how to set to correct hyperfocal distance?

[J___]

hi guys.
thanks to nosquare2003, i now have a hyperfocal chart for all the focal distance for each Fstop. but here's my problem, i have a distance meter on my lense telling me the focal distance, but the max distance it reads is 5meters, then it's the infinity sign. so lets say i need to focus at 16meters to get hyperfocus, how do i manually set it to 16meters since the max is 5 meters on my lense??? i have the EF28-84mm F3.5-4.5 usm.

thnx!!

[Scottes]

Guess, but go over. Aim at something *at*least* the hyperfocal distance, flip to manual focus on the lens, recompose and shoot.

For 50mm f/8, hyperfocal is 16.5 meters. But if you set the focus to 20 meters away then everything from 9 meters to infinity is in focus. Good enough. But if you set the focus to 12 meter then only the things from 7 to 44 meters will be in focus. Not good at all.

For 28mm f/16 it's even easier: Hyperfocal is 2.58 meters, but set to anything more than 3 meters gets you a huge focal range. Even if you set the focus to 10 meters you'll get everything from 2 meters to infinity in focus.

The longer focal lengths are more critical - with wide-angle setting almost anything will work.

And use the DoF preview if you have it. 10D does, but I don't know about the Rebel...

[Rayz]

Scottes is right. You just have to make an educated guess. If you're not too sure about this, try a few test shots at slightly varying focus distances, exactly on the main subject and slightly beyond the main subject and see what effect it has on the sharpness of the subject and the background at infinity.

You'll soon get the hang of it.

[mdude85]

I'm pretty sure that most hyperfocal distance charts are in feet. 3 feet~1 meter.

[Scottes]

I'm pretty sure that most hyperfocal distance charts are in feet.

Not this one (http://www.johnhendry.com/gadget/dof.php).

The most awesome custom DoF chart maker on the web.
(At least as far as I know.)

[mdude85]

you can set it for feet or meters.

[J___]

oh ok. so dont go by the distance marking on the lense, but focus on something through the viewfinder? but what about shot in complete darkness and i cant see a thing through the viewfinder but need hyperfocus on something 20meters away but my lense markings only go up to 5 meters.

yes i think i have the DOF preview on my rebel, it's that little button by the lower lense area... but i dont know how to use it and what it's for?

thnx

[hmhm]

yes i think i have the DOF preview on my rebel, it's that little button by the lower lense area... but i dont know how to use it and what it's for?


When you press the shutter button to take a picture, one of the things the camera does in preparation for opening the shutter is to close down the lens diaphragm to the opening that corresponds with the chosen aperture for the shot. The mirror is flipped up, the shutter opened and closed, then the mirror flips back down and the lens diaphragm opened fully again, all in a fraction of a second.

The depth of field preview button just closes down the lens diaphragm to the setting specified by the currently dialed-in aperture setting, for as long as you hold in the button. Put the camera in Av mode, hold in the depth of field preview button, and dial through some apertures. You'll see the viewfinder get darker and the depth of field deeper as you dial through smaller apertures (higher f-numbers).

The problem, of course, is that unless it's extremely bright to begin with, the viewfinder gets so dark at small apertures that it's hard to see much of anything. You'd be better off finding a subject at approximately the hyperfocal distance, and focusing on it. If it's too dark to do this, you can always do some manual focus "bracketing", take a shot, focus in "a little", take another, focus back out "a little", etc.
-harry

[J___]

ah ok. well i will play around with the settings. thanks guys for ur help!

[Rayz]

but what about shot in complete darkness and i cant see a thing through the viewfinder but need hyperfocus on something 20meters away but my lense markings only go up to 5 meters.


When focussed on the hyperfocal distance. things are sharp from half the hyperfocal distance to infinity. If the hyperfocal distance is 20 metres, everything's sharp from 10 metres to infinity. If you focus on infinity, then everything's sharp from infinity to the hyperfocal distance, 20 metres. You can see there's quite a bit of leeway. I don't see where the problem is. Just turn the distance ring to some point between 5 metres and infinity and Bob's your uncle :D .

[Mannytkd]

This is a good read and i've beed trying to find soem sort of chat like this. So because we have lenses these days that have DOF scale on them is so awkward these days.

I have a new Tokina 12-24 lens for my Canon 350 which gives me a focl length of 19.2mm - 38.2mm in 35mm terms.

I normaly use the lens in Manual with normaly a stop of F16 and focus at 2 metres, i have no idea if i should set the manual focus ring to say 1 metre if this is a better setting for DOF in hope someone can enlighten me with an answer....??

[Mstar]

Check out my link below. You may find it useful.

Mark
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=237437