DOF Chart. Please review

I threw together a rough and dirty chart for my commonly used lenses on my T3i. The figures are rounded to something measurable and are a quick pocket ref kinda thing. I really don't need to know the specific foot of DOF over 500 obviously since I don't think an extra 20ft of DOF really matters at that point. The only one I was not sure of is the 400mm focal length as the numbers seemed low even at longer ranges.

All numbers were gathered from DOF Masters website calculator. If anything looks horrendously wrong let me know.

-Charts are to Infinity
- Wide open and commonly used f-stops
-Longer distances and larger DOF were rounded to nearest "happy" number
-I designed the charts so the closer to the subject the more specific the DOF was since there's less margin for error

Yes, I know there are plenty of other charts out there, but nothing that catered to my needs and nothing quick and dirty to reference. Let me know what you think.

FYI, they have an App for that.

gonzogolf wrote in post #15139363
FYI, they have an App for that.

Yea, I have the app, its pretty handy too. I wanted something I could toss in the pack. my phone is often off when I am in the woods.

Nature Nut wrote in post #15139383
Yea, I have the app, its pretty handy too. I wanted something I could toss in the pack. my phone is often off when I am in the woods.

if I was really into calculating DOF I would just use the app instead of trying to interpolate from a chart
But it looks nice

The chart looks nice, but in over 45 years of making photographs I have never once needed a calculator of any sort for depth of field. The fact is that if you crop an image or print to another size besides whatever "standard" size print the author of the calculator used in the formula, the depth of field will be different from the calculator's output.

In my opinion, the only real value of the DOF calculators is to teach a newbie what to expect with different combinations of format, focal length, aperture, and distances. Beyond that, the DOF preview buttons on my cameras has been all I've ever needed to produce the images I was trying to make.

Nature Nut wrote in post #15139346
I threw together a rough and dirty chart for my commonly used lenses on my T3i. The figures are rounded to something measurable and are a quick pocket ref kinda thing. I really don't need to know the specific foot of DOF over 500 obviously since I don't think an extra 20ft of DOF really matters at that point. The only one I was not sure of is the 400mm focal length as the numbers seemed low even at longer ranges.

All numbers were gathered from DOF Masters website calculator. If anything looks horrendously wrong let me know.

-Charts are to Infinity
- Wide open and commonly used f-stops
-Longer distances and larger DOF were rounded to nearest "happy" number
-I designed the charts so the closer to the subject the more specific the DOF was since there's less margin for error

Yes, I know there are plenty of other charts out there, but nothing that catered to my needs and nothing quick and dirty to reference. Let me know what you think.

I like it, it's done well, so its not confusing, and it doesn't have too much stuff there, just concise information.

What people here aren't remembering is that you did it to print, not use in an electronic device. I am one of the people that could use this, I have a cell phone, but it's just that, a cell phone, I use it only to make calls, no apps for it at all. There are more of us that think that way too, so they will be the ones that will take advantage of it.
(I'm not one of those people that constantly stare at their 'phones' to entertain myself! Now my computer, that's another story...)

So, I like it, and I appreciate that you took the time to make it, whether or not anyone wants to use it, that's up to them.
I have never needed one so far, but I'll print it up and see if I need it.
(I don't see anything wrong with it, I'll let someone smarter than me check that stuff out)

Thanks N.Nut.!

Randy

I went a step further and laminated some credit card sized cards:

^^ those are really neat.

My original purpose for the charts was mostly for the closer range of my nifty fifty and the kit kens where DOF can be very. If I was doing head shots or animal portraits I just wanted to know the estimated distance or aperture I would need to get the person in focus. Then I figured why not do the rest to infinity wide open to see what it looks like. For the 400mm, I did it because sometimes waterfowl have big wingspans that I may want to include in focus when there is enough light.

