Well the title says it all. I am trying to get a very short DOF with the MX300. I know this can be difficult with video, but does anybody have any easy suggestions? I've only been able to accomplish it using telephoto, but then the image picks up alot more camera movement(shake) than normal. I would also like to be reletively close to the subject rather than having to be such a long distance away as with using telephoto.

Thanks
Brian

This thread (http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3926) and this article (http://www.dvinfo.net/articles/optics/dofskinny.php) should answer any if your questions. If not, post back and I'll try to help.

Brian, use a tripod.

Also keep the iris wide open.

Focus manually well before infinity is reached - this way background should be out of focus.

Nope, no problems with the DOF, actually, the DOF in small cameras is TOO good.

What these guys want is shallow depth of field, which most home users will not want. Wouldn't the typical home shooter want everything to be sharply in focus?

But for film or photographic effects, a shallow DOF will highlight the subject and let the fore and background lose focus. That is nice and cool. But not the typical home user's cup of tea.

For the MX300, which is the same lens/CCD system as my MX350, even at F1.6, the DOF at wide angle is still very good, almost no out-of-focus from 0 to infinity! You need to zoom at least 5x (200mm equivalent on 35mm photos cameras) to get any sort of shallow DOF effects. And at that zoom, please get a tripod or steadicam.

And as Frank said, manual focus to a nearer point than the subject can force the background blur.