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Photography Forums => Technical Questions on Photography and Optics => Topic started by: KeithB on October 06, 2009, 08:57:05 AM



Title: Close focus distance vs depth of field
Post by: KeithB on October 06, 2009, 08:57:05 AM
I am in the process of doing some test shots to show that small-sensor cameras have greater depth of field than larger sensor cameras.  (Thanks for the depth_of_field article, Bob, though you have too many depth of field calculators - I have trouble getting back to the one I need at the time!)

Anyway, if I focus at the closest focusing distance will the depth of field equations still hold, or will the depth of field fall off more sharply?


Title: Re: Close focus distance vs depth of field
Post by: Bob Atkins on October 18, 2009, 10:28:27 AM
The depth of field equations hold at all focus distances. The complication you might run into is in defining distances when you are very close, since with complex lens designs you're really measuring to a point somewhere within the lens.

At high magnification (really close focus), it's better to use the equations based on magnification rather than distance.


Title: Re: Close focus distance vs depth of field
Post by: KeithB on October 18, 2009, 08:13:58 PM
Thanks for the answer, though I think I figured it out for myself.  I was thinking that if you focus at the closest focusing distance, things would get blurry in the near field because you were closer than the closest focusing distance.

I realized that the closest focusing distance is really a mechanical thing.  The lens properties will stay the same and depth of field will not not follow the equation.


Title: Re: Close focus distance vs depth of field
Post by: nikonian on November 30, 2009, 03:31:38 PM
You have to differentiate between close focus and macro. The formula for macro is different to close up. Your DOF for macro is down to mm.