Depth of field cameras?

Question: Depth of field cameras!?

what cameras are good for photography and have a depth of field!?Www@QuestionHome@Com

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

Any SLR digital or film will allow you to control the aperture (DOF)!. To get a shallow depth of fiel where the subject is in focus and the background is blurry you use the smallest number like F1!.4 to get the opposite effect where everything is in focus from near to far you use a larger number like F16 or F22!.

Some camera to look at would be the Canon Rebel XTi or XSi and the Nikon D40 or D60!. Prices for these start at $500 with a lens and go up to about $900!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

An SLR is a Single Lens Reflex camera, meaning that what you see in the viewfinder is what you're gonna get!. A DSLR is a Digital Single Lens Reflex camera!. Okay!.!.!.covered that!.

The lens matters more than the camera!. My daughter's got a point-and-shoot that has a pretty good depth-of-field adjustment in Aperture Mode, from f/3!.5 to f/11!.

The lower the number, the lower the depth of field!. There are some exceptions to this like if you're really close to a subject, even a large depth of field won't be all that large!. It's a matter of "focal length + and - a certain amount," so if you're focal length is 20 inches, the + and - won't be too much even on the largest depth of field!. If you're four feet away from a subject, an aperture of 3!.5 will wipe out everything more than a few feet behind the subject!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

First, its "SLR" or "DSLR"!.

The term SLR refers to a Single Lens Reflex camera and usually uses 35mm film!.

The term DSLR refers to a Digital Single Lens reflex camera!.

With a 35mm film camera Depth of Field (DOF) is purely a function of the lens being used!. With a DSLR, unless its a "full frame" (equivalent to a 35mm film frame which is 24mm X 36mm) camera, the sensor has some influence on DOF!.

For maximum DOF you'd use a wide angle lens (16mm, 21mm, 24mm, 35mm) at f16!. For minimal DOF use a telephoto lens (100mm, 200mm, etc!.)

Here are some examples, based on a 35mm film camera!. Although not fully applicable to a DSLR like the Sony A300 or Canon XSi or Nikon D60 they are still useful for comparisons!.

16mm lens @ f16, focused to 6'!. DOF is from 1' 6'' to infinity

21mm lens @ f16, focused to 6'!. DOF is from 2' 2'' to infinity

100mm lens @ f16, focused to 6'!. DOF is from 5' 6-1/2" to 6' 6-3/8"

200mm lens @ f16, focused to 8'!. DOF is from 7' 9'' to 8' 2"

As you can easily see, focal length plays a major role in controlling DOF!.

Here are the same lenses used wide-open:

16mm lens @ f2!.8, focused to 6'!. DOF is from 3' 9'' to 15' 8''

21mm lens @ f2!.8, focused to 6'!. DOF is from 4' 5'' to 9' 3''

100mm lens @ f2!.5, focused to 6'!. DOF is from 5' 11'' to 6' 0-7/8''

200mm lens @ f3!.5, focused to 8'!. DOF is from 7' 11-1/2'' to 8' 0-1/2''

The f-stop also plays a major role in controlling DOF!.

There is an aid called the ExpoAperture2 (http://www!.expoimaging!.net) which allows you to set sensor size, f-stop and lens focal length to determine DOF!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Any good SLR camera will do the trick!.

(SLR=Single Lense Reflex)Www@QuestionHome@Com