Macro question

[aam1234]

Hi

Are you suppose to see a difference in DOF in the viewfinder when you vary the aperture. I didn't, however, the cam was on a monopod so that may not be the best way to test.


Side note: it was a first time I used a prime in ages. Boy, it feels so good (not to take away anything from zooms though)

[PacAce]

Hi

Are you suppose to see a difference in DOF in the viewfinder when you vary the aperture. I didn't, however, the cam was on a monopod so that may not be the best way to test.


Side note: it was a first time I used a prime in ages. Boy, it feels so good (not to take away anything from zooms though)

Are you varying the aperture via the camera and looking for a difference through the viewfinder? Or are you actually taking test shots with each aperture and comparing the resulting photo? If it's the former, then you won't see any difference with aperture change. What you need to do is use the DOF Preview button on the camera (assuming your camera has one) if you want to see what the DOF is for that particular aperture. If it's the latter, then yes, you should be able to see differences.

For macro work, a tripod would be best.

[aam1234]

Thanks Leo. And yes I was referring to DOF in the viewfinder.

Since we are on the subject, are there any rules of thumb or some guidelines as to the relation of what you see in the viewfinder and the actual DOF (other than what Leo have suggested).

Thanks

[Jesper]

When you make a photo, the camera and lens work like this:

1. You press the shutter button.
2. The lens stops down to the aperture that you or the camera have chosen.
3. The mirror flips up.
4. The shutter opens and closes again after the exposure time.
5. The mirror flips down.
6. The lens opens up again to max. aperture.

While you are looking through the viewfinder (before pressing the shutter button), you are looking through the lens at max. aperture, regardless of the aperture setting on the camera. The lens stops down to the selected aperture just before the shutter opens.

When you press the DOF preview button, the lens stops down to the selected aperture to show you what the DOF is going to be like at the selected aperture. When you release the DOF button, the lens opens up fully again.

[aam1234]

As basic as what you have said Jesper, it's actually very educational (at least to me). Never thought about it that way before, especially for macro.

When Leo suggested the DOF button, I went and tried it. No wonder the viewfinder became so dark.

Thank you gentlemen.