9 replies to this topic

[George in Georgia]

I am new to Nikon, via a recently acquired S2 rangefinder and several lenses.  A lovely camera! and the lenses are excellent, but.... only my 135mm and 105mm have depth of field markers on the lenses.  Anyone know of a source for printable DOF tables?  Since I have the Voigtlander 35mm and 21mm lenses such tables would be handy.  As would one for the f1.4 normal.

 

Also...how about a section for the Nikon rangefinders??  I'll bet many of you are shooting with these beautiful machines.

[ScottinPollock]

There are a number of apps... are you iOS or Android?

[George in Georgia]

There are a number of apps... are you iOS or Android?

Aha!  I hadn't thought about a phone app!  Android it is!

[Merco_61]

Light Stalking has a nice overview of what is available.

 

Link.

[murushn]

I refer dof simulator to see how a DSLR/Full frame camera see thru a lens with sample subject and distance settings (available for both mobile/desktop). 

 

--Subbu.

[ScottinPollock]

Aha! I hadn't thought about a phone app! Android it is!

In that case I like Hyperfocal Pro.

[dem]

Or use one of the on-line ones:

 

Online Depth of Field Calculator

301 Moved Permanently

 

The first one is what most people seem to use and the second one is my favourite.

[Brian]

The depth-of-field scale for the 5cm F1.4 lens is engraved on the camera's mount. The 5cm lenses use the internal bayonet mount.

 

Nikon_SP by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

 

Shown is the SP, the S2 (and S, S3, S4) use the same scale. Nikon also included a printed DOF card, often found in a pocket of the ever-ready case. Just in case you want to go all-original.

 

I have used Nikon RF's for 20+ years now. Feel free to post questions here.

 

Nikki "Frozone Fling" by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

 

Playground Portrait by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

 

The next shot is with a Russian 52/1.8 Planar formula lens modified to focus correctly on the Nikon. It is very inexpensive.

 

menopta_f18a by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

 

You will need an accessory finder(s) to use the telephoto and wide-angle lenses.

[Myersnaf]

Suppose I have a subject which is 2ft 60cm deep, and I want it all to be in focus. The depth-of-field tables tell me that there are an infinite number of ways in which I can do that. But suppose also that I want the background to be as out of focus as possible. If the background is 20ft 6m behind the subject, and I can get 20ft from the subject, what combination of focal length/aperture/distance gives me the depth of field that I want while putting the background as out of focus as possible? Do I use a short focal length close up, or a longer lens at a greater distance, and do I need to use as wide an aperture as possible? I realise that I can go out and test these things, but I am thinking that someone here must know the theory

[Merco_61]

Myersnaf, if you play around with the online DOF calculator at dofmaster.com, you will soon get a feel for how the DOF works. Your choice of distance will determine the perspective, your choice of lense will determine the angle of view and your choice of aperture will determine the DOF for a given print size and viewing distance.

Calculations are nice, but don't beat shooting lots and developing a feel for how things work.