Controlling DOF: Any extended pointers?

K

Kholi

Section Moderator
Outside of stopping down or opening the iris.

What other lighting techniques can be used to thin out a supper shallow DOF?

Say you have three people in a huddle, and you want all three in focus and the image falls off beyond a statue behind them.

Total newb here.
 
If you are stuck shooting at a specific f stop due to lighting conditions the only things you can do to get more dof is to go wider or to move further away from the subjects.
 
Oh, sorry, I meant less actually. Like, say you have one subject standing right behind the other...

It's pretty hard to get them both in focus. Even when stopped down to about 11 w/ the HVX @ 5.6 in broad daylight. Can't seem to get them both sharp.
 
Okay, is anybody else confused here?

"...thin out a super shallow DOF..." Sounds like you want MORE depth of field -- that is, more stuff in focus -- right?

"Say you have three people in a huddle, and you want all three in focus and the image falls off beyond a statue behind them." Okay, what do you mean by 'the image falls off'?

"Oh, sorry, I meant less actually. Like, say you have one subject standing right behind the other...It's pretty hard to get them both in focus." Then what you want is not LESS DOF, you want MORE. You want a wider/deeper range of what is in focus.

Increasing DOF by and large mean getting more light so you can use a smaller aperature setting. It also helps to get the camera closer to the subject -- a telephoto shot tends to compress space, making your DOF appear even shallower.

Back in my still photography days, I used to employ a nifty little DOF technique learned at the Nikon School of Photography -- it's called 'hyperfocal distance'. This involves using the DOF marks on the barrel of an SLR lens to maximize your DOF. Unfortunately, the DVX100a doesn't have any such DOF marks -- don't know if other cameras do or not.

A slower shutter speed on the camera should also allow you to use a smaller aperature setting -- I think. Maybe some of the more expert camera guys here can advise on that.
 
Yeah I confuse myself sometimes. You're right, I want more stuff in focus but not as much as the stock HVX lens gives.

That's what I meant by "thinning" it out, but I guess it's the opposite. xD
 
if you slow the shutter speed, you can afford to stop the lens down more

you could also open the iris up and throw on an ND and see if that does it, too
 
Aperture, Focal Length, and Distance to the subject are the 3 factors that affect the depth of field.

If you can't or don't want to mess with the aperture - then that leaves you two things.
You can either increase or decrease the focal length, or increase or decrease the distance to the subject.
 
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So basically, compose the elements of the shot instead of using the camera from that point on.

Restructuring pieces and portions until the desired effect is achieved.

I'm a total newb at these kinds of things, trying to learn. Thanks dudes.
 
If you have a good zoom lens use that. I find that when you are zoomed in the background gets way soft and zoomed out the opposite. Just find the right look you want and then step back or forward for your framing.
 
Kholi said:
Outside of stopping down or opening the iris.

What other lighting techniques can be used to thin out a supper shallow DOF?

Say you have three people in a huddle, and you want all three in focus and the image falls off beyond a statue behind them.

Total newb here.
Click to expand...


Here is another option for you- you can use a split diopter. That is a lense accessory / filter that allows you o have both forground and middle / background objects in focus. It will give a greater DoF while not being as great as teh stock HVX lens. The only trick to using this is that you have to compose your shot so that the split is hidden, usually these shots are done as lock offs, as the edge from the split diopter can be seen if you do not take car in hidding it in the image.

For those of you who are currious, here is a quick definition of a split diopter: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/SplitDiopter
 
Yeah I saw Abel rents them, can't seem to find someone who sells though. =\ Must be expensive.
 
Thanks for all of the tips, guys! I went out today for a little practice run ad my footage keeps getting better and better!!!

With two objects about three feet away from each other in sunlight, I was able to stop down to 22 w/HVX @ 5.6 and have both nearly completely in focus with the background out. And still retained a sharp enough image.

Horraaaay!
 
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