. The further you get from your focal point, the more the background will be in focus. With a point and shoot, you can get close to an object and trick the camera into producing a shallow DOF.
The third factor that affects DOF is the size of the aperture (aka the f-stop). This is especially effective when shooting a close-up photo or when using a telephoto lens. A wider aperture (smaller f-stop) will result in a shallower depth of field. Not all point and shoot cameras allow you to adjust this, but if you are willing to spend the money you can purchase one with full manual settings.
Last edited by Zach M on Aug 11, 2005 6:04 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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emzcorey
Newbie
Joined: 22 Jul 2005
Posts: 33
City: Lilburn
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| Posted: Aug 11, 2005 5:54 pm Post subject: |
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yea... dof is lens related not as much with the medium... Point and shoots might not work well with it, but niether do film point and shoots...
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Corey Black
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justsomeguy
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| Posted: Aug 11, 2005 6:37 pm Post subject: |
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| Zach M wrote: | | If you are shooting with a point and shoot digital camera, there is not much you can do about this. |
Many point and shoot cameras offer a degree of manual control.
If people actually read the manual and understand basic photographic concepts, they can get interesting, and relatively shallow, DOF in their photos.
However, most folks just shoot in Auto mode and can't understand why their photos are too "realistic."
Old Nikon P+S pic: |
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Zach M
Wakeboarder.Commie
Joined: 12 Jan 2003
Posts: 1638
City: Seattle
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| Posted: Aug 11, 2005 7:23 pm Post subject: |
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| justsomeguy wrote: | | Zach M wrote: | | If you are shooting with a point and shoot digital camera, there is not much you can do about this. |
Many point and shoot cameras offer a degree of manual control.
If people actually read the manual and understand basic photographic concepts, they can get interesting, and relatively shallow, DOF in their photos.
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Did you not read my entire post? The quote you referenced was in regard to the focal length of the lens. Most point and shoot cameras do not offer a long enough focal length for it to be a factor in the DOF.
| Zach M wrote: | | There should be no difference between digital and film cameras, except in the quality of the camera itself (a cheap digital or film camera will not produce the nice depth of field effect that a good film or digital camera will) |
| Zach M wrote: | | If you don't want to spend that much money, you can buy a digital camera that allows you to have full control over your manual settings. |
| Zach M wrote: | | Not all point and shoot cameras allow you to adjust this, but if you are willing to spend the money you can purchase one with full manual settings. |
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justsomeguy
Guest
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| Posted: Aug 11, 2005 8:07 pm Post subject: |
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| Zach M wrote: |
Did you not read my entire post? The quote you referenced was in regard to the focal length of the lens. Most point and shoot cameras do not offer a long enough focal length for it to be a factor in the DOF. |
Yes I read your post.
Many point and shoot cameras have focal lengths of 100mm+ (35mm equivelent) so yes, the focal length can certainly be a factor.
Cheers. |
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RD
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Joined: 22 Apr 2003
Posts: 626
City: Discovery Bay
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| Posted: Aug 12, 2005 8:26 am Post subject: |
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The size of the image plane has a great deal to do with the ability to control DOF. A 35mm film plane or a full frame 35mm imager like that in the Canon 1Ds and 1DsmkII allow for more bokeh at any given focal length/f stop then a smaller imager typically found in a P&S. Doesn't mean you can't achieve the same blur but it's going to take different settings.
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