Re: Digital DOF [WAS: Sigma lenses & Canon Digital cameras]
2005-04-28 by Doug I.
Seth, I understand what you're saying, but the smaller sensor does *effectively* translate to greater DOF in terms of practical use. And that's a double-edged sword. If I want to fill my frame with someone's face I can whip out my 100mm with film and work from x distance with y DOF. To get the same crop with a smaller digital sensor I will have to use a shorter focal length or move back--both situations that produce greater DOF. Right? As someone who makes most of his money shooting candid, available light (often indoor), shallow DOF kid portraits on Ilford Delta 3200, this has been the deal breaker for me in terms of fully making the leap to digital. The 2 things I need--low noise in really low light and often super-shallow DOF in fairly close quarters--just aren't there yet. So--while a 20D is perfect for just about everything else I shoot, as a part-timer I can't justify the $$$ for the 1Ds II I really need for DOF/working distance reasons. And as awesome as that camera is, it still is unable to match film at ISO 3200 (admittedly a niche market, but unfortunately MY niche market ;-). Doug
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> Date: Wed, 27 Apr 2005 15:50:26 -0500 > From: "Seth" <seth@...> > Subject: RE: Re: Sigma lenses & Canon Digital cameras [was > www.OpenRAW.org needs > > Clayton- > > DOF has nothing to do with sensor size. A 200mm lens on a full frame > has a > given DOF. If you put it on a sensor with a 1.5 factor it now has a > 300mm > EFFECTIVE focal length. It still is a 200mm lens and maintains THAT > DOF. > Just ONE of the advantages of using a smaller sensor --if everything > else is > equal. Since it also has the SAME f/stop you gain that. No need to > use an > extender or a longer, heavier lens. > > Seth > > ==-----Original Message----- > == > ==I'm asking because I look forward to moving to a larger > ==sensor camera someday, but have gotten terribly spoiled by > ==the Pro-1's DOF (2/3 sensor). I'm wondering what I'd be > ==giving up. When I was in DVNP in January I used mostly f/5.6 > ==and speeds were in the 1/400 to 1/600 range at ISO 50. There > ==were no DOF limitations, everything was tack sharp and no > ==blurry flora even though there was a good breeze. It was an > ==absolute delight to work that way.