S95 depth of field

[raym256]

I have an S95 ordered and haven't owned a good quality camera since my SLR days. I was reading one of the other threads that stated it is impossible to get images with blurred surroundings (shallow depth of field) with this camera due to the small size of the sensor. Not knowing anything about sensors I was under the impression that with the manual controls offered with this camera along with the f2.0, I would be capable of getting images with a very shallow depth of field. Is this the case of was I totally wrong in this belief?

 

[Matt Trostel]

You definitely can get blurry backgrounds with the S95, especially taking photos of close objects. It's not going to be the super-shallow DOF that an SLR with a 1.8 or 1.4 will do, but macros turn out decent. It still comes down to the geometry: the closer you are to the object, and the more separation you can get between the subject the the background, the more out of focus the background will be.

I have no affiliation but this has a couple illustrative photos...

http://toolsmust.com/cameras/canon-s95-review-10mp-3-8x-optical-zoom-with-optical-image-stabilizer/4915/

 

[Ring A]

If you want to control the depth of field like you could with your film SLR cancel your order for the S95 and buy a Digital SLR
--
'I don't necessarily believe everything I say'!

 

[Marco Nero]

I have an S95 ordered and haven't owned a good quality camera since my SLR days. I was reading one of the other threads that stated it is impossible to get images with blurred surroundings (shallow depth of field) with this camera due to the small size of the sensor. Not knowing anything about sensors I was under the impression that with the manual controls offered with this camera along with the f2.0, I would be capable of getting images with a very shallow depth of field. Is this the case of was I totally wrong in this belief?

Unfortunately, Small lensed cameras with small sensors generally can't produce a blurred background (bokeh) like a DSLR can. Although using a lower (wider) aperture liked f/2.0 will help somewhat. Even the G1X (which can produce a shallow depth of field effect better than other compacts) can't achieve the same as a larger bodied camera with suitable lens, though it does so reasonably well.

• A comparison showing DOF from the G1x, the s95 and the G11 compact cameras.

The s95 is a VERY important camera that takes EXCELLENT images, even in low light. It takes a remarkably good picture, even better than most other compact cameras on the market today.

If you are shooting Macro pictures like this (SEE BELOW), you may force a blurred background, but you will notice that this effect generally occurs where the subject in the foreground is captured in Macro Mode:

• Taken with an s95

Note that the toffee garnish is in crisp focus and yet the icecream etc is "softer". This gives more punch to the picture and puts emphasis on the toffee. Be sure to click on these pictures to get the maximum effect by viewing them more closely.

• Taken with an s95

One of the first pictures I took with my s95. As you can see, a pleasing background blur has been achieved with the Macro mode. The food remains sharp and in focus and the background with my wife in it was soft and appealing. Much greater emphasis has been placed on the foreground subject.

• Taken with an s95

A Man-O-War jellyfish (AKA: Bluebottle) washed up on the beach is crisp in the picture yet the background is softer. Again, this is using the Macro mode on the camera.

• Taken with an s95

My wife using here DSLR is quite sharp in the frame with a slight softening of the background... yet again, this was taken with the Macro mode.

If you want to take pictures with a Shallow DOF, and you want a lot of buttery soft backgrounds, you'll want to consider a DSLR for the best results. Yes, using a lower number in the aperture like the s95's f/2.0 lens is going to give you a faster picture in lower light. But the combination of wide aperture PLUS a different combination of lens-distance-to-sensor ratio is almost as important as keeping the subject as close the the lens, and as far from the background as possible.

To take a picture with a soft background (as per the ehow website's suggestions):

• 1/ Keep the subject far away from the background. Increasing the subject-to-background distance helps throw the background out of focus.

• 2/ Move the camera closer to the subject. As you focus on the subject, the background clutter will appear soft and blurred.

• 3/ Set the lens aperture to a wide setting. This wide aperture results in a shorter depth of field.

• 4/ Focus on a specific part of the subject, such as a person’s eyes or a flower’s center. Focusing with the limited depth of field makes the subject stand out and the background recede.

• 5/Use a lens with a long focal length if possible. A 28mm-to-135mm zoom lens produces a pleasing background blur at a focal length of 135mm. The subject in focus also appears more compressed.

• DSLR picture taken with a 50mm USM f1.2L Prime lens

• DSLR picture taken with a 50mm USM f1.2L Prime lens

The above shots show one of the strongest types of background softening I can demonstrate here and this was achieved with a lens known for producing this effect.

• G1X picture taken at full Zoom

• G1X picture taken with Built-in Macro switched ON

• G1X picture taken with Macro PLUS a 250D Closeup Filter mounted

The G1X is a compact camera - and yet it can produce a more shallow DOF than many other compact cameras. But it's not as strong in effect in terms of DOF compared to the DSLR pictures taken with a more suitable lens.

So to recap: The s95 will allow you some VERY impressive pictures that many other cameras will struggle to be able to achieve, especially in lower lighting conditions. However, it's not ideal for photographers wanting to capture those dreamy, soft backgrounds unless you are shooting in Macro.

Unless you are prepared to invest in expensive lenses and a larger bodied DSLR camera, you don't have too many choices at hand for such shallow DOF photography. If I were you, I would still get the s95. The pictures that camera can take are exceptional. See gallery below for examples:



95

--
Regards,

Marco Nero.
http://www.pbase.com/nero_design

 

[raym256]

thanks Ring A, but I'll accept the compromise. If I'd wanted a DSLR with 2-3 lenses I'd have bought one, and I still may do so but I'm confident I'll get much more use out of the pocket cams. I also ordered a SX230HS and I can have both of them with me much easier than a DSLR w/ lenses. I was just hoping with the S95 and f/2.0 I would be capable of capturing images with a shallow depth of field. guess I'm going to have to play around with the manual controls and see how it performs.

 

[Great Bustard]

I have an S95 ordered and haven't owned a good quality camera since my SLR days. I was reading one of the other threads that stated it is impossible to get images with blurred surroundings (shallow depth of field) with this camera due to the small size of the sensor. Not knowing anything about sensors I was under the impression that with the manual controls offered with this camera along with the f2.0, I would be capable of getting images with a very shallow depth of field. Is this the case of was I totally wrong in this belief?

The S95 has a 6-22.5 / 2-4.9 lens, which has the equivalent focal length of 28-105mm. This means the crop factor is 28 / 6 = 105 / 22.5 = 4.67. Hence, the lens is equivalent to a 28-105 / 9-23 on FF. In other words, a relatively deep DOF system.