My failed attempts at Depth of Field

[CleanNeon98]

Here we go. Im shooting with an XTI and kit lens

My shots: failed

http://pictures.dealer.com/rte611/ea1aa2e04046381e009ca1fb70579475.jpg

http://pictures.dealer.com/rte611/de9ace094046381e01d382abb0d489ff.jpg

My shots: sucess
http://pictures.dealer.com/rte611/de959ef34046381e01d382ab7acfe40a.jpg

http://pictures.dealer.com/rte611/ea1f03ad4046381e009ca1fb06e34280.jpg

They do this completely at random. I dont know if it has something to do with my shooting mode, my zoom, distance from subject, lighting, whatever, but its kinda annoying. I really like the sucess shots and would like to get consistent with them. Any pointers here? Ive read stuff online and in the book for my camera, i played with my "depth of field preview" button and nothing works, its like my camera is working against me, most likely its cause im a noob. Anyone have any explanation for this?? Any pictures to go with explanations?

P.S. sorry for not having interesting subjects

[BlackTypeR]

If you're really looking for that separation of subject and background, a wide angle lens isn't really going to cut it. Get a 50mm f/1.8. They retail for like $70 bucks brand new. It's not the sharpest lens, especially at f/1.8, but hey it's cheap! I have one and love it!

[i like rice]

What are you trying to mimic, stuff like this?
http://asianguywithacamera.com/images/2008events/CPT_050408/images/120.jpg

http://asianguywithacamera.com/images/2007events/FormulaD_090807/images/153.jpg

[CleanNeon98]

^^yes, but on shots for work, definately not to that degree.

[97TurboDSM]

looks to me like you're not using the right Fstop. some of them you're too far from the subject, others you're too close. shooting with the kit lens isnt helping you either. i think you need to go back and read up on creating the sort of DOF you're looking for and try again.

[OPZ]

My way of doing very very basic DOF (with a video camera, but something with a lens is something with a lens):

Back out from subject, zoom in, focus where you want. Tada, DOF.

[raceMpower95]

Shallower DOF come from lowere f/stop, higher focal length, and closer distance to the subject. In other words, the closer you can get with the biggest zoom you have at the lowest f/stop the lens will do, is going to give the most extreme DOF. I usually like to shoot between 150mm-200mm and f/2.8-f/4.0 for car applications. That creates the following:

http://hotfirestudios.com/pictures2/DavesStuff/Blown%20Euroz_'08/bottom_right_road_small.jpg

http://hotfirestudios.com/pictures2/DavesStuff/Track%20Shots/VIR%20Gold%20Cup%202007/IMG_5767.jpg

http://hotfirestudios.com/pictures2/DavesStuff/Track%20Shots/VIR%20Gold%20Cup%202007/IMG_6049.jpg

http://hotfirestudios.com/pictures2/DavesStuff/Track%20Shots/VIR%20Gold%20Cup%202007/IMG_6055.jpg

http://hotfirestudios.com/pictures2/DavesStuff/Track%20Shots/VIR%20Gold%20Cup%202007/IMG_6057.jpg

[Bubba Ho-Tep]

Canon 1Ds w/ 70-200 2.8L IS

http://www.msprotege.com/members/LazerBlueP5/My_STi.jpg

[sisforsurfing]

Everyone's explanations are on point, but as for your pictures... if your goal is for nice DOF and you're at f5.6 anyway, zoom out all the way to 55mm. No reason to be at 38mm for any of those pictures. It's not as easy or smooth with the kit lenses, but still possible to get decent DOF

I agree with blackTypeR, get a 50mm f1.8 and have some fun.

[grimm]

If you're really looking for that separation of subject and background, a wide angle lens isn't really going to cut it. Get a 50mm f/1.8. They retail for like $70 bucks brand new. It's not the sharpest lens, especially at f/1.8, but hey it's cheap! I have one and love it!

ditto. except i paid $85.
But I can get some pretty good DOF with my 10-22mm..
http://www.cdlstudios.com/images/IMG_999_94.jpg

[den9]

If you're really looking for that separation of subject and background, a wide angle lens isn't really going to cut it. Get a 50mm f/1.8. They retail for like $70 bucks brand new. It's not the sharpest lens, especially at f/1.8, but hey it's cheap! I have one and love it!

id say its pretty damn sharp, for the money atleast, fixed focal length.

[CleanNeon98]

now for example if the 2 objects i want to seperate are closer its harder to do right? at least with this lens cause Ive got f/3.5-5.6 18-55mm. the pix everyone posted are excelent btw, the only thng i dont like abobut a non zoom lens is that i think its usability would be very limited

[i like rice]

now for example if the 2 objects i want to seperate are closer its harder to do right? at least with this lens cause Ive got f/3.5-5.6 18-55mm. the pix everyone posted are excelent btw, the only thng i dont like abobut a non zoom lens is that i think its usability would be very limited

that's what feet are for :)

Primes are good for novices since it forces them to walk around and reframe their shot. By limiting the focal length, it teaches people how distance and aperture effect depth of field and framing.

[Chris_PA]

Get a f/1.2

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3096/2422291096_97a7fa2524_o.jpg


Like everyone said
Shooting cars at f/5.6 @ 50mm isn't going to get you much DOF

[CleanNeon98]

Did a little experiment at work today, unfortunately, I cant get the F.stop low enough on distance shots to get any kind of seperation. Here are the 2 shots.

1. f36
http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/918/img0301yh7.jpg

2. f5.6
http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/6645/img0302qv3.jpg

Am I limited by the lens here or is there something else I can do to bring more DOF to my distanced shots.

[Zillon]

The lens is hurting you.

Get a 50mm f/1.8. That lens will teach you all about DOF for not much coin.

[CleanNeon98]

The lens is hurting you.

Get a 50mm f/1.8. That lens will teach you all about DOF for not much coin.
I may end up doing just that. I still havent gotten used to the fact that one lens cant do everything well, and to me having a non zoom lens is kinda impractical but definately useful and fun for certain shots. I think ill pick one up if its not too expensive and is a quality product.

[turbotim]

I'm loving the great photography threads here at TST. I'm learning more here than at the Photography class at MCC. The last class is tomorrow night and I still didn't learn what I learned in this thread.

You guys rock.

[i like rice]

2. f5.6
http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/6645/img0302qv3.jpg

Am I limited by the lens here or is there something else I can do to bring more DOF to my distanced shots.

The blur is fine. It's the quality of the bokeh that kills the shot. This is why I keep reiterating "use a different location"

You can take the same shot at 200mm at f/2.8 and it still wouldn't look good because the trees/leaves in the background don't create a nice, smooth bokeh. If you use a more solid background, the quality of the bokeh will be better.