DSLR Shots and Discussions

osbornsm · 02-12-2015, 09:25 AM

I have an inquiry regarding the depth of field experienced with Low F numbers.

The DOF in the viewfinder doens't quite match the DOF captured in the photos.

Is there a good / better way to estimate the actual focal (infocus) range ??

6spd · 02-12-2015, 10:00 AM

You can preview DOF using the DOF preview button located on the front of the camera near the lens, usually on the shutter button side of the camera. They only preview to about f/2.8-4, correct me if Im wrong, so shooting with a prime at, say, f/1.8, it'll look the same as f/2.8.

osbornsm · 02-12-2015, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 6spd

You can preview DOF using the DOF preview button located on the front of the camera near the lens, usually on the shutter button side of the camera. They only preview to about f/2.8-4, correct me if Im wrong, so shooting with a prime at, say, f/1.8, it'll look the same as f/2.8.

Scratches head... i'll have to look into what the DOF preview does... this is news to me!

6spd · 02-12-2015, 10:15 AM

Hey Patrick, I've need your opinion. My primary lenses are my 70-200 f/4 IS, 85mm f/1.8 and 28mm f/1.8. Which of these options would you recommend to cover my focal range gap: 1. the 24-70mm f/4 IS, 2: the 17-40mm f/4 + 50mm f/1.4?

The 30-85 focal region is my least used range as it never really suits my aesthetic. I know the 24-70 f/4 is a very nice piece, but being that its my least used range, do you think the 17-40 might suit me better? What do you think of its quality being an L and all? I'd appreciate any light you can shed on this for me!

HKYStormFront · 02-12-2015, 03:58 PM

Can't go wrong with the 17-40, honestly. I think that's your best bet based on what you are saying about which ranges you use and don't use.

kayha12 · 02-12-2015, 05:03 PM

I never understood how to use the DOF preview, it just seems to make things dark and I'm like huh? lol

HKYStormFront · 02-12-2015, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kayha12

I never understood how to use the DOF preview, it just seems to make things dark and I'm like huh? lol

It's supposed to show you what is in focus and what is not when you are stopped down. I find it hard to actually see. In an age of digital medium, I find this feature rather pointless. Trial and error is the best way to get your DoF set, imo

6spd · 02-13-2015, 07:19 AM

Cool, thanks Patrick!

Yeah, trial and error also gets you used to which settings to use for a desired result, so you can do it on the fly. Another really useful tip is to google DOF calculator. Check out the charts for your particular lens and you can see the DOF in actual measurements. For instance, if I'm shooting a portrait using my 85mm f/1.8, I know that if my subject is 4 feet away, the DOF or sharp plane of the image is only maybe 1/2 inch at f/1.8. So if I want the subjects entire face from nose tip to back of ears in focus, I'd have to shoot at around f/11ish. Knowing this helps you pick the right settings for your desired result.

redstarcg · 02-13-2015, 09:30 AM

Went out and had a photo session with an R8 last night. This is the first edit. Will do more tonight.

carlitos_370z · 02-13-2015, 09:47 AM

HKYStormFront · 02-13-2015, 10:41 AM

Damn!

Wish the arrow was pointing at the car instead of away but still... Nice shot, great view. And I hate parking deck shots lol

6spd · 02-13-2015, 10:42 AM

Very cool! You're getting really good at this night photography stuff!

redstarcg · 02-13-2015, 10:54 AM

Thanks for the kind words guys, especially coming from great photographers like yourselves!

HKYStormFront - I couldn't agree more with the parking decks man, I hate them myself. Its like a college project to shoot on a parking deck haha. Unfortunately that's the location I was told to meet the car so I didn't have much say. With me being new to photography I will take whatever is given right now until I am confident in the quality of my work. What makes it worse is as soon as I got there and saw that it was a shopping plaza I told the guy we will be kicked out. 1hr later, we got kicked out haha.

6spd - Thanks so much man. Thats the good and bad about fulltime job. Only time I get to go practice shooting is at night haha. And because I don't have any strobes or decent speed lights yet I am stuck having to fake flashes with light painting. Need to save up some cash so I can invest into a good lighting setup.

6spd · 02-13-2015, 10:58 AM

You are very talented and tasteful with the light painting, much props! Was that shot one shot or a composite if you don't mind me asking?

redstarcg · 02-13-2015, 11:07 AM

Ohh I dont mind at all man.

It was a lot of shots.

1 front Wheel
1 Rear Wheel
1 Front Left to hit the emblem and grill a little
1 To hit the CF
1 To hit rear quarter panel
1 To hit whole side which I then used only on the top portion of the belt line to make that bodyline pop a little.

I used my EX580 to fire manually into the car because I am now on Nikon and need to get a trigger for it to work in sync.
I also have this ghetto rig I made out of a tow truck light that I used to light part a little of the rear with.

Here is another shot I did last weekend with my car. Again, a bunch of shots put together haha.

