Depth of field not working?
I have a Nikon D7000 paired up with a Nikkor 50mm 1.4 lens and I was finally ready to tackle understanding the dept of field but it doesn't seem to work? Is it the lens that doesn't really show the full effect?
Added (1). I can't show you samples if i don't really know what i'm supposed to be looking for. I guess that's what i'm also wondering, what am i looking for?
I only asked this question because i did read that depending on what your focusing on can make it come out differently.
Samples would help us answer.
Put it on manual (M). Open up the aperture to 1.4?
"To get both near and far objects in a scene in focus, use a small aperture (large f-stop number)."
"To isolate a subject by letting the background go out of focus, focus on the subject and use a large aperture (small f-stop number)."
It seems to me like you don't have your aperture actually set to what you want, and instead expect that just because the 50mm 1.4 has a max aperture of 1.4 it will give you shallow depth of field. Either set your camera to manual or aperture priority mode (A on your mode dial), and set your aperture to a lower f/ number (i.e. 1.4, 1.8, 2.8) to get a shallow depth of field. Apertures like f/8 will NOT give you shallow depth of field.
Do this
* Place your camera on a tripod.
* Place an object about 4 feet from your camera
* Add more objects closer to the camera and further away
* With the lens manually focused on the primary object, take shots at f/1.4, f/2, f/2.8, f/4, f/5.6, f/8, f/11 and f/16.
When you view those shots on your computers monitor at 100%, you will see how depth of field works
This will be useful.
Maybe you should figure out what depth of field means first.
Go read the most basic photography book you can find.
Are you getting like a blurred background? That is your DOF
Fhotoace is coming up trumps here. You won't see the depth of field change as you look through the viewfinder as the lens will always be wide open. It allows more light for composition this way. The lens will stop down to the required aperture when you fire off the shutter. The D7000 has a DoF preview button located below the lens on the body, press it and the lens will stop down, that way you can see your DoF.
It really would help us help you if you gave us some additional information.
Such as asa/iso setting you have set on your camera.
If you are using full manual control, or aperture priority, or shutter speed priority on your camera.
Plus if you are taking pictures at only a minimum distance of say 3 feet or take pictures at a variety of distances.
Plus if you are taking pictures in low light levels only or at a variety of places with say good lighting, and taking pictures outside in daylight.
I suggest you use a higher asa/iso, say 200 or 400 setting.
Plus use the asa/iso setting as your shutter speed setting or one or two faster shutter speeds if you are in very brightly light daylight.
This will give you a daylight setting using aperture closed down to say f-16 for plenty of depth of field in your photos.
And if your camera is set for aperture priority, please close the lens down to one of the larger numbers. F 1.4 is the maximum aperture… That is lens aperture is set wide open. Closing the lens down will give your photos progressively more depth of field.
You can look on the lens barrel for the amount of depth of field you will get at whatever distance you have focused on your subject. Read the distance scale between the aperture setting you have set.
An example is your f 1.4… Dof is practically on your focus pooint on your subject. Close lens down (bigger numbers= more depth of field) for more in focus in your image.
For indoor photography experiment with asa/iso 400 as a minimum setting. If you have to take pics with lens far to wide open for your likes… An indoor setting after sunset may be in the neighborhood of say 1/30 second at f 2, or you can use 1.60 sec at f 1.4 and get suitable results… Faster shutter speed to help reduce camera shake but with that pesky low depth of field.
For possible use one or two higher shutter speeds and or with lens stopped down one or two more stops… Sorry you have to choose one or the other or use an inbetween shutter speed/aperture setting… Shoose an asa/isp of 800, 1200, 1600 or 3200, even as high as 6400.
For taking pictures in good lighting say out of doors on a summer day, choose an asa/iso setting in the range of 100, 200 or even 400 to take pictures. I would use the asa/iso 400 to stop action and have the most depth of field.