Aperture Changing

[dicklaxt]

When shooting in the Av mode and are looking thru the view finder and are changing the aperture back and forth to different settings can you actually see a difference in the image DOF in the view finder?

dick

[coffee]

Here is a short explaination:

"When you’re looking through your camera, what you see isn’t necessarily what you’ll get on film; if you’re using a single lens reflex camera, as you look through the viewfinder you’re looking through the lens at its widest aperture setting, which may or may not be the aperture chosen for your picture. When the preview button is pushed, the lens is mechanically closed down to the chosen aperture. This way the photographer can view the depth of field that will actually be recorded on film. But when the lens aperture is closed down, less light is allowed through and the viewfinder can get very dark, especially if a small aperture opening is used, and details can be hard to see. This is where a lot of photographers give up on using the DOF preview button. But as you’ll see, you don’t always have to use the DOF preview button at f/22 nor do you always need to see every detail. Beyond making “everything darker”, the DOF preview button has several practical uses".

Go here to see what you can use the preview button for:
http://www.barbeephoto.com/articles/dof.htm

PS. Dick are you a member of POTN? I think I saw your name there today posting about sending your camera back for repair.

[dicklaxt]

Yes on the POTN and yes on the send back for repairs.Sticking or malfunctioning shutter button.

dick

[coffee]

Yes on the POTN and yes on the send back for repairs.Sticking or malfunctioning shutter button.

dick

Dick, that's funny cause I had the exact same problem. Right out of the box, my new 40D's shutter didn't detent. And it felt like I was pressing on a wall or something that didn't give. So everytime I pressed the shutter, it may go off when I wanted it to, or not. It was only a week or so old when I sent it back to the seller, and he promply sent a new on in it's place. The new one worked as it should. Man was that ever frustraiting though.

[dicklaxt]

Yep same symptom and not knowing when it was coming that means its an inherent problem with that design,,,,,,,,It may be better to fix than replace that being the case.

dick

[dicklaxt]

aha!!!!!! Finding what all the bells an whistles do and where they are at,,,,,,,,,,,,the Depth of Field Preview Button does what I was asking about:)

dick

[jerryph]

Depending on the model the DOF preview just darkens the pic so you get a better idea of what parts will be in focus. The two best tools for me are the LCD on the back of the camera... and experience. I will know in advance what the DOF of the picture will be quite accurately based on knowing what the following settings are:

- aperture value
- camera type (full frame or cropped sensor)
- focal distance of the lens
- focus point

So, basically, I don't even use the DOF or LCD preview anymore for that purpose.