If you want MORE DOF, is it better to use a wider lens?

joebob23 wrote in post #16805869
I do not believe this to be true. Shifting the lens changes the perspective of the image, and tilting the lens rotates the focal plane relative to the sensor plane...

I was only talking about swinging and tilting. Not talking about shifting, but you are correct. Shifting will not change depth of field. Only swinging and tilting will.

wider focal lengths have more less background blur, so that's what you want.

I'd say: use a flash and stop down.

EverydayGetaway wrote in post #16805851
True, but doesn't the compression effect of a longer lens usually exaggerate this? I know to me it seems that more is in focus with a wider lens at the same aperture, even if pixel-peeping reveals this to not necessarily be true.

The DOF is the same, but the longer lens will have more background blur. Is that what you are referring to?

The Dark Knight wrote in post #16805357
I hope I'm explaining this correctly, because I confuse myself sometimes and I could be talking out of my arse.

But there are times when I'd like MORE depth of field, but want a fast lens because it's dark. Best example I'm thinking of is say a group picture indoors, and I want everyone's face to be in focus.

Are wider lenses advantageous in these situations?

So let's say a 50mm 1.4 vs 35mm 1.4. First of all, am I right in saying that even if I stepped FORWARD with the 35mm to get similar framing as the 50mm, the 50mm at 1.4 would still give me a shallower DOF than the 35mm?

Also, it seems like with a wider lens, I could step back further from my subjects, thus getting more DOF, then having the option to crop.

Does this make sense, or no?

For the example you listed, stopping the lens down for more DOF and using a flash would be the best solution. If you do not have an external flash, you should add one to your kit and learn how to use it.

EverydayGetaway wrote in post #16805851
True, but doesn't the compression effect of a longer lens usually exaggerate this?

There is no such thing as a lens having a "compression effect" (or the opposite) due to its focal length. The "compression" or whatever the opposite may be called is perspective at work and the only thing that affects perspective (relative sizes of elements of a scene which are at different distances from the viewer or camera) is distance.

Please read our "sticky" (found in the General Photography Talk forum) tutorial titled Perspective Control in Images - Focal Length or Distance?.