02-12-2015, 10:00 AM	#2 (permalink)
6spd A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: South Florida Posts: 3,001 Drives: Q50RS Rep Power: 25	You can preview DOF using the DOF preview button located on the front of the camera near the lens, usually on the shutter button side of the camera. They only preview to about f/2.8-4, correct me if Im wrong, so shooting with a prime at, say, f/1.8, it'll look the same as f/2.8. __________________ -Jay- jonathanjamesphotographer.com

02-12-2015, 10:15 AM	#4 (permalink)
6spd A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: South Florida Posts: 3,001 Drives: Q50RS Rep Power: 25	Hey Patrick, I've need your opinion. My primary lenses are my 70-200 f/4 IS, 85mm f/1.8 and 28mm f/1.8. Which of these options would you recommend to cover my focal range gap: 1. the 24-70mm f/4 IS, 2: the 17-40mm f/4 + 50mm f/1.4? The 30-85 focal region is my least used range as it never really suits my aesthetic. I know the 24-70 f/4 is a very nice piece, but being that its my least used range, do you think the 17-40 might suit me better? What do you think of its quality being an L and all? I'd appreciate any light you can shed on this for me! __________________ -Jay- jonathanjamesphotographer.com

02-12-2015, 03:58 PM	#5 (permalink)
HKYStormFront A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Greer, SC Posts: 14,954 Drives: 06 Frontier SE 6spd Rep Power: 53	Can't go wrong with the 17-40, honestly. I think that's your best bet based on what you are saying about which ranges you use and don't use. __________________ Patrick // 06 Frontier 6spd Nismosis // Mods: Uprev Tuned @ Z1 Motorsports: 257whp & 292 ft lbs 09 Pontiac G8 GXP // M6 // Sunroof // Tint... For now

02-12-2015, 05:03 PM	#6 (permalink)
kayha12 Base Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Clarksville, MD Posts: 88 Drives: 05 OBP WRX Rep Power: 12	I never understood how to use the DOF preview, it just seems to make things dark and I'm like huh? lol __________________ -Khoi I like to take pictures: https://www.flickr.com/photos/kayha12/ Weekly meets with: National G Club

02-13-2015, 07:19 AM	#8 (permalink)
6spd A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: South Florida Posts: 3,001 Drives: Q50RS Rep Power: 25	Cool, thanks Patrick! Yeah, trial and error also gets you used to which settings to use for a desired result, so you can do it on the fly. Another really useful tip is to google DOF calculator. Check out the charts for your particular lens and you can see the DOF in actual measurements. For instance, if I'm shooting a portrait using my 85mm f/1.8, I know that if my subject is 4 feet away, the DOF or sharp plane of the image is only maybe 1/2 inch at f/1.8. So if I want the subjects entire face from nose tip to back of ears in focus, I'd have to shoot at around f/11ish. Knowing this helps you pick the right settings for your desired result. __________________ -Jay- jonathanjamesphotographer.com

02-12-2015, 09:25 AM	#1 (permalink)
osbornsm A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: WHAT Posts: 2,551 Drives: 2018 Camaro SS 1LE Rep Power: 424	I have an inquiry regarding the depth of field experienced with Low F numbers. The DOF in the viewfinder doens't quite match the DOF captured in the photos. Is there a good / better way to estimate the actual focal (infocus) range ??

02-13-2015, 09:30 AM	#9 (permalink)
redstarcg Base Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Marietta GA Posts: 171 Drives: 14 Nismo 370z Rep Power: 11	Went out and had a photo session with an R8 last night. This is the first edit. Will do more tonight.

02-13-2015, 09:47 AM	#10 (permalink)
carlitos_370z A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Puerto Rico Posts: 7,157 Drives: 13 Nissan 370Z SP M6 Rep Power: 7586

02-13-2015, 10:41 AM	#11 (permalink)
HKYStormFront A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Greer, SC Posts: 14,954 Drives: 06 Frontier SE 6spd Rep Power: 53	Damn! Wish the arrow was pointing at the car instead of away but still... Nice shot, great view. And I hate parking deck shots lol __________________ Patrick // 06 Frontier 6spd Nismosis // Mods: Uprev Tuned @ Z1 Motorsports: 257whp & 292 ft lbs 09 Pontiac G8 GXP // M6 // Sunroof // Tint... For now

02-13-2015, 10:42 AM	#12 (permalink)
6spd A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: South Florida Posts: 3,001 Drives: Q50RS Rep Power: 25	Very cool! You're getting really good at this night photography stuff! __________________ -Jay- jonathanjamesphotographer.com

02-13-2015, 10:54 AM	#13 (permalink)
redstarcg Base Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Marietta GA Posts: 171 Drives: 14 Nismo 370z Rep Power: 11	Thanks for the kind words guys, especially coming from great photographers like yourselves! HKYStormFront - I couldn't agree more with the parking decks man, I hate them myself. Its like a college project to shoot on a parking deck haha. Unfortunately that's the location I was told to meet the car so I didn't have much say. With me being new to photography I will take whatever is given right now until I am confident in the quality of my work. What makes it worse is as soon as I got there and saw that it was a shopping plaza I told the guy we will be kicked out. 1hr later, we got kicked out haha. 6spd - Thanks so much man. Thats the good and bad about fulltime job. Only time I get to go practice shooting is at night haha. And because I don't have any strobes or decent speed lights yet I am stuck having to fake flashes with light painting. Need to save up some cash so I can invest into a good lighting setup.

02-13-2015, 10:58 AM	#14 (permalink)
6spd A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: South Florida Posts: 3,001 Drives: Q50RS Rep Power: 25	You are very talented and tasteful with the light painting, much props! Was that shot one shot or a composite if you don't mind me asking? __________________ -Jay- jonathanjamesphotographer.com

02-13-2015, 11:07 AM	#15 (permalink)
redstarcg Base Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Marietta GA Posts: 171 Drives: 14 Nismo 370z Rep Power: 11	Ohh I dont mind at all man. It was a lot of shots. 1 front Wheel 1 Rear Wheel 1 Front Left to hit the emblem and grill a little 1 To hit the CF 1 To hit rear quarter panel 1 To hit whole side which I then used only on the top portion of the belt line to make that bodyline pop a little. I used my EX580 to fire manually into the car because I am now on Nikon and need to get a trigger for it to work in sync. I also have this ghetto rig I made out of a tow truck light that I used to light part a little of the rear with. Here is another shot I did last weekend with my car. Again, a bunch of shots put together haha.

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