Why no Depth-of-Field priority mode in cameras.

[baw]

Perhaps I stated it less than exactly. The aptly named Circle of
Confusion is part of the formula (and depends on sensor size, of film
format size).

A fitting name indeed ;-)

There is much more to the CoC than sensor size alone. Sensor size is only indirectly involved via magnification from original to viewed image. Also relevant are viewiing distance, lighting (or monitor brightness), eyesight of the observer etc etc.
--
Regards -x- Ben

N i k o n 5 7 0 0
P e n t a x K 1 0 0 D
P e n t a x K 1 0 D
http://bawfotos.wtrs.nl/

The best proof intelligent life in space exists is that they have never tried to contact us.

 

[Dan Pidcock]

But they fill the camera's CPU up with nonsense that tells us to use
"portrait" mode for portraits and landscape, well, you get the
picture. Pity they don't give us a couple of pages in the CPU for
notes like DoF. Then we could load our notes into the thing and at
least look it up quickly.

Just take a photo of your notes, mark it as protected and there you have your DoF or hyperfocal tables on the screen on the back of the camera.

Dan
--
http://photo.pidcock.co.uk/ - Photography information
http://www.pidcock.co.uk/photos - My photographs

 

[David Hughes124436]

We never had this trouble in the good old days with film and primes as it was on the lens barrel. Took seconds to set up.

Regards, David

 

[Rriley]

We never had this trouble in the good old days with film and primes
as it was on the lens barrel. Took seconds to set up.

Regards, David

well you need to think that through again, 'the good old days' had there problems. Especially when you loaded Kodachrome 64 and now you need 800iso. Then there are those frames that didnt work out because the flash didnt fire and you had no idea about that, or you thumbled through a bag of primes looking for that tele lens, only to find you need the wide again, .....now. We are especially blessed to be in this period of camera development

still, I bought a Panasonic LC1 because it had an aperture ring and a speed dial, and Im spoiled. If someone, anyone, made an AF dSLR with aperture ring/speed dial iso wheel, WB control knob, i would buy the thing no matter what
--
Riley

I'd give my right arm to be ambidextrous (just)

 

[udaman]

I've thought about a depth-of-field calculation system in DSLRs.
After all, the camera usually has all the data required to make the
calculation: lens focal length, aperture and focus distance. I'm not
sure DOF priority is practical though.

How about a read out that has the close and far limit in the VF...

C-1.8--F5.5.. That would read ............Close limit = 1.8f... far limit = 5.5f

This would be much easier to do, and if we want less DOF...Open up until you see the C/F distance you want...Within the bondries of the lens....Please don't get OT and goofy....Shish...........

Now, If you are going to reply with "UNREAL REDICULAS IMPOSIBLE" Combos.,..Leave those comments at the door please.. My idea is usable for the "photographer" who is not a argument starter for the sake of starting a argument...

Amy

--
PLA54

 

[morninglight]

We never had this trouble in the good old days with film and primes
as it was on the lens barrel.

That is one of the benefits to being an "old dog", like me. Also, when I use my D200 now, with my old nikkor lenses, it is still on the barrel.

In college photography classes/majors, they still require learning manual methods, along with digital. Still useful to know different things.

--
Trying to live inside the circle of minimum confusion.
http://www.jaymoynihan.com

 

[morninglight]

I bought a Panasonic LC1 because it had an aperture ring and a
speed dial, and Im spoiled. If someone, anyone, made an AF dSLR with
aperture ring/speed dial iso wheel, WB control knob, i would buy the
thing no matter what.

Yeah. Often the mark of good technology, is when it gets out of your way. That LC1 does seem to blend the engineering elegance of the analog interface, (simplicity & functionality) with the benefits of digital capture.

--
Trying to live inside the circle of minimum confusion.
http://www.jaymoynihan.com

 

[David Hughes124436]

We never had this trouble in the good old days with film and primes
as it was on the lens barrel. Took seconds to set up.

Regards, David

well you need to think that through again, 'the good old days' had
there problems. Especially when you loaded Kodachrome 64 and now you
need 800iso. Then there are those frames that didnt work out because
the flash didnt fire and you had no idea about that, or you thumbled
through a bag of primes looking for that tele lens, only to find you
need the wide again, .....now. We are especially blessed to be in
this period of camera development

As we were talking/discussing DoF and I replied about DoF markings on lens barrels and your reply is about film or CCD sensitivity: well, guess who thinks he had thought it through?

Another aspect of thinking things through is not loading low speed film when high speed is needed... And I still have lens and film backs I can change on film cameras. And talking of digital, I could quote examples with dreadfull noise problems and slow, slow, lenses, like f/9 at full zoom and so on: point made?

still, I bought a Panasonic LC1 because it had an aperture ring and a
speed dial, and Im spoiled. If someone, anyone, made an AF dSLR with
aperture ring/speed dial iso wheel, WB control knob, i would buy the
thing no matter what

And I've a Leica Digilux 2 and couldn't agree more. Especially about the ISO and, say, a + or - 2 and 2 setting on the dial like filmhad (sigh). I had high hopes for the Digilux-3, btw.

