DOF in bird photography-

A few thoughts; depth of field is only meaningful for a specified sharpness criteria, ie the diameter of the circle of confusion used to calculate it.

The CoC is normally selected for printing, for web sized images it could be much larger.

Or to put it anther way the image might not look so front to back sharp if printed.

Criterion.

Rog,
Just shoot hummers at about f8 and try to get about 6-9 feet away from them.
You should get some great shots.
Pump the SS up to 1/1250 -1/3200th and move your ISO to an acceptable level.
You should get great shots overall.

Experiment a bit and enjoy.

Lester Wareham wrote in post #16927111
A few thoughts; depth of field is only meaningful for a specified sharpness criteria, ie the diameter of the circle of confusion used to calculate it.

Ah that explains it then!
Similar to a bandwidth plot, meaningless without the gain quantification!

Foggiest wrote in post #16930668
Ah that explains it then!
Similar to a bandwidth plot, meaningless without the gain quantification!

Wait! What????? Oh, just never mind.

jhayesvw wrote in post #16927654
Rog,
Just shoot hummers at about f8 and try to get about 6-9 feet away from them.
You should get some great shots.
Pump the SS up to 1/1250 -1/3200th and move your ISO to an acceptable level.
You should get great shots overall.

Experiment a bit and enjoy.

Think you got the answer, Jeremy, to h*** w/ all the equations, quantifications, explanations, etc. and just go shoot. Just doing a little catch-up here now, but I think I'll try your suggested settings w/ ISO at A and see where that ends up. May be wrong, but I'm guessing it could be well up into 4 figures w/ my shady backyard. Keep ya posted, my friend.

ardeekay wrote in post #16930976
Think you got the answer, Jeremy, to h*** w/ all the equations, quantifications, explanations, etc. and just go shoot. Just doing a little catch-up here now, but I think I'll try your suggested settings w/ ISO at A and see where that ends up. May be wrong, but I'm guessing it could be well up into 4 figures w/ my shady backyard. Keep ya posted, my friend.

Not a problem, I always shoot wide open(F5.6).
The sun is an endangered species in NW UK!

You soon know when you need more DOF,SS, reach, ISO....

Keep in mind you are talking about DOF in HUmmingbirds, a very unique subject to try and figure out what you are trying to figure out, Hummers are in a world all to themselves, throw all those "rules" out the window!
f/8 and don't be late!

Jumping up to Jeremy's post, I did get out for a bit(thought I saw a RB Nuthatch, but no) and tried some shots-feeder actually in a bit of sun, ss @ 1/1250, f8.0, Sigma @ 450mm and at about 25 feet distance(since visit frequency is only 2-3 per hour, didn't want to move closer). Set ISO to A and it came in at 3200. Have to look at the shots and may post here for added discussion.

Rog, 25ft is too far for massive detail.
Grab a chair and tripod, tape off all but the one feeder opening that is good for your shot and
get ready.

I shoot hummingbirds at less than 15 ft or I dont bother shooting them. But the results are good.

jhayesvw wrote in post #16932085
Rog, 25ft is too far for massive detail.
Grab a chair and tripod, tape off all but the one feeder opening that is good for your shot and
get ready.

I shoot hummingbirds at less than 15 ft or I dont bother shooting them. But the results are good.

OK, move closer, when temps drop a bit lower. (And I'm saying this to someone who lives in Arizona-sheesh!!)

Yeah. I'm spoiled. .I think we have 13 species of hummers and 400 total species
of birds here in AZ.
Plus the weather is gorgeous most of the year.
Rog, just move to AZ!

jhayesvw wrote in post #16933635
Yeah. I'm spoiled. .I think we have 13 species of hummers and 400 total species
of birds here in AZ.
Plus the weather is gorgeous most of the year.
Rog, just move to AZ!

Oh, I see, the "Yanks" and their closed invites!

Meanwhile back in NW UK, DOF is how far you will sink if you try to cross that patch of grass!

jhayesvw wrote in post #16933635
Yeah. I'm spoiled. .I think we have 13 species of hummers and 400 total species
of birds here in AZ.
Plus the weather is gorgeous most of the year.
Rog, just move to AZ!

I just moved to Texas!! For part of the year.

Foggiest wrote in post #16933856
Oh, I see, the "Yanks" and their closed invites!

Meanwhile back in NW UK, DOF is how far you will sink if you try to cross that patch of grass!

Hahaha. What is grass? We have none of that here in the desert!

ardeekay wrote in post #16934612
I just moved to Texas!! For part of the year.

That works but you're in IL for the summer I assume.
Come out to Tucson and I can show you around.