Depth of field at DVinfo.net

Lee D. Turner · February 15th, 2009, 11:09 AM

Hi all ,
Wonder if anybody could give me some advice. I filming in HDV 1080i and im trying to get a good depth of field in my filming. Which would be the best way to do this ? Change setting on the camera Would it be better filming in 25p ??

Perfect world i would go down the lexus way, but any body got a short fix .

thanks

Hugh Mobley · February 15th, 2009, 11:49 AM

Using V1 without adapter you have to have subject fairly far from background, and experiment, I have captured some great shots with good depth of field, use a tripod and focusing is a real issue, look into using the assign button for the shot transition, that works

Alan Craven · February 15th, 2009, 11:56 AM

You need to define "good".

If you mean a shallow depth of field to make the object in focus stand out from its foreground and background, then use manual settings with a largest (i.e. lowest F number) available aperture; if you mean that you want a large depth of field so that almost all the objects in the frame are in focus, then close down the aperture.

If you allow the camera to use F11 to get a large depth of field, then you run the risk of fringing, due to diffraction effects. I have the aperture limit set at F5.6, as for the work I do great depth of field is not much use, and I want to avoid diffraction problems.

The nature of pro-sumer video cameras, with their small sensors, and hence very short focal length lenses, means that DOF is a problem - for most people it is difficult to obtain a shallow enough DOF.

Lee Berger · February 16th, 2009, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugh Mobley

you have to have subject fairly far from background, and experiment,

I would add move the camera far from the subject so that you're using a long focal length (zoom in). Long focal lengths reduce depth of field. Also a wide open aperture helps. On a bright day you can force the aperture to open up by increasing the shutter speed. Test this to be sure you like the results. Increasing shutter speeds reduces motion blur that helps to smooth out motion.

February 15th, 2009, 11:09 AM	#1
Lee D. Turner New Boot Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: London Posts: 15	Depth of field Hi all , Wonder if anybody could give me some advice. I filming in HDV 1080i and im trying to get a good depth of field in my filming. Which would be the best way to do this ? Change setting on the camera Would it be better filming in 25p ?? Perfect world i would go down the lexus way, but any body got a short fix . thanks

February 15th, 2009, 11:49 AM	#2
Hugh Mobley Major Player Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Placentia, Calif Posts: 549	Using V1 without adapter you have to have subject fairly far from background, and experiment, I have captured some great shots with good depth of field, use a tripod and focusing is a real issue, look into using the assign button for the shot transition, that works __________________ Hugh Mobley www.petplanetvideos.com http://exposureroom.com/members/hmobley.aspx/

February 15th, 2009, 11:56 AM	#3
Alan Craven Major Player Join Date: May 2003 Location: York, England Posts: 518	You need to define "good". If you mean a shallow depth of field to make the object in focus stand out from its foreground and background, then use manual settings with a largest (i.e. lowest F number) available aperture; if you mean that you want a large depth of field so that almost all the objects in the frame are in focus, then close down the aperture. If you allow the camera to use F11 to get a large depth of field, then you run the risk of fringing, due to diffraction effects. I have the aperture limit set at F5.6, as for the work I do great depth of field is not much use, and I want to avoid diffraction problems. The nature of pro-sumer video cameras, with their small sensors, and hence very short focal length lenses, means that DOF is a problem - for most people it is difficult to obtain a shallow enough DOF.