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DPChallenge Forums >> Photography Discussion >> DoF as it pertains to subject distance..
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10/27/2010 05:19:41 PM · #1
Still learning about all this, and I can't wrap my mind around this.

I understand that the more open my aperture is, the more shallow my depth of field. I also understand that the longer the lens, the more shallow my depth of field. But how does this pertain to the distance of subject to camera.

10/27/2010 05:26:09 PM · #2
The closer the subject the more bokeh / less DOF.

ETA: Does anyone know of a great mathematically based reference on these things?

Message edited by author 2010-10-27 17:27:00.
10/27/2010 05:34:39 PM · #3
Originally posted by coryboehne:

ETA: Does anyone know of a great mathematically based reference on these things?


Wikipedia has some answers...
10/27/2010 05:39:50 PM · #4
Originally posted by tome:

Originally posted by coryboehne:

ETA: Does anyone know of a great mathematically based reference on these things?


Wikipedia has some answers...


Surprisingly good answers actually... Thanks!
10/27/2010 07:10:42 PM · #5
Originally posted by coryboehne:

The closer the subject the more bokeh / less DOF.


How is Bokeh different to DOF?
10/27/2010 07:39:32 PM · #6
bokeh is just a shallow depth or field showing a blurred background.

depth of field is the range of what is in focus, shallow to long.
10/27/2010 08:02:15 PM · #7
Originally posted by mike_311:

bokeh is just a shallow depth or field showing a blurred background.

.


or foreground..

10/27/2010 08:18:45 PM · #8
Originally posted by adamelliott111:

Originally posted by coryboehne:

The closer the subject the more bokeh / less DOF.


How is Bokeh different to DOF?


Bokeh is the *qualities* of the OOF portions of the image (foreground or background). Yes, the more OOF the BG, the blurrier (smoother) it will be, but that's not what bokeh is about. Bokeh is about how the OOF areas are rendered, not how OOF they are.
10/27/2010 08:22:34 PM · #9
//www.dofmaster.com/dofjs.html

Excellent Resource and Calculator!!
10/27/2010 11:03:50 PM · #10
Originally posted by mike_311:

bokeh is just a shallow depth or field showing a blurred background.

depth of field is the range of what is in focus, shallow to long.


Bokeh describes out-of-focus areas of a picture that is pleasing to look at. It does not mean out of focus, and isn't about shallow DoF.
10/28/2010 12:26:42 AM · #11
Check out this Depth of Field Calculator on-line. You can plug in most any camera, focal length lens, distance to subject, and it calculates: the near limit, far limit, total DOF, and hyperfocal distance. It will help you understand how changing any of the variables will affect DOF.

//www.dofmaster.com/dofjs.html
10/28/2010 08:27:29 AM · #12
Originally posted by alohadave:

Originally posted by mike_311:

bokeh is just a shallow depth or field showing a blurred background.

depth of field is the range of what is in focus, shallow to long.


Bokeh describes out-of-focus areas of a picture that is pleasing to look at. It does not mean out of focus, and isn't about shallow DoF.


Not necessarily pleasing, though.
Annoying bokeh is still bokeh.
10/28/2010 12:45:38 PM · #13
I'll dive into all these links here in a bit. I'm kinda a newb at "picking the appropriate lense" for a particular task. For me, I LOVE pretty bokeh in the BG. That may be like saying "For me, I LOVE pretty supermodels in my life" probably everyone loves pretty bokeh.

if I wanted to say, go shoot some race cars in the pits and I couldn't get any closer than say, 60 feet or so. If I wanted to take a picture, front on...and have the headlights in focus, but the rear of the auto outside of the DoF. I'm looking at wanting a Dof of about 4 feet...and I'm 60 feet away.

If you know what you are doing you will say to yourself "DUDE....that's OBVIOUS...you'll want a ###mm, that at LEAST is a F/2...dumbass" :-D

I'm trying to wrap my head around the thought process so I can work toward getting there.
10/28/2010 02:40:36 PM · #14
Ok, so shallow depth of field is when I take a picture of a flower and the back ground is blurred but the flower is in focus.

And Bokeh is when that is the case but some of the petals are blurred as well?
10/28/2010 03:31:55 PM · #15
Originally posted by adamelliott111:

Ok, so shallow depth of field is when I take a picture of a flower and the back ground is blurred but the flower is in focus.

And Bokeh is when that is the case but some of the petals are blurred as well?


First statement is fine. Second is not. Bokeh is the *qualities* of the blurred areas (background or foreground. Is it smooth, creamy, pleasing (good bokeh) or does it have jarring edges and an otherwise unpleasant appearance (bad bokeh)?
10/28/2010 03:34:39 PM · #16
It is pretty simple really.
If there is out-of-focus, then there is also bokeh.
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