Getting better DOF

I am having trouble with DOF..specifically by adjusted Av from 2.8 vs 8.0 to see how DOF changes.

When I take a 2.8 vs 8.0 shot of something close in macro mode. The DOF is noticable. Mainly, the back gound is blurry or a lot blurry. All is good.

However, in non-macro mode, if my main subject is 10 - 15 feet away and the back ground is even further...I cant seem to get any DOF...its all in focus.

What could I be doing wrong? Or is DOF (esp with my camera) really only reserved for closeup (macro) shots?

Camera: G11

Here is shot #1: 1/320, 3.2, ISO 80 (Aperture priority)

IMAGE LINK: http://s302.photobucke​t.com …action=view&cur​rent=1.jpg

IMAGE LINK: http://s302.photobucke​t.com …ction=view&curr​ent=1a.jpg

First of all, I think you have the terminology confused. More depth-of-field (DOF) makes things more in focus at a greater range of distances. You seem to be looking for a shallow depth of field in an attempt to blur the background.

The very tiny image sensor and the very short focal length range (6.1mm to 30.5mm) of your camera's lens combine to provide a rather deep DOF at normal camera-to-subject distances and there's little you can do about it, assuming you keep using that camera.

kezug wrote in post #9865158
I am having trouble with DOF..specifically by adjusted Av from 2.8 vs 8.0 to see how DOF changes.

When I take a 2.8 vs 8.0 shot of something close in macro mode. The DOF is noticable. Mainly, the back gound is blurry or a lot blurry. All is good.

However, in non-macro mode, if my main subject is 10 - 15 feet away and the back ground is even further...I cant seem to get any DOF...its all in focus.

What could I be doing wrong? Or is DOF (esp with my camera) really only reserved for closeup (macro) shots?

It's difficult to do with a small sensor camera like the G11 - the focal length of lens that's required for that camera doesn't lend itself well to narrow DOF.

Try an online DOF calculator like this one to see what kind of focus distance you can expect at given settings:
http://www.dofmaster.c​om/dofjs.html

Getting really close does help, but not for big objects.

Thanks for educating me and clarifying things at the same time...and so nicely.