ExpoAperture2 Manual (Imperial/Standard) - English
Transcription
ExpoAperture2 Manual (Imperial/Standard) - English
expoaperture Depth-of-Field Guide Manual www.expoimaging.net 2 ExpoAperture2 Depth-of-Field Guide Manual V 1.0 Preface The original ExpoAperture Depth of Field Guide was introduced over 20 years ago. Primarily designed to be used with 35mm and medium format film cameras, the original Guide used a fixed circle-of-confusion to make the necessary depth-of-field calculations. Although the two formats required different circle-of-confusions, calculations were easily converted between the two formats through a simple mental calculation. This was possible because George A. Wallace, the inventor of the guide, selected a circle-of-confusion for medium format (120) film that was approximately twice that of 35mm film. The original guide used 35 microns as the circle-of-confusion for 35mm film – the upper limit in most calculations. Wallace, a student of Ansel Adams, believed that the traditional circle-ofconfusion calculation for 35mm film (30 microns) was too exacting since it assumed that the final print enlarged from a negative would be viewed at a distance equal to its diagonal dimension. This would mean that an 8" x 10" print would be viewed at a distance of approximately thirteen inches. Wallace's opinion was that the final print would be viewed at a more comfortable distance – twenty inches for an 8" x 10" print. This theory is also upheld in Alfred A. Blaker's book, Applied Depth of Field. Blaker demonstrates, through various calculations, that the most comfortable viewing distance of a print or projected image is twice the long dimension. In Blaker's explanation an 8" x 10" print would also be viewed at a distance of twenty inches. The point of the foregoing explanation is that the determination of the value of the circle-of- confusion used in depth-of-field calculations, although based on a mathematical formula, is somewhat subjective based on the photographer's preferences and intended use. Additionally, many changes in photography have occurred in the intervening period from 1980 to now, not the least of which is the transition to digital and its myriad different sensor sizes. As a result, it is no longer possible to use the original guide with its fixed circle-ofconfusion to perform depth-of-field calculations for all the formats (film and digital) on the market today because of the need to use different values for each different sensor or format size. Today's photographers asked us to address these issues and to redesign the guide to make it more flexible for modern day use and reduce or eliminate the need for mental calculations. In the middle of 2006, ExpoImaging began such a redesign. Wallace died in 2001, leaving many incomplete notes on the design of the original guide, requiring us to reverse engineer the guide to determine how it worked. Once we discovered the "secret" of his calculations, it was just a matter of modifying the design of the guide to make calculations based on a variable circle-of- confusion – one that could be based on a photographer's preferences or on the sensor size of a camera. The result is the ExpoAperture2 Depth of Field Guide. George W. Ziegler, Jr. Morgan Hill, California March, 2007 2 ExpoAperture2 Depth-of-Field Guide Manual V 1.0 Table of Contents 1. - An Introduction to Depth-Of-Field - 4 1.A. - Focus as a Compositional Tool - 4 1.B - Controlling Depth of Field - 5 1.C - Image Sharpness - 6 1.D - Permissible Circle-of-Confusion - 7 1.E - The Advent of Digital Cameras - 9 1.F – Conclusion: Taking Advantage of Depth-of-Field in Your Photography - 10 2. - Using the ExpoAperture2 Depth-Of-Field Guide - 11 2.A - Distance Dial - 11 2.B - Focus Zone Dial - 11 2.C - Focal Length Dial - 11 2.D - f/stop and Circle-of-Confusion Dial - 12 2.E - Determining The Correct Aperture and Focal Point - 15 2.F - Determining Depth-of-Field for a Given Aperture and Focal Distance - 16 2.G - Determining Hyperfocal Distances - 16 2.H - Setting Apertures for Lenses with Focal Lengths Greater than 135mm - 17 2.I - Close and Macro Photography - 19 3 ExpoAperture2 Depth-of-Field Guide Manual V 1.0 1. - An Introduction to Depth-Of-Field "There is nothing wrong with your television set. Do not attempt to adjust the picture… We can reduce the focus to a soft blur, or sharpen it to crystal clarity..." The Outer Limits Opening narration, The Control Voice, 1963-1965 The human eye is marvelously flexible and adaptive. It can adjust its focus so rapidly that the impression is given that its entire field of view is in sharp focus when only a small portion is actually in focus at any one time. A camera lens, in contrast, freezes the focus on the image plane the instant the shutter is released, preserving forever whatever the lens has rendered in or out of sharp focus. A viewer of a photograph can immediately discern the different areas that are in sharp focus and those that are not. The distance between the nearest and furthest points from the camera at which everything appears sharp is termed the depth-of-field. In many types of photography, such as landscape photography, it is desirable to have the entire image as sharp as possible. In this case the photographer may focus on the hyperfocal distance to obtain the maximum depthof-field possible. In others, the creative use of depth-of-field can be used to isolate elements that the photographer may wish to emphasis or deemphasize. This opens the photographer to the possibility of using selective focus (the ability of lenses to render some objects within a scene in focus while others appear out of focus), as a compositional tool. 1.A. - Focus as a Compositional Tool All photographers know that they need to focus their cameras, but only skilled photographers know