Looking for video comparing DOF between 5d Mark II footage and Rebel T1i

[KeithAndrews.TV]

I am looking for a video for analysis purposes comparing the shallow depth of field capable of being achieved with a 5D Mark II and a Rebel T1i. If anyone has access to both of these cameras, or T1i equivilent, and can set up one shot with both cameras shooting wide open, I am hoping to see what the difference in sensor size makes between the two cameras.

I am not concerned with the types of lenses used as long as the field of view is the same in both shots, and both lenses are of the same speed. Trying to isolate the sensor size element and nothing else. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[morgan_moore]

Is not the smaller camera similar in chip size to the Red - that should help you - many tests floating about

I did D80 vs D3 (v Hassy 645) some time ago

www.sammorganmoore.com/smmcom/blogger2.asp?blogID=15

S

 

[KeithAndrews.TV]

Hi Morgan,

Thanks for the reply. I took a look at your findings on your website which visually confirms that a larger sensor is going to give you more control over depth of field.

Now, I would really like to see if anyone can perform a similar test with the 5D Mark II shooting 720p and the Rebel T1i shooting 720p and take either a screen cap from the video, or just post the video somewhere showing the shallowest depth of field possible from each camera. The purpose behind this is to determine if the extra almost $2000 is worth having that control when shooting in 720p, or 1080p for that matter. Can someone who owns the T1i replicate, or get close to it, the extreme shallow depth of field capable of the 5D Mark II? I am thinking not.

Anyone have any possible answers, preferably visually, not scientifically??

 

[Lee Wilson]

I took a look at your findings on your website which visually confirms that a larger sensor is going to give you more control over depth of field.

It doesn't give you any more 'control' as such, it just has an innately shallower depth of field.

II would really like to see if anyone can perform a similar test with the 5D Mark II shooting 720p and the Rebel T1i shooting 720p. . . .

The 5DII doesn't shoot 720p.

 

[KeithAndrews.TV]

You're kidding right? Being able to set an object within a plane either in focus or out of focus IS control. With a larger sensor you would have the ability to do just that. You can close down the aperture and have more depth of field, or less depending on how much you open the aperture. Referring to depth of field, essentially anything an APS-C sensor can do, the larger, full frame sensor would be able to match, and go beyond.

 

[Lee Wilson]

You're kidding right?

No.

 

[Voytech]

You have little to zero control over the aperture on the T1i therefore, you have little to zero control over DOF. Case closed. Buy 5DMK2.

 

[morgan_moore]

You're kidding right? Being able to set an object within a plane either in focus or out of focus IS control. With a larger sensor you would have the ability to do just that. You can close down the aperture and have more depth of field, or less depending on how much you open the aperture. Referring to depth of field, essentially anything an APS-C sensor can do, the larger, full frame sensor would be able to match, and go beyond.

Considering that you cannot gain small chip DOF with a big chip - the control is DIFFERENT not MORE

Stopping down wont get you that small chip look

S

 

[KeithAndrews.TV]

You have little to zero control over the aperture on the T1i therefore, you have little to zero control over DOF. Case closed. Buy 5DMK2.

You clearly haven't used the current workaround for gaining manual control over the aperture with the T1i.

You have to use the ISO button to lock the aperture and iso while pointing the camera at a dark area, then disconnect the lens just enough from the body so the contacts are not connected any more and then switch the camera to movie mode.

 

[Voytech]

It didn't work for me with non-kit lens (a 17-40 L class canon lens). Screen goes black and throws an error. Plus, even if it did work, I'm not going to shoot anything with a loose lens. That lens is worth as much as the camera.

Don't get me wrong, I love the T1i and think it's amazing how capable that little camera is. I just think that 5DMK2, now with manual controls, is in a completely different league, and well worth the difference in cost.

 

[Nathan Troutman]

It didn't work for me with non-kit lens (a 17-40 L class canon lens). Screen goes black and throws an error. Plus, even if it did work, I'm not going to shoot anything with a loose lens. That lens is worth as much as the camera.

Don't get me wrong, I love the T1i and think it's amazing how capable that little camera is. I just think that 5DMK2, now with manual controls, is in a completely different league, and well worth the difference in cost.

You have to try and not forget that until the manual control firmware update the process people are using for the T1i was exactly the same workaround guys came up with to use on the 5D. It works just fine. I always found it much easier to just by a cheap Nikon adapter and bang manual Nikon lens on the Canon and full F-stop control.

I don't know if it works with the T1i but the 5D also had some exposure compensation tricks too. If you were able to get the camera to pick 100 ISO and then lock the exposure, the exposure compensation wheel would only change shutter speed. And (I can't quite remember) I think if you hit 1/60th on the shutter and locked it the exposure compensation wheel would only adjust ISO. A whole ton of great 5D footage was shot using these workarounds. It wasn't fun but it was completely doable.