Shallow DOF- Overuse?

[Art Varga]

In looking at a lot of 5D footage that folks are posting I seem to notice an overuse of Shallow DOF. Its probably a natural tendency given its been such a coveted look for so long. So wondering what everyone else thinks. The 5D opens up a whole new world for us videographers in terms of shot/lens selection. I know I have a lot to learn to best utilize what we now have in our hands. I find myself obsessed now when watching television taking note of when and how DOF is used and what lenses they may be using for a particular shot. Any thoughts?

Art

[Daniel Lipats]

I have to agree, it's often abused. I notice people do the same thing with 35mm adapters. It can be very distracting.

There is a time when it works and a time when it just does not.

[Chris Barcellos]

The posts I have seen thus far seem to emphasize the night time abilities more than anything else. My recent post in another thread had three different angles. While one angle demonstrated the DofF characteristics, that was not predominant. This camera is amazing because it pushed video to a new level, which includes low light performance and 35mm "film like" capabilities in terms of lens selection. The shallow depth of field naturally accompanies that, just as 35mm film cameras will.

[Bill Binder]

I'm not sure what you are seeing is so much a reflection of "overuse," as it is a reflection that the mostly-undefeatable autoexposure program of the 5D2 most often tends to try to open the aperture up. Just take a sampling of vimeo 5D2 videos, and the great majority indoors = shallow DOF, and the great majority outside are deep DOF. You have to be actively trying to defeat the camera's program to do anything else in those environments don't you? Something that's not easily done without lots of lights indoors or lots of NDs outdoors. No?

[Ryan Koo]

I think it will be definitely overused if it's not already -- after many years of being stuck with infinite DOF via so many small-chip DV cameras, we finally get big CMOS chips. It's understandable that people will go a little nuts with DOF that's 1/3". Look!!!! Bokeh!!!

That said, shallow or deep DOF does not a good story make. If we can get some decent manual controls on the 5dMkII, then the OPTION to have shallow DOF will be great -- just because one CAN doesn't mean one SHOULD.

[Mark Hahn]

Originally Posted by Ryan Koo

I think it will be definitely overused if it's not already -- after many years of being stuck with infinite DOF via so many small-chip DV cameras, we finally get big CMOS chips. It's understandable that people will go a little nuts with DOF that's 1/3". Look!!!! Bokeh!!!

That said, shallow or deep DOF does not a good story make. If we can get some decent manual controls on the 5dMkII, then the OPTION to have shallow DOF will be great -- just because one CAN doesn't mean one SHOULD.

Everyone should be using Dutch Tilts instead.

[Michael Friedman]

I don't see any harm.

It is like when the HVX came out and every single shot had to be overcranked/slo-mo. Novelty is fun. Then it wears off and just becomes another tool in the shed.

[Mark Hahn]

Originally Posted by Michael Friedman

I don't see any harm.

It is like when the HVX came out and every single shot had to be overcranked/slo-mo. Novelty is fun. Then it wears off and just becomes another tool in the shed.

Dutch Tilts were a bit worse. They were so overused in the 50's that no one used them for 50 years. Now they are starting to show up again, like in "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas".

[Dylan Couper]

Originally Posted by Mark Hahn

Dutch Tilts were a bit worse. They were so overused in the 50's that no one used them for 50 years. Now they are starting to show up again, like in "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas".

You should see Fear and Loathing In the Netherlands... Dutch tilts like crazy.

[Mark Hahn]

Originally Posted by Dylan Couper

You should see Fear and Loathing In the Netherlands... Dutch tilts like crazy.

LOL (I hate LOL. Let me change that to VERY FUNNY).

[Bill Binder]

Originally Posted by Dylan Couper

You should see Fear and Loathing In the Netherlands... Dutch tilts like crazy.

Slumdog.





.

[Jordan Oplinger]

Originally Posted by Art Varga

In looking at a lot of 5D footage that folks are posting I seem to notice an overuse of Shallow DOF. Its probably a natural tendency given its been such a coveted look for so long. So wondering what everyone else thinks. The 5D opens up a whole new world for us videographers in terms of shot/lens selection. I know I have a lot to learn to best utilize what we now have in our hands. I find myself obsessed now when watching television taking note of when and how DOF is used and what lenses they may be using for a particular shot. Any thoughts?

Art

but...but...but... The leaves in my parent's backyard look soooooo much better at 1.4 :P </sarcasm>

[Yang Wen]

What do you guys mean by Dutch shots?

[Mark Hahn]

Originally Posted by Yang Wen

What do you guys mean by Dutch shots?

A Dutch Shot is when you tilt the camera (rotate it so one side is higher than the other). When you do this and you do a cut you have to tilt the opposite direction each cut for obvious reasons. Think of a film noire detective looking at the dead body on the ground, with the picture tilted.

The original name was Deutsch Tilt because the German cinema started it in the 40's, but it got bastardized to Dutch.

Check Wikipedia.

[Jordan Oplinger]

Originally Posted by Yang Wen

What do you guys mean by Dutch shots?

go watch any student film ever made.