DoF Too Deep?

Dalton Boettcher

Dalton Boettcher

Active member
I've got a question for all the 5d owners out there. What do you think of the depth of field characteristics of the full frame sensor on the 5d? Do you ever find it hard focusing, especially in run 'n gun situations? Do you wish the camera had a smaller, APS-C/DX sensor? I realize you can stop down, but does that defeat the 5d's superior low light ability?

I've seen plenty of footage on vimeo shot wide open, and the depth of field looks a little too shallow too often to me. Just looking for opinions on the full frame sensor/depth of field on the 5d. :dankk2:
 
My understanding is that people do that largely on purpose, being enthralled by the leading cool thing. As a photographer who has always used full frame for stills, I think that a wide angle stopped down a little bit (F8 is easy in most daylight situations) would be fine to deal with. But that's not what most people use on here.
 
I love it
No
definitely No!
... you can achieve any shallow or deep look by stops/filters/distance or lenses. You just have to use more then one method for situations. One lens and a camera can be quite limiting.
 
When I first saw 5Dmkii clips I was blown away by the shallowness of the DoF. Than when the GH1 came out, some of the more experienced DPs were saying that the 5D was too shallow compared to S35 and that the GH1 was closer. After the past few weeks of looking at everything I can get a hold of on the web, I have too agree that full frame is a bit too shallow at times. Obviously this is easily controlled.
But man it's so awesome to be able to complaine about "too shallow" for a change!!!!! :)
 
Just because the lens goes to 1.4 doesn't mean you have to use that aperture all the time. I think the real question is, do you think MII owners are shooting wide open too often?
 
Absolutely, but since the majority of the clips I've seen online come from pro-photogs, they're probably going for a super shallow portrait look by nature/habit. And the filmmakers jumping on these cams are used to going as wide as possible, no one has really had to worry about too shallow before :) What a wonderful time to be alive LOL
 
My question is why am I able to shoot with a very wide DOF on the A1 but when I shoot 1.4 on the 5D the DOF is less than 1 inch... frustrating...
Bill
 
Bill Grant said:
My question is why am I able to shoot with a very wide DOF on the A1 but when I shoot 1.4 on the 5D the DOF is less than 1 inch... frustrating...
Bill
Click to expand...

A1 = 1/3" sensor
5D = full 35mm sensor


smaller sensors have deeper depth of field than larger sensors. This is why 35mm adapters were so popular on 1/3" chip cameras...it gave you 35mm framing on prosumer cameras. The 5D is so popular because it eliminates the need for the adapter...
 
stopping down does not really make for a small DOF in the same way that a smaller sensor does

people might want to look at this old blog of mine..

http://www.sammorganmoore.com/smmcom/format_test/index.html

basically a tele lens 50 vs 35mm for 'normal' the 50 has a more 'cutty' tele like DOF caracteristics than the 35 , the look of the 35 cant be replicated by stopping down the 50

the stills cameras used D80 is Red/GH1 size, D3 is 5d2 size and Haslleblad is Red 'montrstro' size

S
 
Isn't there an in camera 2x crop or something? Like as an optional mode you can turn on? I heard something about that. Would it affect video resolution? I am guessing no... wait, does the camera even have this feature?
 
No, you're confusing this with the GH1. But I believe that there are focusing aids that can be enabled. Need to go check the manual.
 
Hmmmm. Well stopping down can help and give you a deeper DOF correct? I am planning on shooting narrative stuff on this and I am starting to get worried. Some people are saying it is not suited for narrative and is just too hard to focus with.
 
Entity said:
Hmmmm. Well stopping down can help and give you a deeper DOF correct? I am planning on shooting narrative stuff on this and I am starting to get worried. Some people are saying it is not suited for narrative and is just too hard to focus with.
Click to expand...

The 5D is easy to focus accurately.
 
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