Depth of Field Scale
Discussion
Browsing as I do through mags and websites showing nice bits of kit, I often dream of the next lens purchase I should make.....
For example, look at the nice Sigma 30mm f1.4....
...or the 10-20mm - that would solve my wide angle withdrawl symptoms.
But none of them have a DoF scale
How can you use a lens which doesn't have this (especially wide angle)? And how do you focus at the hyperfocal distance without spending half an hour sitting down and working it out on a slide-rule???
Why the omission?
For example, look at the nice Sigma 30mm f1.4....
...or the 10-20mm - that would solve my wide angle withdrawl symptoms.
But none of them have a DoF scale
How can you use a lens which doesn't have this (especially wide angle)? And how do you focus at the hyperfocal distance without spending half an hour sitting down and working it out on a slide-rule???
Why the omission?
I guess they've realised not many people are using the scale. 
To be honest I can't remember the last time I used it for hyperfocal distance. Yes, it can be very useful but wide angle lenses have plenty of DoF anyway, so I guess you could just focus on the subject or near infinity together with a small aperture.
EDIT: This really shows how much I've used it! I've just checked all my lenses and they only have focus distance on the window but not the aperture, so I can't use it for hyperfocal distance anyway. I know my previous lenses had it but not on the current lenses I have.
To be honest I can't remember the last time I used it for hyperfocal distance. Yes, it can be very useful but wide angle lenses have plenty of DoF anyway, so I guess you could just focus on the subject or near infinity together with a small aperture. EDIT: This really shows how much I've used it! I've just checked all my lenses and they only have focus distance on the window but not the aperture, so I can't use it for hyperfocal distance anyway. I know my previous lenses had it but not on the current lenses I have.
Edited by Gemm on Wednesday 28th June 21:06
)beano500 said:
How can you use a lens which doesn't have this (especially wide angle)? And how do you focus at the hyperfocal distance without spending half an hour sitting down and working it out on a slide-rule???
Why the omission?
Why the omission?
Slide Rule? Blimey, would I ever remember how to use one properly?
There's always this:
www.dofmaster.com/dofjs.html
beano500 said:
That calculator's a bit handy....
....just not handy enough if you're half way up a mountain!
....just not handy enough if you're half way up a mountain!
Depends if you have your PDA with you ...
Amyway, as the dramatic stories of mobile phone calls which lead to someone being rescued half the world away go to prove ... er ... if you have you phone with you on the mountain you could probably access the calculator on the web! And order you lunch.
I must admit I cannot confirm the effectiveness of such an idea as I rarely - very very rarely - find myself any distance up a mountain. Not much call for it in these parts.
I've always throught this is something the SLR manufacturers could easily do 'in-camera'.
It could either display a table on the back screen based on the current aperture and focal length, or even better since some (Canon certainly) get distance information from the autofocus system they could just tell you what your DOF is straight out!
It could either display a table on the back screen based on the current aperture and focal length, or even better since some (Canon certainly) get distance information from the autofocus system they could just tell you what your DOF is straight out!
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