Understanding Exposure - Book - Question

Keltic Ice Man

Keltic Ice Man

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Allan
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I know quite a few of you have read and hopefully understood the excellent book - Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson.

On page 39 Bryan says "And since every storytelling composition relies on the maximum depth of field you will first choose to set your aperture to f/22 and then align the distance above your distance setting mark on the lens. Your focal length will determine which distance you choose."

Now I have set my aperture to f/22 on the 350D and I have the 24-70mm sigma lens on. I look at the distance scale and it has 22 on it twice. The top scale has 22 16 11 5.6 | R 11 12 22

the part of the scales that move have Feet and Metres on.

So the question is - which 22 do I use? and what does the R mean?

Thanks

Allan
 
If i remember rightly without looking and will probably make a complete fool of myself....but why change the habit of a lifetime!! ...you use the righthand F22 line it up with the furthest distanceor infinity and then look at the left hand F22 and you will see the minimum distance of focus at F22.
 
the depth of field should be between the distances that align to each 22 that is the nearest distance aligns with one 22 and the furthest distance aligns with the other 22, anything between the two should be in focus.
 
I have read that book and it is an excellent but don't be so quick to use F22 with landscape. When that book was written he was refering more to film photograhy and F22 on 35mm film is less prone to diffraction (and progressively less with the larger formats) than the crop digital sensor that you are using and is most of the time uneccesary.

Yes you want good DOF for landscape but for the most part F16 will do just as well but if you can shoot the same shot with it at F11 as well to lessen the effect of diffraction. Then pick the one that looks best after.

Diffraction with high apertures is one you have to balance with our small crop sensors. You may find the shot is so soft you would have rather some of it have been a little OOF instead.

When I am unsure of how much I DOF I need for a landscape shot I will shoot it at F11,13,16 and very rarely at F22. After a while you tend to get a feel for it anyway.

Go out and take a shot at F22 then one at F11. Then process the shots and compare to see what I mean.

I found this article of diffraction and how different sensors are effected excellent http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/diffraction-photography.htm
 
The R is for focusing in infrared, infrared light has a slightly different point of focus. After focusing in the normal way, fit the infrared filter and turn the focus ring so that the original marker is lined up with the R :thumbs:
 
Joe T said:
F8 will even work for most landscapes tbh.
Click to expand...

Yep F2.8 will as well.... if everything is at infinity then DOF make no odd's what so ever ;)

It's all relative to focus distance
 
Even, when you get one, DOF scales on modern lenses are a waste of time anyway. The only DOF aperture marked on my 50mm 1.4 is f22.:shrug:
 
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