Discussion
I just taking some photos of products for my company and needed a bit of advice.
I want the pictures to be very clean and formal so I will cut each product out (saves time sorting out the background!)
How do I reduce the Dof of the poduct I want the whole product to be in focus not just part of it.
(The product is matchbox size and i'm using a 350D with a 18-55 lens)
Any tips
I want the pictures to be very clean and formal so I will cut each product out (saves time sorting out the background!)
How do I reduce the Dof of the poduct I want the whole product to be in focus not just part of it.
(The product is matchbox size and i'm using a 350D with a 18-55 lens)
Any tips
SAM_R said:
How do I reduce the Dof of the poduct I want the whole product to be in focus not just part of it.
Slightly confused; to REDUCE the depth of field means LESS will be in focus?!If you want the WHOLE product to be in focus then you should use a smaller aperture (a higher number)...with something so sma and from not too far away F11/13 something like that will be fine.
If you want only a very small part of it in focus (which in product shots sometimes works really well) then you want a WIDER aperture (smaller number)...which I think on the 18-55 is F4 is the widest.
Hope that helps
Hi Sam,
If you want the whole product to be in focus you actually need to increase the depth of field rather than decrease it.
This is done by increasing the f/ number on your lens, which decreases the aperture. Set the camera to Av (i think that's the canon term for aperture priority) and set the aperture to something like f/9 If that's no good try f/11 etc.
You will find that you need either very good light, a flash or a tripod to get shots at these smaller apertures.
If you want the whole product to be in focus you actually need to increase the depth of field rather than decrease it.
This is done by increasing the f/ number on your lens, which decreases the aperture. Set the camera to Av (i think that's the canon term for aperture priority) and set the aperture to something like f/9 If that's no good try f/11 etc.
You will find that you need either very good light, a flash or a tripod to get shots at these smaller apertures.
TonyHetherington said:
Steve, far be it from me to question you (but you know I'm going to ) but is that not a bit of a topsy turvy way of doing? He wants to control dof, which is directly related to aperture, so would it not be more advantegous using aperture priority mode?
Yep... tipsy topsy it is (achieves exactly the same result mind) but IMHO - I think it's the easiest way to explain to get the desired result.... apatures confuse, but everyone understands slow/fast. (Except French tourists in camper vans, who only understand slow).) but is that not a bit of a topsy turvy way of doing? He wants to control dof, which is directly related to aperture, so would it not be more advantegous using aperture priority mode?ETA - but if Sam intends to take up photography, your way is the way to teach DOF!
Edited by GetCarter on Wednesday 15th August 16:28
try shooting the product on a white background if your going to cut it out, have a few lights on it too so its bright compared to the product, basic lightbox type stuff.
Theres a DoF calculator on the internet which will help you make sure you get all the product in focus, this depends on the focal distance, fstop and focal length.
Use a tripod. And if you can shoot at the sharpest the lens will be at, if its a zoom somewhere in the middle is usualy the best, adn f8 or f9 on croped cameras.
Theres a DoF calculator on the internet which will help you make sure you get all the product in focus, this depends on the focal distance, fstop and focal length.
Use a tripod. And if you can shoot at the sharpest the lens will be at, if its a zoom somewhere in the middle is usualy the best, adn f8 or f9 on croped cameras.
Doesn't that camera have 'DEP' mode?
If so - once you choose it - autofocus your camera on the nearest point you want in focus, then focus on the furthest point you're interested in - the next time you release and press the shutter half-way - you will find that it has chosen the aperture setting that you need, and also the focus - which will be about two-thirds the way up between the two points you chose, front-to-back.
Just keep a note of these - or use there and then - it's the camera's calculation on what you need to keep everything in focus.
If you have a depth-of-field preview button on your camera (sorry - I just use old film cameras - EOS 1V, 3, etc) - then with this you can literally see exactly what will and won't be in focus at the point of the camera taking the photograph.
HTH!
If so - once you choose it - autofocus your camera on the nearest point you want in focus, then focus on the furthest point you're interested in - the next time you release and press the shutter half-way - you will find that it has chosen the aperture setting that you need, and also the focus - which will be about two-thirds the way up between the two points you chose, front-to-back.
Just keep a note of these - or use there and then - it's the camera's calculation on what you need to keep everything in focus.
If you have a depth-of-field preview button on your camera (sorry - I just use old film cameras - EOS 1V, 3, etc) - then with this you can literally see exactly what will and won't be in focus at the point of the camera taking the photograph.
HTH!
Edited by Arif110 on Thursday 16th August 13:52
Arif110 said:
If you have a depth-of-field preview button on your camera (sorry - I just use old film cameras - EOS 1V, 3, etc) - then with this you can literally see exactly what will and won't be in focus at the point of the camera taking the photograph.
The 350D does indeed have a dof preview button Its the small round button on the lower edge of this picture:
http://a.img-dpreview.com/reviews/CanonEOS350D/Ima...
Cheers.
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