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ElCapone

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Name
Elliott
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Hey all, just started getting into photography, bought myself a 300D second hand to get me started and its good enough to learn with. Will probably update in the summer.

Anyway my questions is, DOF, whats a good subject to take photos of to practice with DOF.

Also what settings are good for achieving DOF.

I hope these questions dont seem silly:shrug:
 
I always wonder what peeps mean by good dof.
There are 3 types of Depth Of Focus
shallow, where everything but a thin slice of photo is out of focus.
deep, where virtually everything front to back is in focus
million and one variations in between

I tend to think "good dof" as being sharp front to back or a good portion of it.

So for good dof = small apertures
Shallow (crap) dof = large apertures
F/10 is a nice small hole, F/2.8 is a big ole gaper, the effects of such will vary dependent on the focal length of the lens and the distance away from the subject.

A good way to practice/see the effects of aperture size is to photograph a ruler from the end along its length,
At close proximity at least, you can actually measure the depth of focus for differeing apertures.
 
Thanks alot for your reply, much appreciated. I like it when the subject is in focus but the background is out.

I will try the ruler thing, cheers
 
or a fence, anything with a bit of distance front to back
 
no
"good" DOF is whatever is appropriate for the subject
with some it would be great to have everything in focus
others it's actually better to throw part out of focus
it's just another parameter in taking a "good" pic

imho
ymmv
 
ymmv???

How do u like your 400D, was thinking thats what i will probably upgrade to
 
ElCapone said:
ymmv???

How do u like your 400D, was thinking thats what i will probably upgrade to
Click to expand...

ymmv = Your Mileage May Vary!
just another disclaimer

v pleased with 400D
no experience of anything digital before that (well IXUS 700)

looking to move on to 40D or 5D now

peeps always want more :)
 
How long have you been using your 400d, im a total newbie and not sure which direction i wanna go in, i like the look of macro but also like landscape and wildlife shots.

i have a sigma 18-55 lens which i got with cam, looking to get another also
 
If the subject is a face, good dof is sharp through the depth of the subject, crap dof is sharp nose end and a big pile of lazy cant be bothered to light it properly fuzz.

viewer subjectivity...imho...in this instance, I am the viewer.
"good" is a discription of the quality of the depth of focus not a comment on the quality of the photo as a whole.
 
for example, if i was taking shots of lets say birds, obviously i would want the bird in focus and the background out of focus??

would you say landscape shots should be all in focus?
 
ElCapone said:
How long have you been using your 400d, im a total newbie and not sure which direction i wanna go in, i like the look of macro but also like landscape and wildlife shots.

i have a sigma 18-55 lens which i got with cam, looking to get another also
Click to expand...

got mine last July
but I've been taking pics for (cripes I wish you hadn't asked) 40 years now! :gag:
 
you must be able to produce some stunning shots that with your experience, cant wait for the day when i can say wow at one of my shots
 
post some!
you may not go wow but others might - you never know
 
oh i couldnt, not yet anyway, i have been meaning to get out and take shots, but weather has been awful here, snow, rain etc.

I think i need to plan b4 i go out, have a plan for what im wanting to shoot. I only have a sigma 18-55mm 1:3.5-5.6 DC lens so some things i wont be able to shoot.

The bit in bold, what does that mean, sorry for being stupid
 
2akfuo8.jpg


ok here is one of mine, probably my fave. Did abit of work in photoshop also, i like it but i dont think its a wow
 
ElCapone said:
oh i couldnt, not yet anyway, i have been meaning to get out and take shots, but weather has been awful here, snow, rain etc.

I think i need to plan b4 i go out, have a plan for what im wanting to shoot. I only have a sigma 18-55mm 1:3.5-5.6 DC lens so some things i wont be able to shoot.

The bit in bold, what does that mean, sorry for being stupid
Click to expand...

it means
at 18mm it's f/3.5
at 55mm it's f/5.6

quite common with some lenses - can't maintain the aperture as the focal length increases
 
and the deer looks darn good to me!:thumbs::clap:

and you learn a lot by posting pics and getting feedback

you learn from your mistakes
that's why I know so much :thinking:
 
Thanks alot, its my fave.:thumbs:

I suppose i better get out as much as i can and get posting then.
 
go for it!
 
oh, like that! See you are already better than you thought :clap:
 
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