how to use selective focus as a compositional tool. Selective focus can be used compositionally in two ways, to direct attention to the subject, and to eliminate distractions. Directing attention – In a photograph, a viewer's eye is irresistibly drawn to the area of sharpest focus. It follows that a photographer who can control focus can also control the viewer's attention. Sharp focus implies that the photographer is placing emphasis on an area for a specific reason. In addition, elements that are in sharp focus are united by their similarity, which separates them from the other out-of-focus elements. Consequently, the creative use of focus can help build and support visual relationships. Eliminating distractions – Often, either the foreground or background elements of a scene detract from the main subject, directing the viewer's eye away from the photograph's center of interest. When such areas are purposefully thrown out-of-focus, they are less likely to distract the viewer. In some cases, a slight softness is all that is necessary. In other cases, the effect may need to be exaggerated. The photographer needs to make the appropriate compositional decisions based on the circumstances and his or her intent. 4 ExpoAperture2 Depth-of-Field Guide Manual V 1.0 Hyperfocal distance – In landscape photography in particular, photographers want as much of the picture in sharp focus as possible. In the 1920s, such notables as Ansel Adams and Edward Weston, along with several other photographers of the time, started the "Group f64" which was dedicated to making photographs as sharp as possible throughout. The group met only a few times and held only three shows, the first at the de Young Memorial Museum in San Francisco. The term f64 evidentially arose from the smallest aperture setting marked on large format lenses of the time, associating the use of this aperture with the sharp, clear pictures prized by the group. The group’s choice of f64 was symbolic, however, to the extent that the smallest aperture does not always provide the largest depth-of-field. Instead, focusing your lens on the hyperfocal distance with the correct aperture, you will maximize depth-of-field in your image. The hyperfocal distance is the distance setting at a given aperture and focal length that creates the most depth-of-field. The ExpoAperture Guide provides the ability to determine hyperfocal distances (see Section 2.G, “Determining Hyperfocal Distances.”) A photographer who is unaware of how selective focus can be put to use in composing an image is likely to select any lens, shutter speed and aperture setting that will produce a good exposure. While this approach may be necessary in some circumstances, skilled photographers will never take a photograph without first deciding which areas of a scene they wish to be in sharp focus and which ones should not. Although the extent to which selective focus is used or is not used in a particular image is a creative decision, implementation is a technical matter accomplished by controlling a lens' depth-of-field. 1.B - Controlling Depth of Field The optical characteristics of lenses that permit control over depth-of-field are lens aperture, lens focal length, and focusing distance. These characteristics are the primary variables in depth-of-field calculations. It is not necessary to understand depth-of-field formulas in order to understand the relationships these variables have with one another. This understanding is enough to allow you to use depth-of-field creatively. The accompanying ExpoAperture2 Depth-Of-Field Guide will do the calculations for you, allowing you to concentrate on the aesthetic elements of your image. Aperture – Every serious photographer understands that the size of the lens diaphragm (aperture setting) affects depth-of-field. The ability to set the aperture is present in all but the simplest cameras. Specifically, the smaller the aperture (the larger the f/stop number), the more depth-of- field obtained, and, conversely, the larger the aperture setting (the smaller the f- stop number), the less depth-of-field obtained. In most situations, the f/stop selected for use will noticeably affect the image's appearance in the final photograph. Focal length – The longer the focal length used, the less depth-of-field obtained, and, conversely, the shorter the focal length used, the more depth-of- field obtained. Like the f/stop selection, the selection of a different focal length will affect the image's appearance in the final print. 5 ExpoAperture2 Depth-of-Field Guide Manual V 1.0 Focusing distance – Some lenses have markings on their barrels that indicate the distance at which the lens is focused. Some fixed focal length lenses may also have depth-of-field indicator lines that show a range of distances determined by the lens' manufacturer that will be rendered in sharp focus when the lens is set at a particular f/stop. Almost all variable focus length lenses (zoom lenses) do not have depth-of-field markings. If your lens has depth-of-field markings, you will see that as the focus distance is brought closer to the lens, the depth-of-field at any particular aperture setting diminishes. On the other hand, as the focus distance is set further away from the lens, the depth-of field increases. Therefore, moving the camera closer or further away from the plane of critical focus (or focus point) can control the depth-of-field. Therefore, the primary ways to control the depth-of-field are: To increase the depth-of-field: 1) use a smaller aperture; or 2) use a shorter focal length; or 3) move further away from the plane of critical focus. To decrease the depth-of-field: 1) use a larger aperture; or 2) use a longer focal length; or 3) move closer to the plane of critical focus. Obviously, you can use any one of these methods or a combination of several of them to achieve your desired result. 