? bad dof on fz-5

[julia tom]

Anyone else have this problem? I've been using the camera for about a year. Took another dig photography class this semester and had a fellow classmate w/ the same problem. One my slr there is NO problem blurring the background, etc. On the panasonic, even at f2.8 and 3x zoom, everything seems too sharp. I have to zoom like 5-6x to get adequate blurring, and this does not seem to be consistent. The only thing I could think of is my AF sensors settings, but I've messed w/ those w/o luck. Any suggestions? THANK YOU. julie

 

[gerryd04]

DOF is not as shallow on digicams, best reults can be achieved by getting away from the subject and using zoom, also have as much distance between subject and background as you can get.

Heres an example with the fz20, should be similar for the 5. This was f4 and about 11x, plenty of room to b/ground.



Gerry

--
Gerry, FZ2O, Sunpac 3-eight-3, PSE-3
http://gerryd.smugmug.com
Smugmug code - s5CjeWZEeG2pI

 

[korsair]

There is nothing wrong with your camera, it is operating the same as my FZ5 and alll the other FZ cameras.. To insure a blurred background try to move your subject forward away from the background (not always possible) and/or as suggested use the zoom.

--
Korsair
'Simple is often best'

 

[fimo]

Look on the bright side.
The large DOF has a huge advantage over your SLR when shooting macros.
Brian

 

[Greg Gebhardt]

--
Greg Gebhardt in
Jacksonville, Florida
D Two X and a spare.
Leica Digilux Two
FZee 30 & Sony R-One

 

[John Bean (UK)]

When doing DoF comparisons or calculations you need to take three things into account:

1 The focal length
2 The aperture
3 The circle of confusion (CoC)

CoC is generally assumed as being some fraction of the image size on the film/sensor so is very different for the FZ5 compared with a SLR, but in practice this isn't the major factor in play here. The biggest difference is the focal length - the FZ5 has 6-72mm lens which is why the DoF is very deep unless you zoom in.

At full zoom and (say) f/5.6 you'll get very similar DoF to that of a similar focal length lens (72mm) on an SLR at the same aperture, that's how it works. Calling a lens a 36-436mm 35mm equivalent doesn't alter the fact that it still a 6-72mm lens, just like it says on the lens barrel

--
John Bean

PAW 2006 Week 11:



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[genece]

Isn't it strange that you seemed to have no problem with Bokeh ..until someone told you to look for it?

--
.

------------------------------------------------------------
Gene
From Western PA.

Panasonic FZ 20 and FZ30

D50 and lenses.

http://imageevent.com/grc6



Just trying to learn and it's slow going!

 

[julia tom]

great replies from the ppl in the know! yes, it is very funny how bokeh came to my attention when my teacher mentioned it. Anyhow, SOOOO the question is.....if I want the same effect as my film SLR, am I going to have to go Dig slr or is there other options? Love the panasonic for so many of it's features. Realize one camera can't do it all. Thank you. -julie

 

[nete]

To have DOF you also can try to put the camera in Macro mode and max. zoom.