Aperture question

[Rudy2112]

What is the lowest aperture while still keeping the whole body in focus, from head to toe.

[dwarrenr]

Too many variables to give you a short answer. What you are trying to do is create a large enough depth of field so that the whole body is inside of the DOF. Your DOF is determined by the the distance the subject is from your camera, the lens focal length, your sensor size and the f-stop. So as you can see there are a lot of variables to get to your answer.

The size of your DOF will then depend on the sport you are shooting, and what the player is doing when you take your shot. If it is basketball and the player is just standing you can get buy with a DOF of 12". If he is running full speed that may double the required DOF you need.

Does that help? Yeah probably not.

[elrey2375]

Aperture and focal distance are the two biggest determining factors in depth of field. A larger F-stop (smaller number) and close distance will produce a shallow depth of field, meaning the focal plane or what is in focus will be very minimal. The farther you are from the subject, regardless of F-stop, the plane will expand and your depth of field will not be as shallow. Focal length doesn't have hardly any effect on DOF. If the subject takes up the same amount of space in a photo, the DOF is basically constant in regards to focal length.

[JeffreyG]

Originally Posted by Rudy2112

What is the lowest aperture while still keeping the whole body in focus, from head to toe.

If you are framing an adult from head to foot (with a little space on each end) with the camera in vertical orientation then f/2 to f/2.8 will do it for most common print sizes.

My rule of thumb for maximum aperture for medium (up to 16x20) prints:
Tight headshots - f/11
Head and shoulders - f/8
Waist up vertical - f/4 to f/5.6
3/4 person - f/4
Full body vertical orientation - f/2 to f/2.8
Full body horizontal orientation - f/1.2 to f/2

[hegi]

Originally Posted by Rudy2112

What is the lowest aperture while still keeping the whole body in focus, from head to toe.

What are you shooting?

[kenjancef]

Originally Posted by JeffreyG

If you are framing an adult from head to foot (with a little space on each end) with the camera in vertical orientation then f/2 to f/2.8 will do it for most common print sizes.

My rule of thumb for maximum aperture for medium (up to 16x20) prints:
Tight headshots - f/11
Head and shoulders - f/8
Waist up vertical - f/4 to f/5.6
3/4 person - f/4
Full body vertical orientation - f/2 to f/2.8
Full body horizontal orientation - f/1.2 to f/2

Nice info, thanks!! I always get worried shooting basketball at f/2 that I only get one part of the player's body in focus. Most of the time I do ok.

[Joe300]

Originally Posted by kenjancef

Nice info, thanks!! I always get worried shooting basketball at f/2 that I only get one part of the player's body in focus. Most of the time I do ok.

yeah, I know what you mean. If you shoot center AF point you might not get face in focus, if you move AF point up above center one tow clicks you might miss more shots hoping to get face in focus..

If you move the AF point down below center to get more of the player full body in focus, its a hit or miss there..

There is no way I can shoot F4 in my gym...

Happy TGIF,
Joe

[AntonLargiader]

Originally Posted by elrey2375

...Focal length doesn't have hardly any effect on DOF. If the subject takes up the same amount of space in a photo, the DOF is basically constant in regards to focal length.

If a subject takes up the same amount of space in a photo, the FL is the same.

[arich]

f/400

[rockdog63]

Both I used the back focus button, center focus point, and Auto Servo

Model: Canon EOS REBEL T3i
ISO: 3200
Exposure: 1/640 sec
Aperture: 2.2
Focal Length: 50mm
Flash Used: No

Model: Canon EOS 60D
ISO: 1600
Exposure: 1/640 sec
Aperture: 2.0
Focal Length: 85mm
Flash Used: No

here it is cropped