1.C - Image Sharpness Depth-of-field and image sharpness are not the same thing. Depth-of-field is the range of sharp focus produced by the combination of lens aperture, lens focal length and focusing distance. These are theoretical values derived from optical formulas that assume a theoretically ‘perfect lens’ with one element that is free from all aberrations and distortions, and that focus precisely. In other words, depth-of-field calculations assume that the lens is capable of delivering the degree of sharpness corresponding to the chosen circle-ofconfusion desired in the final print. [Note: The determination circle-of-confusion to be used will be discussed later in Section 2.D.] Real world lenses differ from the theoretically perfect lens used in depth-of-field calculations in at least four significant ways. First of all, most lenses have aberrations, which are more evident when the lens is set to large aperture openings. Spherical aberrations prevent the lens from converging the incoming light rays on a single point, resulting in focusing errors. Chromatic aberrations focus light of different wavelengths (colors) at slightly different angles. Secondly, the lens must be able to focus precisely, i.e., there cannot be any defects in the lens' focusing mechanism. Thirdly, real world lenses almost always have more than the perfect lens’ one element. Finally, at very small aperture settings the sharpness of the image is influenced by diffraction as light rays pass by the diaphragm. It is generally accepted that a lens performs at its best when it is stopped down two to three full stops from its largest 6 ExpoAperture2 Depth-of-Field Guide Manual V 1.0 aperture setting. For an f/2.8 lens this would be f/5.6 or f/8. Therefore, using a smaller aperture, like f/16 or f/22 to improve depth-of-field may actually decrease sharpness in your photos. The most common reason for lack of sharpness in photographs is camera movement, or what is commonly referred to as motion blur. You can usually assume that camera movement reduced sharpness in a photograph when nothing in the image is in focus. If you had a steady camera and did a reasonably good job of focusing, at least some part of the photograph should be in focus. To reduce camera movement, use a tripod. If you are unable to use a tripod, the faster your shutter speed, the more likely you will be to avoid motion blur. As a rule of thumb, your shutter speed should be set to at least one over the focal length of the lens you are using. For example, if you are using 250mm lens, your shutter speed should be set to 1/250 of a second. When possible, you should also brace yourself against a tree or wall to improve your steadiness. For really large enlargements of your images, this may not be enough. When handholding or using a tripod remember to press the shutter slowly, or even better, use a cable release with your tripod. Use mirror lockup, if available, so the camera doesn't vibrate when the mirror snaps up in order to take the picture. Following these guidelines should result in tack sharp images. If you are using a digital camera with a LCD viewing screen it will be nearly impossible to tell if your picture is sharp or not by quickly looking at the LCD. Nearly everything on the LCD appears in focus because of its small size. If you have a zoom feature that you can use during playback, magnify the image as large as possible and then examine the areas that need to be in critical focus to confirm they are as sharp as you want them to be. Finally, the introduction of image editing software like Adobe Photoshop® also changes whether portions of a photograph, and the photograph as a whole, are more or less sharp to the viewer. A complete discussion of the merits of post-processing sharpening are beyond the scope of this manual. However, suffice it to say that, just as with all other aspects of photography, there are numerous creative and quality benefits to be gained by capturing in camera an image as close as possible to your intended print. 1.D - Permissible Circle-of-Confusion In optics, a circle-of-confusion is a slightly out-of-focus point of light. A perfect lens when focused on a point of light like a distant star would render it sharply on the image plane – as a point of light. Since a lens can only render one plane in focus at a time, points of light that are either closer or further away from the lens than our subject would be out-of focus. Slightly out- of-focus, the points would appear as tiny circles. The permissible circle-ofconfusion is the largest that this circle can be and still appear to be sharp to the eye at a normal viewing distance. Circles smaller than the permissible circle-of-confusion will always appear sharp. In order to determine the permissible circle-of-confusion we need to start with the final product – the enlarged print. You may well ask, "Why start here?" The reason we are 7 ExpoAperture2 Depth-of-Field Guide Manual V 1.0 starting with a discussion of the circle-of-confusion present in the final print is because it is the most subjective of the variables and depends on factors outside of the camera, in particular the photographer's visualization. In determining the circle-of-confusion, prints are considered to be viewed at a distance equal to their diagonal dimension. In actuality, prints are viewed from distances further away. An 8" x 10" print has a diagonal of 12.8 inches. Unless you are scrutinizing the print very closely an actual viewing distance of 14 or 15 inches is more practicable. You can observe this type of viewing behavior in museums where a person stands back from a painting to take in the whole view and occasionally moves in closer to look a specific element and then moves back to the original view position. There are several ways to determine the permissible circle-of-confusion. One way is based on normal human visual acuity. The resolution of the human eye in a person with normal visual acuity is generally assumed to be 5 lines per millimeter when viewed at a distance of 25 centimeters. Twenty-five centimeters is roughly 10 inches, the diagonal dimension of a 6" x 8" print. Therefore along the 25 centimeter dimension the viewer could discern 1,250 lines or points (5 x 25 x 10). The circle-of-confusion would be 0.200mm (250mm divided by 1,250.) Given this information the circle-of-confusion in an 8" x 10" print would be approximately 0.250mm since the 8" x 10" print is larger by a factor of approximately 25%. Another method assumes that the circle-of-confusion is equal to 1/100th of an inch in an 8" x 10" print. 