Hi All, I have started this thread with a quote by Tim Dodd in part because having personally learned of his background - he is a very knowledgeable self-taught (in part) scientist/nerd - and because he has IMHO a wonderful way of explaining scientific issues in nonscientific terms so that even a nonscientific person like myself can understand at least 90% of what he writes. I am looking forward to Tim's and everyone's' comments on this topic.The DOFMASTER website is referenced in a Canon article about DOF - http://cpn.canon-europe.com/content/...d.do#container. The article also rationalises the choice of a CoC of 0.019mm for APS-C cameras
Focusing-CoC-Hyperfocal Distance:
Focusing, that's easy - AF or MF - depending upon the circumstances. However, "where" to focus is a very different consideration, and depending upon the subject, e.g., macro or landscape, the answer from my readings is very different AND brings into play CoC (Circles of Confusion) and hyperfocal distance (HFD).
Also from my readings, HFD is primarily a landscape photographer's issue, correct?
Obviously this thread is directed to everyone in general, and specifically to the Senior (not referring to age!) photographers on BPN.
How often to you concern yourself with HFD, and when you do how do you apply HFD in a given situation with a given lens/aperture?
Do you use any specific tools like the HFD calculator found on http://www.dofmaster.com/index.html, or the HFD charts found on http://www.vividlight.com/pdf/hyperfocal.PDF?
OR do you simply do a "down and dirty" as follows:
Gary Stanley http://www.vividlight.com/Articles/3504.htmuse as small lens aperture such as f/16 or f/22 and then focus a third of the way into the scene. Not the actual physical distance of the closest object in your picture to the farthest, but a third of the way into your frame as you look through the viewfinder. Use your depth-of-field preview button (if you have one) to stop the lens down to its taking aperture to visually check and see if everything looks sharp. Take your time and allow your eye to adjust to the darkened image in the viewfinder. A 'dark cloth' or coat can be handy to shield the sun as you look into the viewfinder. Depth-of-field and critical focus is very important to the finished image.
Regarding CoC, I will leave that to the Seniors to comment!
BTW - 1, the VividLight website has lots of interesting articles and for the yearly price seems a bargain.
BTW - 2, it would certainly be nice if we could put an image in the middle of the text where it makes more sense (sometimes) than always at the beginning), IMHO







Reply With Quote

