Depth of Field Preview Question:

Hi,
First, I understand precisely what, "Depth of Field", is. My question
is how to determine it on my 35mm Canon Rebel 2000.

I tried a post on "rec.photo.35mm" but the posts there are so few
and far between, there's no telling when, if ever, I would get an
answer.

So here I am in the wrong venue, hoping I could get an answer: My
Canon Rebel 2000 35mm camera has a Depth of Field preview button. When
I depress it, the viewfinder goes dark, but I don't see any info that
would indicate what the Depth of Field is.

Anybody, please?
Thanks

I'm not sure exactly what your question is? When you depress the depth of
field button at F22 everything becomes darker because the aperture gets
smaller blocking out the light thus giving you what will be seen on the film
for your depth of field. When the DOF button is released the aperture goes
to the largest opening the lens allows letting in more light so you can see
your image clearly. So if your aperture is set to F2.8 and you press the DOF
button everything remains bright in the picture and your DOF is very
shallow, if your aperture is set to F22 and depress the DOF button
everything becomes dark due to the small amount of light entering through
the lens and if you look closely you will see you have a much greater DOF.
The only info your going to have is whatever your aperture is set at when
you depress the DOF button (ie: F8, F11 or whatever)

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"Michael P Gabriel" wrote in message
...
Hi,
First, I understand precisely what, "Depth of Field", is. My question
is how to determine it on my 35mm Canon Rebel 2000.

I tried a post on "rec.photo.35mm" but the posts there are so few
and far between, there's no telling when, if ever, I would get an
answer.

So here I am in the wrong venue, hoping I could get an answer: My
Canon Rebel 2000 35mm camera has a Depth of Field preview button. When
I depress it, the viewfinder goes dark, but I don't see any info that
would indicate what the Depth of Field is.

Anybody, please?
Thanks

(Michael P Gabriel) wrote in
:

Hi,
First, I understand precisely what, "Depth of Field", is. My question
is how to determine it on my 35mm Canon Rebel 2000.

I tried a post on "rec.photo.35mm" but the posts there are so few
and far between, there's no telling when, if ever, I would get an
answer.

So here I am in the wrong venue, hoping I could get an answer: My
Canon Rebel 2000 35mm camera has a Depth of Field preview button. When
I depress it, the viewfinder goes dark, but I don't see any info that
would indicate what the Depth of Field is.


You have to be looking sharply at the (now dark) image to get the
idea. Choose a good subject, something in bright light, preferably with
high contrast, and going both towards and away from you - a white picket
fence works well, a series of road signs, whatever. Watch the out-of-focus
ones as you press the DOF Preview button - you should see them become
sharper.

In real time use, it can be tricky, but I tend to look for bright
highlights like reflections from chrome or water, or anything white. Take a
minute to allow your eyes to get used to the darkness - some people use
sunglasses, only removing them when their eye is very close to the eyepiece
and the button is already depressed. Shielding your eye from light coming
in the side can help, too, as can a deep rubber eyecup. For macro work, I
use a small powerful flashlight, and DOF is crucial in macro work.

Finally, try checking out rec.photo.equipment.35mm, much more
activity there, and much more knowledgable.


- Al.

--
To reply, insert dash in address to separate G and I in the domain

Michael P Gabriel wrote:
Hi,
First, I understand precisely what, "Depth of Field", is. My question
is how to determine it on my 35mm Canon Rebel 2000.

I tried a post on "rec.photo.35mm" but the posts there are so few
and far between, there's no telling when, if ever, I would get an
answer.

So here I am in the wrong venue, hoping I could get an answer: My
Canon Rebel 2000 35mm camera has a Depth of Field preview button. When
I depress it, the viewfinder goes dark, but I don't see any info that
would indicate what the Depth of Field is.

Anybody, please?
Thanks

Lets start with what that button is. It is a Depth of Field PREVIEW
Button. It lets you preview what the depth of field will be for the
apertures/focus/lens selected. It is darker because you are not viewing at
the same apertures the lens is set for and the same apertures the camera
will use to record the image.

There are tables and formulas that will provide depth of field
information, based on focal length, apertures setting and distance setting.
The result is the theoretical minimum and maximum distances where the image
will be in ideal focus. The only trouble with this kind of information is
life is not theory, but analog.

The photographer is interested in more than just want will be in ideal
focus, but also what will not and how far out of focus the rest will be.
This is where the DOF preview comes in. It will show you that your dog will
be sharp from the tip of its nose to most of the way to the end of the tail,
and the ugly shack behind the dog will be fuzzy enough that it will not
detract from your dog's image.

--
Joseph E. Meehan

26 + 6 = 1 It's Irish Math

The Depth of Field button stops the lens down to shooting aperture (that is
why it can be
darker). There is no information read-out, what you are looking for in the
viewfinder is the
range of distances that are in focus (depth of field). From a practical
standpoint, it is more
useful than a read-out would be because you probably wouldn't know what
distance different
objects in your composition are at, but you CAN SEE what will be in focus
and what won't
be. Some lenses have marks on them that show what will be in focus at
different apertures.

"Michael P Gabriel" wrote in message
...
Hi,
First, I understand precisely what, "Depth of Field", is. My question
is how to determine it on my 35mm Canon Rebel 2000.

I tried a post on "rec.photo.35mm" but the posts there are so few
and far between, there's no telling when, if ever, I would get an
answer.

So here I am in the wrong venue, hoping I could get an answer: My
Canon Rebel 2000 35mm camera has a Depth of Field preview button. When
I depress it, the viewfinder goes dark, but I don't see any info that
would indicate what the Depth of Field is.

Anybody, please?
Thanks

Michael P Gabriel wrote:

Hi,
First, I understand precisely what, "Depth of Field", is. My question
is how to determine it on my 35mm Canon Rebel 2000.

I tried a post on "rec.photo.35mm" but the posts there are so few
and far between, there's no telling when, if ever, I would get an
answer.

So here I am in the wrong venue, hoping I could get an answer: My
Canon Rebel 2000 35mm camera has a Depth of Field preview button. When
I depress it, the viewfinder goes dark, but I don't see any info that
would indicate what the Depth of Field is.

what did you expect, numbers in feet?
you were looking at exactly the depth of field you will get
in the viewfinder image. some was sharp, some was not.

try multiplying the exposure x 4,
and then try the button again.



Anybody, please?
Thanks

"Michael P Gabriel" wrote in message
...

So here I am in the wrong venue, hoping I could get an answer: My
Canon Rebel 2000 35mm camera has a Depth of Field preview button. When
I depress it, the viewfinder goes dark, but I don't see any info that
would indicate what the Depth of Field is.
The dark image in your viewfinder is your info. You will notice it goes
dark, and more appears in focus. DOF preview allows you to see in your
viewfinder what will appear in focus. Any recent camera is normally set so
when you are framing it is using the largest aperture. This means that you
are seeing the view with the most available light, and least depth of field,
allowing you to accurately focus on your main subject. Then when you put
DOF preview on, it closes the aperture down to whatever it will be shooting
with, so that what you see in the viewfinder is how the photo will come
out - you will be able to see the range of distances that appear in focus.
With most cameras that i've used a DOF preview on, unless you are in bright
sunlight it is too dark to get any meaningful info with apertures smaller
than about F8

Anybody, please?
Thanks