Steve'sDigicams

Idan · Jan 20, 2006, 9:51 AM

Do you think you can live without DOF preview in DSLR cameras or not, I thought of buying D50 but the lack of DOF preview make me think twice, please advie.

Nagasaki · Jan 20, 2006, 10:17 AM

Your categories don't really cover the problem.

You can live without DOF preview. Most of the time if you do have it you probably won't use it. Once in a while it'll be very useful but not essential.

When you press the DOF button the image goes very dark if you are using a small aperture so it's difficult to see what is in focus anyway.

If you have a D50 without DOF then you can always take several shots at different apertures and choose the best one later. With a reasonable size card you aren't really limited to the number of shots you take like you are with film. A shot you bin later has cost you nothing but a little extra time.

Idan · Jan 20, 2006, 10:21 AM

What do you mean by very dark ?

rjseeney · Jan 20, 2006, 10:39 AM

The viewfinder depends on available light for you to see the image. As you stop down the lens, there is less and less availble light, making the viewfinder progressively darker. Once you're past f/8 or so, you won't really see much of anything in the viewfinder using DOF preview (unless you are in an extremely bright area, or focused on a bright object).

Idan · Jan 20, 2006, 10:41 AM

Have you expirienced with the Nikon D50 ? And do you recommend it ?

Idan · Jan 20, 2006, 10:47 AM

Guys please VOTE

rjseeney · Jan 20, 2006, 12:46 PM

Idan wrote:

Quote:

Have you expirienced with the Nikon D50 ? And do you recommend it ?

Yes, I own both the d50 and the d70. I actually use the d50 more, because it is slightly less bulky and easier to carry around. Image quality is as good as if not better than the d70. That being said, because of the extra control, my d70 is my "money" camera.

Idan · Jan 20, 2006, 1:22 PM

How can I get a shalow depth of field with the Kit lens ?

rplinga · Jan 20, 2006, 3:15 PM

Set the camera to A (Aperture Priority) and open the lense (Smaller F #) to get a shallow DOF

rjseeney · Jan 20, 2006, 4:09 PM

In addition to the previous poster, use a longer focal length. Longer focal lengths help isolate the subject. If your background is still in focus after opening the lens as wide as you can at the longest focal length, you can achieve even more background blur by pacing more distance between your subject and the background.

View Poll Results: DOF Preview
A must have !	1	11.11%
Very usefull	2	22.22%
Not very usefull	6	66.67%
Not important at all	0	0%
Voters: 9. You may not vote on this poll

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Jan 20, 2006, 9:51 AM	#1
Idan Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 267	Do you think you can live without DOF preview in DSLR cameras or not, I thought of buying D50 but the lack of DOF preview make me think twice, please advie.

Jan 20, 2006, 10:17 AM	#2
Nagasaki Moderator Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 897	Your categories don't really cover the problem. You can live without DOF preview. Most of the time if you do have it you probably won't use it. Once in a while it'll be very useful but not essential. When you press the DOF button the image goes very dark if you are using a small aperture so it's difficult to see what is in focus anyway. If you have a D50 without DOF then you can always take several shots at different apertures and choose the best one later. With a reasonable size card you aren't really limited to the number of shots you take like you are with film. A shot you bin later has cost you nothing but a little extra time.

Jan 20, 2006, 10:21 AM	#3
Idan Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 267	What do you mean by very dark ?

Jan 20, 2006, 10:39 AM	#4
rjseeney Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Taylor Mill, Kentucky Posts: 2,398	The viewfinder depends on available light for you to see the image. As you stop down the lens, there is less and less availble light, making the viewfinder progressively darker. Once you're past f/8 or so, you won't really see much of anything in the viewfinder using DOF preview (unless you are in an extremely bright area, or focused on a bright object).

Jan 20, 2006, 10:41 AM	#5
Idan Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 267	Have you expirienced with the Nikon D50 ? And do you recommend it ?

Jan 20, 2006, 10:47 AM	#6
Idan Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 267	Guys please VOTE

Jan 20, 2006, 1:22 PM	#8
Idan Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 267	How can I get a shalow depth of field with the Kit lens ?

Jan 20, 2006, 3:15 PM	#9
rplinga Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 12	Set the camera to A (Aperture Priority) and open the lense (Smaller F #) to get a shallow DOF

Jan 20, 2006, 4:09 PM	#10
rjseeney Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Taylor Mill, Kentucky Posts: 2,398	In addition to the previous poster, use a longer focal length. Longer focal lengths help isolate the subject. If your background is still in focus after opening the lens as wide as you can at the longest focal length, you can achieve even more background blur by pacing more distance between your subject and the background.