1/100th of an inch is equal to 0.254mm. Since these methods are so close, and the second may have derived from the first one, we will use 1/100th as the permissible circle-of-confusion in further discussions. The traditional value for the circle-of-confusion for 35mm film has been 30 microns. The 30 microns is based on using a 1/100th of an inch circle-of-confusion in an 8" x 10" print. The 30 microns is calculated by dividing the 0.254mm circle-of-confusion desired in the final print by the number of times the negative needs to be enlarged to make the print. In this calculation we are assuming that the negative will be enlarged only as many times as necessary to fill the 8" x 10" print format or 8.47 times (the 203mm print dimension [or 8" dimension] divided by the 24mm film dimension). The required Circle-of-Confusion necessary in the negative is 0.030mm (0.254 divided by 8.47) or 30 microns. These calculations reveal two critical factors in determining the circle-of-confusion to use when making an image: 1) the viewing distance of the final print or projected image, since the further away the image is viewed, the larger the permissible circle-of-confusion can be; and 2) the number of times the image source needs to be enlarged to make the print or project the image. Adjustments to the calculations need to be made for cameras that capture images on film or sensors that differ in size to 35mm film. In digital cameras, which generally use sensors smaller than traditional 35mm film, the image needs to be enlarged more times. For example an image taken with a Nikon DX sized sensor has to be enlarged 1.5 times more (the crop factor) than 35mm film to make the same size image therefore you need to use a 20 micron (30 divided by 1.5) circle-of-confusion in your calculations. 8 ExpoAperture2 Depth-of-Field Guide Manual V 1.0 We have included a chart with the ExpoAperture2 Depth-Of-Field Guide which provides the appropriate circle-of-confusion to use with your camera. Of course, you are free to use any circle-of-confusion you wish depending on your desired final result. 1.E - The Advent of Digital Cameras Unfortunately, the increased popularity of digital cameras has been accompanied by an increase in misconceptions about their depth-of-field capabilities. These misconceptions result in statements such as "the smaller the sensor the better depth-of-field" and "for the same angle-of-view the depth-of-field increases by the crop factor of the camera." Statements like these fail to emphasize the overall contributing reason that apparent depthof-field increases when using digital cameras, which is that manufacturers have had to incorporate shorter focal length lenses on digital cameras in order to maintain the angle-ofview typically found in lenses traditionally used for 35mm film, called ‘normal’ lenses. Compact digital cameras have extremely small sensors, typically 2/3 of an inch to ¾ of an inch. To compensate, the camera manufacturers use equally as short focal length lenses, often in the range of 7mm to 9mm. Most of them do not have f/stops greater than f/8. With these short focal length lenses set at f/8, nearly infinite depth-of-field is achieved. As a result, achieving any sort of creative depth-of-field control with these cameras is virtually impossible. Normal lenses are lenses with focal lengths that approximate human vision perspectives. With 35mm film or "full frame" digital cameras, the typical normal lens is 50mm – a 40 degree angle- of-view. On digital cameras with a 1.5x crop factor, as an example, a normal lens with a 40 degree angle-of-view would be approximately 33mm. On a medium format film camera a normal lens would be 75-80mm. Therefore the smaller sensor size, in and of itself, has little to do with the better depth-of-field. The apparent better depth-of-field is almost entirely the function of the shorter focal length lenses. The basic rules of depth-of-field, which are based on lens optics, have not changed just because of the introduction of digital sensors. Only the difference in digital sensor size versus 35mm creates a difference in depth-of-field results. The truth of the matter is that the same focal length lens and aperture setting when used on a 35mm camera and on a digital camera will produce the same depth-of-field, when the resulting image is enlarged the same number of times. Because images from digital cameras require greater enlargement to achieve the same print size, the enlarged image from a digital camera will actually have less depth-of-field given the same focal length and aperture. To have the same depth-of-field, the circle-of-confusion needs to be smaller. The correct circle-of-confusion can be quickly calculated by dividing 30 microns by the digital camera's crop factor. Therefore to achieve the same depth-of-field, because of the required smaller circle-of-confusion, you need to use a shorter focal length lens or smaller aperture. Fortunately most digital camera manufacturers use shorter focal length lenses in order to compensate for the angle-of-view necessary to approximate the normal lenses used on 35mm cameras. However this has a tendency to over-compensate since changes in focal 9 ExpoAperture2 Depth-of-Field Guide Manual V 1.0 length are handled exponentially in depth-of-field calculations. Depth-of-field changes cannot be computed using a linear variable such as the crop factor of the camera. 