Please help! Newbie needs DOF advice at DVinfo.net

Ryan D.G. Stone · January 4th, 2009, 06:01 AM

Hello everyone,

I'm afraid I've never had any formal camera training and I'd like a little help with focus/DOF issues on the Canon XL2. I have the standard 20x lens, and would like to achieve the effect of interviewing someone, obviously in sharp focus, whilst the background is unfocused.

I've tried quite a few times, on manual focus of course, however have found that I always keep everything in sharp focus. I know to some degree the interviewee needs to be close to the camera and the background, further away. But other than that I don't know the theory behind it and whats happening in the camera itself. If I knew this I'd like to think I could master more DOF techniques. If anyone has the time to explain things simply and with a little clear theory, I'd love to learn.

Thank you,

Ryan

Jeff Whitley · January 4th, 2009, 08:36 AM

This should help some: Videopia - Videopia

Ryan D.G. Stone · January 4th, 2009, 01:16 PM

Thanks Jeff,

That's a great video, it seems I'm on the right track and that my last subject was probably just too close to the background.

Thanks for replying

Ry

Srinivas Swaminathan · January 4th, 2009, 01:28 PM

Did you try zooming in (and stepping back appropriately), it might create a shallow DOF you are looking for.

Peer Landa · January 4th, 2009, 04:19 PM

And you can always hack your own DOF adapter ;^)
YouTube - cheapest 35 mm DOF adapter

-- peer

Daniel Browning · January 4th, 2009, 06:56 PM

I would echo the advice already given: create more distance between the subject and the background. Back up the camera and zoom in to compensate. For the XL2, you will need very extreme distances to get diffuse background blur. (The perspective will also be very flat.)

My advice is based on the fact that it sounds like what you're really looking for is "background blur", not "thin DOF". Backing up and zooming in doesn't affect DOF at all, but it does magnify the background, increasing the size of the blur (if any) in relation to the subject.

Jack Barker · January 5th, 2009, 10:54 AM

Here are a couple of examples of creating an apparent shallow DoF.

The first pic is the set up. The subject is mostly hidden behind the girl in black standing on the right, but it's enough to see the relationship between camera and subject, and subject and background.

The second is the final shot. Everything behind the subject is nicely blurred, bringing the focus of the eye where it belongs.

Ryan D.G. Stone · January 6th, 2009, 07:49 AM

Thank you everyone for your advice, and to Jack for supplying the images.
I'm on holiday at the moment so can't try out all this advice until I'm back but thanks again, it's really appreciated.

Ry

January 4th, 2009, 06:01 AM	#1
Ryan D.G. Stone Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Norwich, England Posts: 29	Please help! Newbie needs DOF advice Hello everyone, I'm afraid I've never had any formal camera training and I'd like a little help with focus/DOF issues on the Canon XL2. I have the standard 20x lens, and would like to achieve the effect of interviewing someone, obviously in sharp focus, whilst the background is unfocused. I've tried quite a few times, on manual focus of course, however have found that I always keep everything in sharp focus. I know to some degree the interviewee needs to be close to the camera and the background, further away. But other than that I don't know the theory behind it and whats happening in the camera itself. If I knew this I'd like to think I could master more DOF techniques. If anyone has the time to explain things simply and with a little clear theory, I'd love to learn. Thank you, Ryan

January 4th, 2009, 08:36 AM	#2
Jeff Whitley Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: USA Posts: 43	This should help some: Videopia - Videopia __________________ Jeff Whitley <'/))))><

January 4th, 2009, 04:19 PM	#5
Peer Landa Major Player Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Norwegian lost in California Posts: 890	And you can always hack your own DOF adapter ;^) YouTube - cheapest 35 mm DOF adapter -- peer __________________ www.NoPEER.com

January 5th, 2009, 10:54 AM	#7
Jack Barker Major Player Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 342	Here are a couple of examples of creating an apparent shallow DoF. The first pic is the set up. The subject is mostly hidden behind the girl in black standing on the right, but it's enough to see the relationship between camera and subject, and subject and background. The second is the final shot. Everything behind the subject is nicely blurred, bringing the focus of the eye where it belongs. Attached Thumbnails

January 4th, 2009, 01:16 PM	#3
Ryan D.G. Stone Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Norwich, England Posts: 29	Thanks Jeff, That's a great video, it seems I'm on the right track and that my last subject was probably just too close to the background. Thanks for replying Ry

January 4th, 2009, 01:28 PM	#4
Srinivas Swaminathan Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Dallas Texas USA Posts: 33	Did you try zooming in (and stepping back appropriately), it might create a shallow DOF you are looking for.

January 4th, 2009, 06:56 PM	#6
Daniel Browning Major Player Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 949	I would echo the advice already given: create more distance between the subject and the background. Back up the camera and zoom in to compensate. For the XL2, you will need very extreme distances to get diffuse background blur. (The perspective will also be very flat.) My advice is based on the fact that it sounds like what you're really looking for is "background blur", not "thin DOF". Backing up and zooming in doesn't affect DOF at all, but it does magnify the background, increasing the size of the blur (if any) in relation to the subject.

January 6th, 2009, 07:49 AM	#8
Ryan D.G. Stone Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Norwich, England Posts: 29	Thank you everyone for your advice, and to Jack for supplying the images. I'm on holiday at the moment so can't try out all this advice until I'm back but thanks again, it's really appreciated. Ry