Comments on: Depth of Field: Another View

By: Chad B

Chad B — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 18:28:52 +0000

This site is absolutely priceless!! I have learned so much so far! I am truly thankful to you for takin the time to put all of this info in one place, and presenting it in such a fun and advantageous way! I just bought my new Canon and I was absolutley dumbfounded when I read the manual. You have beaten back that fear and unleashed a powerful lust to learn and adapt. Thank you so much!!

By: stopshootingauto

stopshootingauto — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 09:47:21 +0000

That is a surprisingly excellent question, and the truth is that I didn’t specifically pick a focus point when I created those illustrations. Bad Patti, bad! Can I claim that I was too busy focusing on my sophisticated artistic skills? Hrmm, probably not.

Here’s the deal. Generally when you focus on something, one third of your depth of field will be in front of the subject, and two thirds will be behind it. If you focused on the flower then no, you wouldn’t get the same effect. More of the area in front of the flower would be in focus (though none of it might actually be in your image) and the mountains in the back would not be sharp.

By: Mark G

Mark G — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 04:25:10 +0000

Your site is excellent! I just got a Nikon D5000 and can’t put it down. Regarding depth of field…I have a question. What is the object in your example that is the primary focus? Is it the tree? What if I focused on the flower and used the same f/16? Would I get the same result?

By: Phani M.

Phani M. — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 19:11:46 +0000

Thank you soo much for sharing this! I’ve been struggling to understand depth of field and you’ve made it soo much easier! Many, many thanks!

By: Dan

Dan — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 20:23:00 +0000

Many years ago in a junior college photography course the instructor had us all do a simple exercise that cemented the depth of field concept for me. He told the entire class (sitting some distance from him) to hold one hand out at arms length with the “thumbs up” sign, hold the other hand up to one eye with fingers curled to form a tube you can look through (other eye is closed), and finally to move that thumb at arms length so the thumb was positioned next to him while looking through the tube. He said, “Either I’m in focus or your thumb is in focus, right? You can’t get both in focus while looking through that large tube can you? That’s f/4.” Then he said, “Close your fingers down so you’re looking through a very small opening. Both your thumb and I are now in focus. That’s f/32.” Try this out on a distant tree or something and see how it works.

By: liv

liv — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:38:48 +0000

I’ve always been a fan of DOF but it’s often a hit and miss thing for me.
I can’t thank you enough ^___^

By: Jeff Thurman

Jeff Thurman — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 23:32:42 +0000

I just want to say thanks for all the thought and hard work you must have put into doing this for all of us out here in wnat to learn land. As for me it has helped me tremendously in only a few nights of reading. I will continue to with your lessons to the end. Thank You very much, Jeff T.

By: pallav

pallav — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 10:03:59 +0000

purchased a canon 400D couple of days back. since than I am searching the links to help a new bie like me.
could find this link yesterday evening. and will say, its one of the best series of articles i have seen so far.
in such a simple language and with illustration provided, this series is really great.
you Rock !!

Thanks a TON !

By: stopshootingauto

stopshootingauto — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 22:57:15 +0000

Congrats on the new purchase! The 40D is an excellent camera.

I will add hyperfocal distance to my list of things to write.

By: Susan D

Susan D — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 22:52:47 +0000

You rock! I am learning so much!!! My 40D is shipping today! My first DSLR – and one I hope will last SEVERAL years. Could you address hyper focal?

Thanks again, Susan D