1.F – Conclusion: Taking Advantage of Depth-of-Field in Your Photography Depth-of-field can be used creatively to emphasize or deemphasize elements in your photographs. If you are attempting to achieve overall image sharpness, focusing on the hyperfocal distance maximizes depth-of-field from the closest possible distance to infinity. The exclusive variables photographers can use at capture to control depth-of-field are lens focal length, lens aperture and focusing distance. By changing any one or all of these variables, you can change the depth-of-field. The complexity of depth-of-field calculations can make taking advantage of depth-of-field when shooting difficult. In the past, to figure the correct f/stop to use, determine your focus point or figure out what depth- of-field you were actually getting you needed to carry around reams of lens and f/stop tables or make your best guess. The accompanying ExpoAperture2 Depth-of-Field Guide eliminates the inconvenience of carrying around those tables, doing mathematical calculations or guessing incorrectly. The Guide quickly solves depth-of-field calculations, freeing you to focus on the creative aspects of your shots. 10 ExpoAperture2 Depth-of-Field Guide Manual V 1.0 2. - Using the ExpoAperture2 Depth-Of-Field Guide The ExpoAperture2 Depth-of-Field Guide consists of several color-coded dials which can be set to quickly perform depth-of-field calculations. The Guide enables you to easily determine how to set your camera to achieve a desired depth-of-field, to determine what depth-of-field you will achieve given your chosen camera settings, or to determine the hyperfocal distance. 2.A - Distance Dial The Distance Dial is used to determine the focal point and the range of distance around the focal point that is in focus. The dial is divided into fifteen segments or “zones,” each represented by an alternating gray or white segment. The distances that fall exactly on the boundaries of the zones are printed in red. Other distances are represented by hash marks and their respective values. The outer portion of the dial contains the distances from two feet to infinity. The inner portion contains distances from twelve inches to two feet. 2.B - Focus Zone Dial When matched up with the appropriate f-stop the Focus Zone Dial is used to determine how many zones are in focus. There are roughly nine zones represented on the dial by the alternating light and dark gray areas. Each alternating gray area represents one zone and is the equivalent of one zone on the Distance Dial. The dial also contains a window for setting the focal length of the lens being used using the Focal Length Dial. 2.C - Focal Length Dial The yellow Focal Length Dial is located under the Focus Zone Dial. The focal lengths on the dial range from 15mm to 135mm. Rotate the Focal Length dial to set the Circle-ofConfusion, sensor size or film format. After setting your sensor size on the Circle-of-Confusion Dial, hold the Circle-of-Confusion stationary with one hand and select the focal length of the lens by rotating the Focus Zone Dial with your other hand, until the correct focal length shows in the window. 11 ExpoAperture2 Depth-of-Field Guide Manual V 1.0 The following chart shows the focal length of the lens markings on the dial. Focal Length Dial Markings 15 15mm 45 45mm ● 16mm 50 50mm ● 17mm ● 55mm 18 18mm 60 60mm 20 20mm 70 70mm ● 22mm ● 75mm 24 24mm ● 80mm 28 28mm 85 85mm ● 30mm ● 90mm 35 35mm ● 100mm ● 40mm 105 105mm ● 42mm ● 120mm 45 45mm 135 135mm 2.D - f/stop and Circle-of-Confusion Dial This dial contains two scales, one scale for the f/stops(blue) and one for the circle-of-confusion(green). The f/stop scale is calibrated in ⅓ stop increments from f/1 to f/64. It is used in conjunction with the Focus Zone Dial to determine the number of zones in focus at a particular f/stop or the f/stop to use in order to obtain the desired number of zones in focus. The Circle-of-Confusion, sensor size, or film format is set using the green portion of the dial and by rotating the Focal Length Dial until the correct setting shows through the cutout. The following charts show sensor sizes and film formats for many popular makes and models of cameras. If your camera is not included on this chart, please refer to your camera’s manual which should include the sensor format or film size in the specifications section. 12 ExpoAperture2 Depth-of-Field Guide Manual V 1.0 Camera Sensor and Film Format Circle of Confusion Reference Chart Digital Cameras and Backs: Camera Manufacturer Canon Contax Epson Fujifilm Camera Model EOS 5D EOS-1Ds MarkII EOS-1Ds EOS-1D Mark III EOS-1D Mark IIn EOS-1D Mark II EOS-1D EOS 10D EOS 20D, EOS 20Da EOS 30D EOS D30, EOS D60 EOS Digital Rebel (300) EOS Digital Rebel XT (350D) EOS Digital Rebel XTi (400) N Digital R-D1 FinePix S5 Pro FinePix S3 Pro FinePix S2 Pro FinePix S1 Pro DCS SLR/c DCS SLR/n DCS 14n DCS ProBack 645 Kodak Konica Minolta Leica Nikon Olympus Panasonic Pentax Samsung Sigma Sony 1 2 3 4 3 DCS ProBack Plus Crop Factor Suggested CoC 1 in Microns 1.0 30 1.3 23 1.6 use 1.6x setting 1.0 1.5 30 20 1.6 use 1.6x setting 1.0 30 1.3 23 1.6 use 1.6x setting 1.5 20 1.3 1.4 23 use APS-C setting 1.5 20 2.0 17 see note 2 3 3 DCS ProBack DCS 760 DCS 660 DCS 720x DCS620x Maxxum 5D Maxxum 7D M8 DMR D200 D80 D2X, D2Xs D100 D70, D70s D50 