Creating a Shallow Depth of Field

11/30/2003 04:12:19 PM · #1

I'm sure this may come across as a rather stupid question (We all have to start somewhere right?) but is it possible to be able to create less of a depth of field on a digital camera using perhaps additional lenses? The smallest F stop that my camera will go to is f2.8...but I'd like to see a much blurier background in my pictures. I was originally advised to purchase a tele-photo lens and told this would work. Is this true? Just in case the information is needed, it is an Olympus C-4000 that I own.

Many Thanks in advance

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

11/30/2003 04:16:08 PM · #2

no matter the fstop of the lense - f2.8 is quite low however
the longer the focal length the shallower the DOF.

so zooming at f2.8 will give you less DOF over non-zoomed f2.8

hope that helps,
sop

brianlh

Canon EOS-450D Rebel XSi

11/30/2003 04:16:55 PM · #3

Wow, nevermind my post. I'm just erasing it now. I just woke up and must still be tired.

Message edited by author 2003-11-30 16:23:02.

justine

Canon EOS-50D

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

11/30/2003 04:18:39 PM · #4

Here are two good sites with some explanation and ideas that I hope are helpful.
//www.sgi.com/grafica/depth/
//www.outsight.com/hyperfocal.html

Message edited by author 2003-11-30 16:18:54.

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

11/30/2003 04:19:36 PM · #5

the larger the opening ( smaller the fstop ) the shallower the DOF....

f22 will make most things in the photo in focus
f2.8 most things will be out of focus

Originally posted by :

Do you mean the largest aperture your camera can go to is f2.8? Generally smaller apertures (higher f-stop numbers) produce shallower depths of field. I know for sure that my C-3000Z has it's largest aperture at 2.8 and goes at least to f/11.. maybe f/16, but I'm not sure.

faidoi

Pentax K10D

12/01/2003 01:02:49 AM · #6

Lower f# =larger aperture ,more light entering the CCD, Iris is opened wider, background is blurry helping to separate main subject from background. Ex: F2

Higher f#=smaller aperture,less light entering the CCD, Iris is very small, background is very similar to the focus of the main subject.
Ex. F11

The confusing thing about the f-number is that a smaller number means a larger aperature.

ronners

Nikon D100

12/01/2003 01:14:21 AM · #7

All of these comments are of course valid. In general, a small aperture equates to a deep DOF, whereas a large one will equate to a shallow DOF. The problem with digicams is that the CCD sensor is in fact much smaller than a 35mm (or larger) film plane, and a deep DOF almost invariably results from this. The only way to get more control over DOF is to work with a SLR-type camera.

pitsaman

12/01/2003 03:11:58 AM · #8

Originally posted by unseen_unheard:

Get close to the subject ,closer your subject is,DOF will be shallower!
With Oly 5050, normal focusing wide distance is 80 cm,tele would be 3X which is 2.4 Meters!with that distance and smallest F number F1.8 or F2.6 Tele I'm getting shallowest DOF !

WaysOfSeeing

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

12/01/2003 05:24:46 AM · #9

Thanks alot to everybody for the advice/suggestions. I must also apologise for any confusion caused through not making my question clear enough. As you can probably guess I'm still trying to get my head around the whole DOF/Aperture thing :0)

So, the bottom line is that there is nothing I can use (non-photoshop) that will alter my F2.8 to create an f-stop along the likes of 2.0 or 1.8 and so forth? Oh well, looks like I'll have to start saving for a model that will.

Thanks again

Unseen

jonpink

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX2

12/01/2003 07:01:40 AM · #10

Just remember the average DPC'er doesn't seem to like shallow DOF, even on food images (where a shallow DOF is practicaly standard)you'll be inundated with 'shame it's out of focus' comments, which, if your like me will drive you up the bloody wall!! ;)

Hoho, got to love it ;)

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

12/01/2003 08:24:32 AM · #11

i like shallow DOF ;}

soup

Niten

Canon EOS-20D

12/01/2003 08:49:57 AM · #12

Yes you can get less dof with your camera just add a diopter.
diopter

WaysOfSeeing

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

12/01/2003 09:19:22 AM · #13

But isn't that just a macro lens? My camera does have a super-macro mode and I'm very happy with the shallow depth of field that it produces for those kind of shots. But when applying the super micro mode to basic portrait shots I'm seeing no impact at all, unless I could be doing something wrong, which is often the case with my photographic adventures :o)

Me and my Niave related photographic thinking thought it would be just a simple case of attaching a lens and BAM! Instant shallow depth of field.

Never mind eh...

EddyG

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

12/01/2003 10:35:07 AM · #14

Aperture is only part of the factor that determines depth of field.

unseen_unheard's PowerShot A40 has a lens with a focal length of 7.1mm - 21.3mm. The reason it is so difficult to get shallow of depth of field is because DOF is closely related to the focal length: the longer the focal length, the shallower the DOF.

With a focal length of 7-21mm, the DOF is going to be quite deep, even at the camera's largest aperture of f/2.8.

There is a plug-in from The Imaging Factory called Simulated DOF (available as a downloadable trial) and may provide you with an alternative in certain situations.

pitsaman

12/01/2003 10:35:31 PM · #15

As you see on this photo:

The bush on the front is blur and the pavement behind the animal is blur.
Done with F2.8 and 228 mm full zoom from 200 cm away (2 Meters)with Fuji 3800

Message edited by author 2003-12-01 22:44:39.