And the Digilux-2 goes from f/2 to a fraction over f/2 at the other end. Just imagine a DSLR with the Digilux-2's lens and the Olympus ED f/2 all the way from 35 to 100 zoom (that's 70 to 200 in 35mm terms) AND the same set up (sigh).

But, I still think that looking at the lens barrel in the day (good or otherwise) when DoF ranges were marked against the aperture set, was easy and simple. They did it on zooms and primes and digital lenses are still zooms and primes but...

I make that a draw, btw.

Regards, David

PS If anyone would like a picture or two of the way they were marked and how easy it was to set up, then please ask.

 

[martin-123]

I realise this thread was started 3 years ago...

I couldn't agree more! I used DoF priority on my Canon EOS film camera for years. It was a brilliant feature and quick to use.

It used to take the guesswork (or brain-work) out of tricky shots. I sometimes used it to get the focus point right then switch to another mode to take the shot. Simples!

I'm shopping for a camera now, and I'm gutted that it's no longer available. That feature alone would seriously influence my choice of camera.

(...and I don't subscribe to the view that "if you know what you're doing you don't need DoF priority". I know what I'm doing (mostly), I just find it a quick & simple way to get the results.)

Canon (or anyone), PLEASE bring it back!!!!!!

 

[rsn48]

--
An excellent lens lasts a lifetime, an excellent DSLR, not so long.

 

[Mr Roygbiv rainbow]

It saved the waste of film for idiots . Digital is an idiots Alladin , I should no !
--
Roygbiv

 

[palincss]

Another example is auto-iso. Only Nikon allows you to specify the result that you want "minimum shutter speed" rather than having to change the ISO yourself or following a preset auto-iso algorithm.

Not true. The Panasonic LX3 and LX5 have a setting for minimum shutter speed, and I'm sure other cameras do as well.

As for your other concerns, maybe you'd be better off learning the craft than wishing for cameras that are built differently. Artificial intelligence is no substitute for real intelligence.

 

[CFynn]

All SLR cameras have Aperture priority mode. However this requires you to know in your head how much depth of field a given aperture has at a given focal length.

Why don't cameras have a depth-of-field priority mode instead of, or in addition to Aperture-priority mode?

You would know you are photographing one person, and you want say, 3 feet depth of field and dial that in. Say the person is running toward you, and you zoom out, the camera would automatically change the aperture to compensate and give you the same effect.

Why can't camera's be "results oriented" rather than requiring the photographer to make unnecessary mental calculations

Another example is auto-iso. Only Nikon allows you to specify the result that you want "minimum shutter speed" rather than having to change the ISO yourself or following a preset auto-iso algorithm.

Even in the age of DSLRs, it seems there is much untapped automation potential.

Yes perhaps your camera should have an automated composition mode as well and one that decides when to fire the shutter.

IMO DSLRs already tend to have too many modes - all you really need is a way to set the iso, aperture, shutter speed, and wb along with means to focus, meter light, set flash settings. A depth of field preview button and mirror lock-up are useful - a lot of the other things get in way and clutter up the camera or menus with unnecessary controls.

Your camera probably has aperture priority mode and a depth of field preview button which shoud be all you need - otherwise use live view.

==
“No photographer is as good as the simplest camera.”

• Edward Steichen

 

[CFynn]

I realise this thread was started 3 years ago...

I couldn't agree more! I used DoF priority on my Canon EOS film camera for years. It was a brilliant feature and quick to use.

It used to take the guesswork (or brain-work) out of tricky shots. I sometimes used it to get the focus point right then switch to another mode to take the shot. Simples!

I'm shopping for a camera now, and I'm gutted that it's no longer available. That feature alone would seriously influence my choice of camera.

(...and I don't subscribe to the view that "if you know what you're doing you don't need DoF priority". I know what I'm doing (mostly), I just find it a quick & simple way to get the results.)

Canon (or anyone), PLEASE bring it back!!!!!!

If it was so good why do you suppose they dropped it? If they already had it on a film camera it would have been be trivial for them to implement on a DSLR.

 

[GordonAtWork]

They dumbed it down for the D60 though (the manual selection of focal points was better than the later automatic feature).
--

Given up on the whole "regain my original ID". Seems DPR don't give a flying fucher

 

[Larry Moran]

Exactly. Somebody finally mentioned the Depth-of-Field Preview function.

Never have I calculated DOF because I witness changes in DOF in real time through the lens. Nikon cameras have had DOF Preview back into the 70's, at least.

To me, it seems that AP is DOF priority. This does not mean that aperture would change as a subject moved.

I am sure from reading this thread that many do not ever use DOF Preview, and may not understand it. It's very important.

For example, photographing racing yachts, with Nikons or Pentax 6x7, I would use DOF Preview to put the boat in a band of sharp focus (visible on the water). The 'band' was dependent on DOF and changed as I rotated the aperture ring. Focus was manual, as nobody had auto-focus then, though Auto Exposure control was standard.