D40 D2H, D2Hs D1, D1H, D1X EVOLT E-500 EVOLT E-400 EVOLT E-330 EVOLT E-300 E-1 LUMIX DMC-L14 K10D, K110D, K100D ist DL2, ist DS2 *ist DS, *ist D GX-10, GX-1L, GX-1S DP1 SD14, SD10, SD9 DSLR-A100 DSC-R1 2.0 4:3 - 17 3:2 - 15 16:9 -13 see note 4 1.5 20 1.5 20 1.7 17 1.5 1.7 20 17 As based on a 0.254mm Circle of Confusion in an 8” x 10” enlargement of the captured image. See the main text in the ExpoAperture2 Depth of Field Manual for a detailed description concerning the Circle-of-confusion calculation. The aspect ratio of Olympus cameras is 4:3 rather than 3:2, as a result you can use a 17 micron Circle-of-confusion rather than 15 microns as suggested by the crop factor. Kodak digital backs are capable of making 5:5, 4:5 or 5:4 aspect ratio images. The Panasonic Lumix camera is capable of making images in 4:3, 3:2, or 16:9 aspect ratios. Depending on the aspect ratio selected use 17 microns, 15 microns, or 13 microns, respectively, for the Circle-of-confusion. Film Formats: 13 ExpoAperture2 Depth-of-Field Guide Manual V 1.0 Format 35mm half frame APS-C 35mm full frame 6 x 4.5 cm 6 x 6 cm 1 2 Aspect Ratio Suggested CoC in Microns 2 0.75:1 1.5:1 1.5:1 1.3:1 17 use APS-C setting 30 52 2 1.0:1 56 Type of Film 135 Advanced Photo System (APS) 135 120, 220, or 620 120, 220, or 620 As based on a 0.254mm Circle of Confusion in an 8” x 10” enlargement of the captured image. See the main text in the ExpoAperture2 Depth of Field Manual for a detailed description concerning the Circle-of-confusion calculation. Kodak stopped producing 620 film in 1995, but it is possible to wind 120 film stock onto a 620 spool in a darkroom to enable the use of cameras that can accommodate 620 film. The following chart shows the range of full and fractional f/stops as they appear on the dial. Not all cameras number the fractional f/stops as shown. f/stops included on Aperture Dial Apertures in full stops f/1 f/1.4 f/2 f/2.8 ⅓ stops f/1 f/1.2 f/1.3 f/1.4 f/1.6 f/1.8 f/2 f/2.2 f/2.5 f/2.8 f/3.2 f/3.5 Apertures in full stops f/4 f/5.6 f/8 f/11 ⅓ stops f/4 f/4.5 f/5 f/5.6 f/6.3 f/7.1 f/8 f/9 f/10 f/11 f/13 f/14 Apertures in full stops f/16 f/22 f/32 f/45 f/64 14 ⅓ stops f/16 f/18 f/20 f/22 f/25 f/28 f/32 f/37 f/41 f/45 f/52 f/58 f/64 ExpoAperture2 Depth-of-Field Guide Manual V 1.0 2.E - Determining The Correct Aperture and Focal Point Use the following method to determine the correct aperture and focus settings for a specific depth-of-field. Your camera should be in Aperture Priority mode and, unless your subject is at the computed focal point, your camera should be in manual focus mode so that you can manually focus at the correct distance. EXAMPLE: The photographer is using a 35mm film camera with a 50mm lens and wants a depth of field of 6’ to 30’. What aperture should the photographer use to achieve this depth-of-field? STEP 1 – On the Guide’s Distance Dial find the distance range that you would like to be in focus, in this example, 6’ to 30’. STEP 2 – Count the number of Focus Zones contained within the range of distances you have selected. Each alternating grey and white arc represents one zone. Here, the range of distances covers 4 zones. STEP 3 – Note the distance at the center point of the Focus Zones you have selected. In this case, you will find 10 feet at the center of the 4 zones you found in Step 2. This point is called the point of critical focus, and it will be the focal distance to which you will want to set your lens to achieve the desired depth-of-field. STEP 4 – Turn the guide over and set the Focal Length Dial to the correct format or desired circle-of-confusion that you wish to use -- here, 35mm film or 30 microns -by turning the dial until the correct value appears in the cutout on the Focus Zone Dial. STEP 5 – Rotate the Focus Zone Dial of the guide to expose the focal length of the lens you are using through the small window labeled “FL – mm,” here, 50 mm. STEP 6 – Find the aperture (f/stop) above the number of Focus Zones you determined in Step 2 (4 zones). f/18 is the aperture located directly above 4 zones, therefore, in order to achieve a depth-of-field of 6’ to 30’ in this example, the photographer would set his 35mm camera to f/18 when shooting at a 50 mm focal length. 15 ExpoAperture2 Depth-of-Field Guide Manual V 1.0 2.F - Determining Depth-of-Field for a Given Aperture and Focal Distance Use this method to determine your depth-of-field when your camera is set to a specific aperture and you know your focal distance. EXAMPLE: The photographer is using a digital SLR camera with a 1.5x crop factor, a 45mm lens stopped down to f/11 and is focusing on a subject that is 7½ feet away. What is the resulting depth-of-field given this photographer’s settings? STEP 1 – Set the Focal Length Dial to the correct format or desired circle-of-confusion that you wish to use. In this example, the photographer is using a 1.5x or 20 microns circle-of-confusion. STEP 2 – Rotate the Focus Zone Dial of the guide to expose the focal length of the lens you are using through the small window labeled “FL – mm.” Here, the photographer is using a 45mm focal length. STEP 3 – Note the number of Focus Zones (2 zones) under the aperture (f/stop) to which you have your camera set, in this case f/11. STEP 4 – Turn the Guide over. On the Guide’s Distance Dial find the focal point of your lens, in this case, 7½ feet. STEP 5 – Each alternating gray or white arc represents one zone. From Step 3, you have 2 zones in focus, one on either side of your 7 ½ foot focal zone. The numbers above the sides of these 2 zones represents the depth-of field the photographer will achieve, 6’ to 10’. 