5d2 DOF limit - what's the limit

I like the shallow DOF on the video, but for some scenes I need a far deeper DOF. How can I increase it to have say an interview of someone sitting in front of a bookshelf with both in focus?

Change your aperture and increase your ISO to achieve the same exposure, just as you would for a photo. Anything you do for a photo is directly applicable to video because a video is just a bunch of photos strung together.

Right you are, Glenn. That's a good way of putting it. If it requires 1/60th, F10 and ISO 800 to get the correct DoF and exposure that you require in a PHOTO of your interview, you can probbaly guess what settings you'll need for your video.

*wants 5d mk II*

ShauningtoN wrote in post #8675259
*wants 5d mk II*

*agreeds*

what about moving the camera further away from subject? DOF increases as the focus distance increases, am I wrong?

gnats50 wrote in post #8708775
what about moving the camera further away from subject? DOF increases as the focus distance increases, am I wrong?

nope. I am sure there are other factors, but this is generally true.

gnats50 wrote in post #8708775
what about moving the camera further away from subject? DOF increases as the focus distance increases, am I wrong?

Actually, it's generally the other way around.
In fact, many video camera users deliberately move their cameras away from the subject to use a longer lens setting to get a SHALLOWER depth of field. (or "increased" DOF effect .. a phrase that could lead to confusion)

NickJushchyshyn wrote in post #8709263
Actually, it's generally the other way around.
In fact, many video camera users deliberately move their cameras away from the subject to use a longer lens setting to get a SHALLOWER depth of field. (or "increased" DOF effect .. a phrase that could lead to confusion)

i do not think this is correct. using a longer lens will result in having to move further back and will give a more shallow DoF due to telephoto compression.

However, I believe that if you shoot with a telephoto--say the 85mm f/1.2L--from MFD, the DoF extending from behind the focus point will be more shallow than if you were to stand 20 feet away from MFD using the same lens.

NickJushchyshyn wrote in post #8709263
Actually, it's generally the other way around.
In fact, many video camera users deliberately move their cameras away from the subject to use a longer lens setting to get a SHALLOWER depth of field. (or "increased" DOF effect .. a phrase that could lead to confusion)

Quite wrong. Increasing distance to subject increases DOF. Increasing focal length decreases. However, for a given framing and aperture size, the increase in focal length matches 1:1 the increase in distance, and results in the exact same DOF. The reason you go back and shoot long is to take advantage of the compression effect, not to mess with DOF. For a given frame, the only thing that changes DOF is the aperture.

Now, when you shoot long, that means you likely have a fairly large distance between the subject and the background as well, and that can lead to better OOF sections, though the DOF is the same.

You could get a 7D. Instantly more DOF.