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I'm still struggling with, but enjoying, learning DOF calculations. My end results have yet to be satisfactory but, for me, at least, learning is as much fun as doing.
Recently I started experimenting with the ADEP setting on my 30D and have been fairly pleased with the results.
Any comments or suggestions regarding this?
John
my only advice is to not use ADEP. I've used it a few times and always found it easier to use Av mode and aperture narrow when I know I need wide DOF and use a wide aperture when I know I need a fast shutter speed.
I suppose that I'm just an anti-automatic mode kind of guy. I use exclusivly Aperture Priority and Manual modes. At least then when it doesn't come out like I want i know how to change it, rather than hopeing ADEP gets it right next time.
I've shied away from
the A-DEP mode ever since doing a science project on depth-of-field for school.
The basis for measuring depth-of-field is known as the Circle of Confusion
(CoC). In Canon's EF Lens Work II, they state that they used a 0.035mm
CoC for EF lenses. That's fine, until you print larger than 5x7, since they
assume that the average photo will only be enlarged 5x over the size of the
negative/sensor (35mm/full-frame). Thus, I assumed that they used the same math
for A-DEP, so I've left the mode alone, although it will do a fine job with
fairly small prints.
There are some handy depth-of-field calculators online that
allow you to set your own CoC*.
Resources:
www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/understanding-series/dof.shtml
*www.bobatkins.com/photography/technical/dofcalc.html
http://en.wikipedial.org/wiki/Depth_of_field
http://www.dpreview.com/learn/?/key=depth+of+field
http://www.dpreview.com/learn/?/key=aperture
http://www.cambrigeincolour.com/tutorials/depth-of-field.htm
More info on A-DEP can be found here: http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/dep.shtml