2.G - Determining Hyperfocal Distances Hyperfocal distance is the distance setting that produces the greatest depth-of-field for any given aperture. Knowing the hyperfocal distance of the particular camera/lens setup is particularly useful in landscape photography where the photographer may want the photograph in focus from the nearest possible distance to infinity. Using this method you can determine the hyperfocal distance. 16 ExpoAperture2 Depth-of-Field Guide Manual V 1.0 EXAMPLE: A photographer is using a Medium Format film camera that produces a 6 x 4.5 cm image and an 85mm lens stopped down to f/22. What is the hyperfocal distance for the photographer’s shot? STEP 1 – Set the Focus Length Dial to the correct format or desired circle-of-confusion that you wish to use, in this case, 6 x 4.5 or 52 microns. STEP 2 – Rotate the Focus Zone Dial to expose the focal length of the lens you are using through the small window labeled “FL – mm,” here, 85mm. STEP 3 – Note the number of Focus Zones under the aperture (f/stop) to which you have your camera set. In this case, the number 3 (representing three focus zones) is under f/22. STEP 4 – Turn the guide over. On the Distance Dial start at infinity (∞) and going in a counter-clockwise direction count out the number of Focus Zones determined in step 3 (3 zones), noting the distance at which you end up, 10’. STEP 5 – Determine the mid-point of the distance you just counted out, in this case, halfway between 10’ and the ∞ symbol is 20’. This is the hyperfocal distance. When you focus your camera at the hyperfocal distance of 20’, everything from 10’ to infinity will be in focus. 2.H - Setting Apertures for Lenses with Focal Lengths Greater than 135mm Shooting with lenses of focal lengths greater than 135mm using the Standard ExpoAperture2 Depth of Field Guide requires a simple calculation to determine the required aperture setting for your desired depth-of-field. Note that if you will frequently be shooting with lenses with greater than 135mm focal length, ExpoImaging also makes a Telephoto version of the ExpoAperture2 Guide which does not require additional calculations for these focal lengths. First, find the smallest divisor of the actual focal length used that will result in a focal length that falls on the Depth-of-Field Guide (in other words, a focal length less than 135mm). For example, if shooting with a 300mm focal length, the number to use is 3, since 300mm divided by 3 is 100mm, which is less than the maximum Aperture Guide focal length of 135mm. Dividing 300mm by 2 will not work in this example, because 150mm is greater than 135mm and does not fall within the focal length range available on the Aperture Guide. 17 ExpoAperture2 Depth-of-Field Guide Manual V 1.0 Next, divide the focal length by this number, and the minimum and maximum distances you use on the Distance Dial by the square of this number, to bring them back to within the usable range on the Depth-of-Field Guide. Therefore, if shooting with a 300mm focal length lens, divide the focal length by 3 and the distances by 9. EXAMPLE: Using a 200mm Focal Length Lens and a Depth-of-Field of 120' to infinity, use the Depthof-Field Guide to determine your necessary aperture setting using a 20 micron circle-ofconfusion (1.5x factor digital sensor). STEP 1 – Divide the 200mm focal length of the lens you are using by 2 and set yellow Focal Length window to the resulting focal length. 200mm divided by 2 = 100mm. Set the focal length on the Depth-of-Field Guide to 100mm. STEP 2 – Divide the distance range required by 4 (2 squared) and find those new distances on the Distance Dial. (120' - ∞') divided by 4 = (30' to ∞'). Find the distances of 30' to ∞' on the Distance Dial. STEP 3 – Count the number of depth-of-field zones (alternating gray and white areas) within the distance range you found in Step 2. There is 1 distance zone (gray area) between 30' and ∞'. STEP 4 – Locate the number of zones for your desired depth-of-field on the front of the Guide to find your aperture setting. Find the number 1 on the gray zone area on the focus zone dial. RESULT: f/27 (halfway between f/22 and f/32) is the aperture to use to get 1 depth-of field zone. Therefore, use f/27 with a 200mm focal length to get a depth-of-field from 120' to infinity. 18 ExpoAperture2 Depth-of-Field Guide Manual V 1.0 2.I - Close and Macro Photography Setting the Aperture for a Depth-of- Field Ranging from 12”to 24” The inside ring on the Distance Dial (white numbers a blue background) provides measurements from 12” to 24” for close and macro shots. Use these measurements in the standard manner (described previously for depth-of-field from 2’ to infinity) to find the preferred aperture setting for your distance range. The following example takes you through the procedure for determining depth-of-field between 12” and 24”. EXAMPLE: What aperture setting should a photographer use to have all subjects from 15” to 18” in focus using a 35mm camera and a 50mm focal length? STEP 1 – On the Distance Dial’s blue ring, find the range of distances that you would like to be in focus, this case, 15” to 18.” STEP 2 Count the number of zones within the distance range. The alternating gray and white arcs each represent one depthof-field zone. There are 4 zones between 15” and 18”. STEP 3 Find the middle of the number of zones in your range and set your camera’s focus distance accordingly. On your camera, set the focus distance to the distance corresponding to the middle of the 4 zones (2 zones on either side). In this example, the camera focus should be set at 16.5 inches to get a depth-of-field of 15” to 18”. STEP 4 – Turn the Guide over and select a focal length of 50 mm on the Focus Zone Dial. STEP 5 – Find the amount of zones in your range on the front of the Depth-of-Field Guide to get your aperture setting. The f/stop above the number 4 in the gray area on the Focus Zone Dial indicates that f/18 is the largest aperture capable of providing 4 depth-of-field zones with a 50 mm lens. Therefore, a photographer shooting with a 35mm camera at 50mm needs to shoot at f/18 to have a depth-of-field from 15” to 18”. 