Thats why my calculations are down and dirty and sometimes ridiculous. Do you need to know you have 3000 feet of DOF? Maybe for landscape shots if you dont know your hyperfocal, but generally no. Thats why the ranges closer than 15 feet are more precise and DOF under 15 is precise. Those are where DOF might be a factor to a bum like me who doesn't do a lot of portraits. But for the most part they will probably stay in my bag.

I may try a condensed card one, those look handy.

Trugga wrote in post #15139803
I went a step further and laminated some credit card sized cards:

Whilst I don't refer to them now as much as I did when I first made them, the excercise of creating them gave me a better understanding.

Lawrence

Nice!

I like it. I may just steal your format and do something similar for my full frame camera. I already carry around something similar for hyperfocal distance. . .though there are less iterations for that, so it's quite a bit easier. I have an app on my phone, but I don't always have my phone with me. Charts can also be a little quicker and easier at times if you don't need to be overly precise.

recrisp wrote in post #15139795

I like it, it's done well, so its not confusing, and it doesn't have too much stuff there, just concise information.

What people here aren't remembering is that you did it to print, not use in an electronic device. I am one of the people that could use this, I have a cell phone, but it's just that, a cell phone, I use it only to make calls, no apps for it at all. There are more of us that think that way too, so they will be the ones that will take advantage of it.
(I'm not one of those people that constantly stare at their 'phones' to entertain myself! Now my computer, that's another story...)

So, I like it, and I appreciate that you took the time to make it, whether or not anyone wants to use it, that's up to them.
I have never needed one so far, but I'll print it up and see if I need it.
(I don't see anything wrong with it, I'll let someone smarter than me check that stuff out)

Thanks N.Nut.!

Randy

I'm with you 100% here, Randy.. in fact, i hate cell phones; i only have one in case my car breaks down.

Nice job Nature Nut!

We're most likely in the minority here too! heheheh

Randy

• Keep in mind that most DOF calculators assume for still photography viewing of an 8" x 10" print viewed from about 12" away, roughly the diagonal of the print. When you make a larger print, and when you do not view it from a proportionately longer viewing distance, DOF calculations become worthless.
  
  
• Also, most DOF calculators assume too loose of interpretation of what size blur circle will be detected by the eye, although 20/20 human vision is better than that assumption! So if you were shooting with f/5.6 on the lens, the DOF calculator might better be set about 1EV larger (use f/4) to get a better guestimate of DOF. That is why seasoned veterans using fixed focal length lenses will use a larger aperture mark on the DOF scale of a lens...use f/4 marks rather than f/5.6 DOF scale marks.
  
  
• Another problem with any DOF calculation is how does the shooter know (with some certainty) the distances...
  How far is your subject (standard distance scales on AF lenses only list rather short distances before jumping to Infinity!)
  and how close is the closest thing that you want in focus, and the farthest thing?
  
  
• If you cannot accurately measure all of the above, any DOF calculation is again rendered useless, for all practical purposes.

Interesting info wilt. I had read that there was a bit more involved when I first looked at DOF a while back, but never really looked deeper into it. I always add a margin of error for DOF when I am close to something. Distance estimation is a good nature skill and one I picked up while meandering across the world for uncle sammy. Overall for me its a quick cheat sheet for wildlife at various ranges or when I try my hand at landscapes. In the end the numbers are indeed slightly anecdotal (lots of other factors and techy stuff) and translate to: a little, enough, or a lot. Call it the DOF K.I.S.S. Chart

Wilt wrote in post #15140435
That is why I agree with SkipD about the usual experienced photographer does not bother with such charts

I use a DOF app for landscape shots if im looking to maximize the DOF and get as much as possible in focus. From experience using my (recently sold) 17-40 lens if I was at f/14 and 17mm I could manually set the focus to 1m and would have everything from roughly 1m to infinity in focus.

If I had to change the apeture or the focal length the calculator becomes handy to double check what my focus needs to be set at to maximize the DOF at the alternative settings.

With all the experience in the world surely the charts/app are still necessary? Without them you are back to the old tried and tested "focus a third into the scene". Although this normally gives infinity focus it doesnt maximise the DOF fully