G9 and Manual Mode

I am shooting the G9 and I am very impressed with this camera for travel, and have stopped schlepping the DSLR and lenses.

Noticed that when shooting in Manual exposure mode the upper aperture setting is only f8.0. At the lowest focal length this is a f-stop range of f2.8 - f8.0.

You would think it would stop down to at least f16 or f22 for greater DOF.

Anyone have any insight into this f8.0 limitation?

The dof is equal to that of f32-f45 on a dslr. Besides, when you look at what the aperture is, it is a fraction of the overall diameter and focal length of the lens. So having a small diameter and focal length lens, you would be so small that it is equivalent to something on the order of f64 or greater at f16.

For exposure control purposes would you expect it to stop further down, or given diameter and focal length sizes, is that physically impossible.

Thanks,
Phil

pwstephe wrote in post #4008650
You would think it would stop down to at least f16 or f22 for greater DOF.

Anyone have any insight into this f8.0 limitation?

Like the Fox has mentioned. F/8 will not have any problems with DOF but the downside is when you want to get a longer shutter speed in good light. That's why the G7/G9 have a built in ND filter, which can compensate for this.

pwstephe wrote in post #4008864
For exposure control purposes would you expect it to stop further down, or given diameter and focal length sizes, is that physically impossible.

Because the sensor is so small, an aperture opening smaller than f8 would be exceedingly small, too. It would be more difficult to make such an opening with enough precision to both keep the cost down and have accurate exposures.

You guys have cracked the code and it makes sense now.

With ND I get 3 stops for the equivalent of f22 so shutter speeds can be longer when necessary. Thanks all.

Watch out for diffraction beyond selecting f5.6 or so.

Sootyvrs,

sootyvrs wrote in post #4009341
Like the Fox has mentioned. F/8 will not have any problems with DOF but the downside is when you want to get a longer shutter speed in good light. That's why the G7/G9 have a built in ND filter, which can compensate for this.

Interesting! The ND filter allows you to emulate apertures smaller than f/8 without inducing the degredation caused by diffraction that would accompany a real f/11 or f/16, for example. And it's not as if anyone needs the DoF offered at those apertures, but it does permit you the use of slower shutter speeds without increasing diffraction.

What is the density of the built-in ND filter? 0.6 (two stops)? 0.9 (three stops)?

Can the user deploy it at will or does the camera decide when to use it?

Is the feature buried in a menu or does it just kick in when you're trying to select an Aperture smaller than f/8 (when using Manual mode or Aperture Priority mode, for example)?

Thanks,

Mike

>>What is the density of the built-in ND filter? 0.6 (two stops)? 0.9 (three stops)?<<

I bet it is similar, if the not same, as the one on the G6. That one is 3 stops and you access it via the menu.

Yes, its the same as the other G-Series cameras (3 stops).

Yup, manual shows 3 stops.

new info for me