19 ExpoAperture2 Depth-of-Field Guide Manual V 1.0 Bibliography Blaker, Alfred A. (1985). Applied Depth of Field. Boston: Focal Press. Carroll, John S. (Ed.). (1963). Photo-Lab-Index. (22nd lifetime edition). New York: Morgan & Morgan. London, Barbara … (et al.). (2005). Photography. (eighth edition, pp. 56-61). New Jersey: Prentice Hall. Stroebel, Leslie … (et al.). (2000). Basic Photographic Materials and Processes. (second edition, p151-155). Boston: Focal Press. Stroebel, Leslie, and Richard Zakia (Editors). (1993). The Focal Encyclopedia of Photography. (third edition). Boston: Focal Press. 20 ExpoAperture2 Depth-of-Field Guide Manual V 1.0 ExpoAperture2 Depth-of-field Guide Instruction Manual Documentation version 3.0 PN: EXPOA02MAN Copyright Notice Copyright © 2007 ExpoImaging, Inc. All Rights Reserved. The information contained herein is designed only for use with this ExpoImaging, Inc. (“ExpoImaging”) product. Any technical documentation that is made available by ExpoImaging is the copyrighted work of ExpoImaging and is owned by ExpoImaging. NO WARRANTY ON DOCUMENTATION. The technical documentation is being delivered to you AS-IS and ExpoImaging makes no warranty as to its accuracy or use. Any use of the technical documentation or the information contained therein is at the risk of the user. Documentation may include technical or other inaccuracies or typographical errors. ExpoImaging reserves the right to make changes without prior notice. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the express written permission of ExpoImaging, Inc., 365 Woodview Avenue, Suite 700, Morgan Hill, California 95037-2840. Trademarks ExpoImaging, the ExpoImaging logo, ExpoDisc, ExpoCap, ExpoAperture, and ExpoAperture Depth-of-field Guide are trademarks or U.S. registered trademarks of ExpoImaging, Inc. Other product names mentioned in this manual may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies and are hereby acknowledged. Printed in the United States of America. 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 21 ExpoAperture2 Depth-of-Field Guide Manual V 1.0 ExpoAperture2 Depth-of-field Guide Technical Support ExpoImaging offers the following technical support options for help in using or troubleshooting ExpoImaging products. • Online Service and Support Connect to the ExpoImaging Support Web Site at http://expoimaging.net/support, select FAQs and then select your product. In addition to answers for the most frequently asked questions and instruction manuals, you can also post a question to an on-line Technical Support representative. Or, you can contact us directly at [email protected]. • Telephone Support Call 1-408-778-2040 and ask to speak to one of our Technical Support representatives. Limited Warranty on ExpoAperture2 Depth-of-Field Guide WHAT IS COVERED: ExpoImaging, Inc. (“ExpoImaging”) warrants to the original retail purchaser that the ExpoAperture Depth-of-field Guide covered by this limited warranty statement conforms to the manufacturer’s specifications and will be free from defects in workmanship and materials for a period of one (1) year from the date of original purchase. For warranty service, you must provide proof of the date of original purchase. WHAT WE WILL DO TO CORRECT PROBLEMS: Should your ExpoAperture Depthof-field Guide prove to be defective during the warranty period, please call ExpoImaging Technical Support at (408) 778-2040 for warranty repair instructions and return authorization. An ExpoImaging Technical Service representative will provide telephone diagnostic to determine whether the product requires service. If service is needed, ExpoImaging will exchange the product without charge. ExpoImaging will ship a replacement product to you, freight prepaid. You are responsible for securely packaging the defective product and returning it to ExpoImaging within ten (10) working days of receipt of the replacement product. ExpoImaging requires a debit or credit card number to secure the cost of the replacement product in the event you do not return the defective one. The item replaced becomes ExpoImaging property. The replacement product may be new or refurbished to the ExpoImaging standard of quality, and, at ExpoImaging’s may be another model of like kind and quality. WHAT’S NOT COVERED: This warranty covers only normal use. This warranty is not transferable. ExpoImaging is not responsible for warranty should the ExpoAperture label or logo be removed or should the depth-of-field guide fail to be properly maintained or fail to function properly as a result of misuse, abuse, improper installation, neglect, improper shipping, damage caused by disaster such as fire, flood, or service other than by ExpoImaging. THE WARRANTY AND REMEDY PROVIDED ABOVE ARE EXCLUSIVE AND IN LIEU OF ALL OTHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, NON-INFRINGEMENT OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. SOME LAWS DO NOT ALLOW THE XCLUSION OF IMPLIED WARRANTIES. IF THESE LAWS APPLY, THEN ALL EXPRESS AND IMPLIED WARRANTIES ARE LIMITED 22 ExpoAperture2 Depth-of-Field Guide Manual V 1.0 TO THE WARRANTY PERIOD IDENTIFIED ABOVE. UNLESS STATED HEREIN, ANY STATEMENT OR REPRESENTATIONS MADE BY ANY OTHER PERSON OR FIRM ARE VOID. EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN THIS WRITTEN WARRANTY, EXPOIMAGING, INC. SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY LOSS, INCONVIENIENCE OR DAMAGE. INCLUDING DIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, RESULTING FROM THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE THE EXPOIMAGING PRODUCT, WHETHER RESULTING FROM BREACH OF WARRANTY OR ANY OTHER LEGAL THEORY. 23