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DPChallenge Forums >> Tips, Tricks, and Q&A >> Getting a deeper DOF
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 04/05/2004 11:28:35 AM · #1
When I get close to a subject, I can't seem to escape having a shallow DOF with my camera, the Canon G3. I've submitted photos and people tell me I should have a greater DOF, tell me I should have set the aperature lower to do so. Even at 2.0, the lowest my camera will go, I get this shallow DOF. Is the problem that I'm too close? Should I be pulling back and zooming in? I always thought that would make the DOF shalower.

Thanks for any tips or suggestions you can offer.

Darcy

Message edited by author 2004-04-05 11:29:06.
 04/05/2004 11:30:48 AM · #2
Smaller aperature = higher number. Try getting getting this number higher and compare your results. Should get greater DOF.

04/05/2004 11:31:56 AM · #3
you probablly are going the wrong way with the apeture, a higher f # like f/8 will have more in focus in the shot were as an f/2 will have a very shallow DOF or not much in focus except for your subject

James
 04/05/2004 11:32:30 AM · #4
The greatest DOF will always be achieved with the smallest aperture (largest number). For the G3 that is f8. Also, the wider the angle of the lens the more DOF you will achieve (least zoom). Get as close as possible and only zoom as much as you need to.
04/05/2004 11:33:43 AM · #5
Of course!

Thanks Rich. If I had thought about that at all I would have realized higher=smaller since the higher my aperature, the less light i get on the exposure. I guess that means if I want to get deeper DOF I'll have to use more light as well...

Makes sense now. Thanks again!

Darcy
 04/05/2004 11:35:00 AM · #6
Hey guys - didn't see you there. Thanks for your replies as well. All very helpful!

Darcy
 04/05/2004 11:35:04 AM · #7
Originally posted by darcy:
Of course!

Thanks Rich. If I had thought about that at all I would have realized higher=smaller since the higher my aperature, the less light i get on the exposure. I guess that means if I want to get deeper DOF I'll have to use more light as well...


Or longer exposure times
 04/05/2004 11:35:33 AM · #8
Ahh, there's the problem - on aperture, the larger the number the smaller the opening. You need the smallest opening, which is hte largest number (f8 or f11). This will let in very little light, so more light and or a slower shutter speed and a tripod will be needed

chris
 04/05/2004 11:39:43 AM · #9
Aperture itself doesn.t do much in case of how shallow Dof will be,it is more of relation object size + focal distance + sensor size !
With 7 mm sensor size on G3 it is very easy to put everything in sharp focus and in order to get shallow dof you have to get really close to the object ( in face) .
 04/05/2004 11:49:40 AM · #10
good points about the shutter speed/exposure time. this is not as much an option when photographing people, especially when they aren't posing for you, but in still life or portrait situations this can come in handy with a tripod.

i'm already at a bit of a disadvantage with my G3 since i can only really set the ISO to 50 - anything above that produces colored digital noise on my images - and 50 requires a good amount of light.

are the DSLRs any better with producing usable ISO values in the higher ranges?
 04/05/2004 11:51:00 AM · #11
Originally posted by darcy:
Hey guys - didn't see you there. Thanks for your replies as well. All very helpful!

Darcy


That's what happens when we all post at once....
 04/05/2004 12:04:22 PM · #12
Here are two links that I saved from earlier threads here but haven't really explored yet.

Focus Pocus

Online DoF Calculators

Message edited by author 2004-04-05 12:06:21.
 04/05/2004 12:05:34 PM · #13
Originally posted by darcy:

are the DSLRs any better with producing usable ISO values in the higher ranges?

Absolutely, Darcy! My Digital Rebel was a superstar this weekend at my nephew's 1st birthday party all because of it's ability to produce noise-free images up to and including ISO 800. I even have a framed 8x10 of my nephew taken at ISO1600 that looks outstanding in print (the actual .jpg on screen looks a little rough though).

Message edited by author 2004-04-05 12:05:50.
 04/05/2004 12:06:39 PM · #14
Darcy, I always shoot at ISO 50 unless I´m forced othervise because of digital noise problems (ISO 100 ok).
Looking at dprewiev and other sites you can see that this is not a problem with the sensors in Canon DSLR. Seems that you can shoot in upto ISO 800 without much noise and even in ISO 1600 it isnt as much as at ISO 400 in many compact or SLR like cameras.
 04/05/2004 12:12:12 PM · #15
About shallow DOF. I find it more problem to get shallow DOF in thous compact cameras than get a deep one. If I´m trying to blurr out things in the background I zoom as much as I can, open the iris as much as I can, manually focus (10-20 cm) and get as close to the subject as I can. Thats the only change to blurr out background on my camera. But soon I´m getting my Rebel and then I will realy start experimenting.
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