|
Post by vintageslrs on May 19, 2010 15:23:07 GMT -5
I put this statement and question here, in this catagory, because I use vintage SLR's so I am most interested on how you may answer this in relation to vintage SLR's. I always have trouble finding the use of either a depth of field button or function. I understand how it is supposed to work and I understand what it is supposed to do....BUT...whenever I use one, whether on a Zenit, Mamiya, Konica, Fujica, Pentax, Minolta, etc. It is of no help to me. You are suppose to look past the darkness in the viewfinder and notice that things in the distance get more out of focus as you use large apertures (lower Fstop numbers). Well I don't notice sh*t--------it is way too dark for me to see any difference in what is focus and what is not in focus! So, this brings 2 questions...1) anybody else have this trouble? and 2) is this a totally usless feature?
thanks for allowing me to rant Bob
|
|
|
Post by Randy on May 19, 2010 15:30:38 GMT -5
Usually, the Fstops work in correlation to the meter readings. If I'm taking pics of model cars or trains I use F-22 for the best depth of field.
|
|
|
Post by vintageslrs on May 19, 2010 16:11:25 GMT -5
Hi Randy
Yes I understand all that....but do you use the depth of field preview button? and if you do, does it work like it is explained in the owner's manual. What I'm saying is it is useless to me.
thanks Bob
|
|
|
Post by herron on May 19, 2010 16:24:59 GMT -5
As the sage atop the mountain said: It depends.In low light situations I have to agree that the DoF preview button is essentially useless. However, when the light is strong, it often hinges on the f-stop. As Randy said, f/22 will give you a much longer hyperfocal distance, with things in relative focus from foreground to skyline. Wide apertures, on the other hand, don't give you much depth (in either direction) from the object in focus. What I find much harder to do in low light is get the item in focus in the first place. Doesn't help a bit, does it?
|
|
|
Post by vintageslrs on May 19, 2010 18:18:52 GMT -5
Ron--actually it does.
Sounds like what you are saying is in all but an extremely bright outdoor---sunny, sunny day----forget about it---it is pretty much a useless feature.
And THAT makes sense to me......and one doesn't need it anyway. We all pretty much know if we want just about all to be in focus we use a small aperture...and if we desire a nice blurred bokeh for a backround, behind our subject we use a large aperture.
And I am still amazed that many Zenits and the Spotmatics ,etc. place so much effort into having you see the Dof F preview....and it is pretty much usless, in most cases....what a joke!
Bob
|
|
mickeyobe
Lifetime Member
Resident President
Posts: 7,280
|
Post by mickeyobe on May 19, 2010 19:17:20 GMT -5
Bob,
It is not useless but it is difficult. If one has the patience to keep an eye at the viewfinder long enough the depth of field might be observed.
And it might not.
However, if the lens has an external D of F scale it is always visible and is usually decipherable.
Mickey
|
|
|
Post by vintageslrs on May 19, 2010 19:58:29 GMT -5
Hi Mickey
How long...like a hour? LOL. I've tried minutes to no avail.
but thanks for the thoughts.
Bob
|
|
galenk
Lifetime Member
Posts: 206
|
Post by galenk on May 19, 2010 22:08:03 GMT -5
I've noticed when I was younger and could see without the aid of glasses I used the DOF preview alot when I was taking close ups of flowers and such. Now that I no longer have 20/20 vision I'm like you and can' t see a thing at smaller apertures, and now use the scale on my lenses more often
Galen
|
|
|
Post by herron on May 20, 2010 9:03:53 GMT -5
I need glasses to see distance, but see quite well out to the end of my arms. I've resisted bifocals, since most of my work has been no farther away than that, and I didn't want to wear glasses all day. However, when I have them on, so I can try to see the depth of field, I can't focus on the camera or lens barrel until I take them off. Most of the time I just guess, and set my aperture according to how I want the focus of the picture to look, based on more than 40 years of experience. Then I hope I focus properly. When I miss, it was obviously the fault of the camera.
|
|
|
Post by Randy on May 20, 2010 11:48:49 GMT -5
The only cameras I have that preview actually works on all the time is my Fujicas.
|
|
|
Post by vintageslrs on May 20, 2010 13:19:10 GMT -5
Randy--is that due to those beautifully bright viewfinders?
I'll have to check mine and see...I haven't had my Fujicas out in a while.
all the best Bob
|
|
|
Post by vintageslrs on May 20, 2010 15:22:15 GMT -5
Randy---you are correctamundo!
I tried one of my ST701's not so good....but then I tried my ST801 and my ST605N and I could actually see the depth of field preview working....thanks to those tremendously bright viewfinders. Well, at least they are a few that it still works for me, as intended. Thanks Randy for pointing that out.
Bob
|
|
mickeyobe
Lifetime Member
Resident President
Posts: 7,280
|
Post by mickeyobe on May 20, 2010 17:42:18 GMT -5
"However, when I have them on, so I can try to see the depth of field, I can't focus on the camera or lens barrel until I take them off.'
Hey Ron,
How about one monocle for distance and one for the other eye for up close.
Mickey
|
|
|
Post by herron on May 20, 2010 18:20:36 GMT -5
Not sure I want to do that. My wife had cataract surgery and had one lens inserted for distance, the other for close-up. Now I have to read everything for her.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 20, 2010 22:26:27 GMT -5
The best depth of field indicators were the scales they used to put on lenses. Unfortunately most don't include depth of field scales anymore.. I never had a lot of use for the proview buttons.
BTW, someone mentioned shooting at f22. I don't know of any 35mm lens that is at its best at f22. In fact a lot are pure awful at that setting. You have to get up into large format view cameras before f/22 becomes decent. f/56 to f/11 is the sweet spot on most lenses with f/16 still useful.
Wayne
|
|