| Author | Thread |
|
|
06/25/2004 11:42:47 PM · #1 |
I am a complete novice at photography entirely and I find this site and it's competitions to be a great way to learn, since I don't have any books or brains to pick from.
My problem:
What I am trying to do is get a solid daylight portrait shot at a distance of about 6 feet with a very shallow DOF, I want only my subject (a person) in focus and for the entire background to be a complete blur. I can get this effect while only a few feet from my subject, but I find that the DOF gets pretty clear at anything more than a casual intimate distance.
What optics should I be considering on this camera for this type of effect? I know I am not ready to upgrade it since some of this cameras features are still a tad over my head, but I would be surprised if this camera were not able to perform the way I want it to with a little help. Any suggestions are welcome.
Humble thanks in advance,
Mark |
|
|
|
06/26/2004 12:32:50 AM · #2 |
I used to have a 5400... its a great camera.
But, you will find it very hard to blur background in portrait type shots. The problem is the lens has a very close focal range (i think as close as 1cm?), and anything outside the maximum focus range, it wont blur the background. I cant remember the maximum focus range for that lens, but its not very big.. I think even under 10mm.
So what this means is, that it is possible to blur the background, but the subject has to be pretty damn close to the camera.
I'm think you can get a converter pack, that enhances telephoto somewhat. I think this camera is really meant for close macro work or landscapes.. but might be worth a try.
|
|
|
|
06/26/2004 12:41:15 AM · #3 |
The two most effective things you can do are:
1.) Use the largest aperture available (smallest number).
2.) Make sure your subject is as far as possible from the background.
The implications of item 1, for your camnera, are that using a zoom setting toward the wide angle end will yield better resutls, since your lens is much faster (F/2.8) at the wide end than the tele end (F/4.6). Too wide, though, and you may get an unflattering portrait.
All cams with small sensors have a greater depth of field than large-sensor cams (DSLRs), because the focal length of the optical systems are shorter. What counts in the DoF equations is the actual focal length, not the "35mm equivalent" focal length. So in fact you are limited by your camera, in this instance. You benefit, however, when you want greater DoF.
|
|
|
|
06/26/2004 07:00:55 AM · #4 |
Absolutely agree with Dan that the 5400 works for Macro and Landscape shots and not much else ... but you have an easy option - just blur the background in post-processing.
I use mine at around 60mm equivalent focal length (just over halfway through the zoom range) for portraits - I find that gives me the least distortion from the lens. Not that I've taken any portraits until this week :-)
E
|
|
|
|
06/26/2004 02:42:38 PM · #5 |
| Thanks for your replies guys, it's very helpful. It seems so far though that I need to change cameras. I played around with a 1972 pentax 35mm yesterday and it was alot of fun with it's all manual focus and such. The thing I am afraid of there is spending hundreds of dollars on film/devellopment just to learn how to take pictures all over again on manual :P |
|
Home -
Challenges -
Community -
League -
Photos -
Cameras -
Lenses -
Learn -
Help -
Terms of Use -
Privacy -
Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2025 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 09/11/2025 12:40:07 PM EDT.
