Selective Depth of Field on Canon A1? at DVinfo.net

John Huling · December 13th, 2006, 09:44 AM

I noticed the DOF on the A1 goes forever. I guess wide DOF is inherent in these cameras. I think I read somewhere on this forum that bigger chip size would allow more selectively choosing the desired DOF.
I am shooting an interview in a small room 12 X 10 (room of stone about 1000 years old) I want to selectively stay focused on the subject speaking not the stone wall behind him. I need to go wide just to get him and what he is doing in the shot. Is this camera capable of narrowing the depth of field? Is there a way to do it in post processing? Any help or suggestions? Other than aquiring another camera?

Jerome Marot · December 13th, 2006, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Huling

Is there a way to do it in post processing?

Hang a green cloth behind the subject for the interview and replace with a an unsharp view of the wall in post, maybe?

Andy Wason · December 13th, 2006, 07:39 PM

check out this post

http://dvinfo.net/conf/archive/index.php/t-41612.html

Chris Hurd · December 13th, 2006, 07:54 PM

See also http://www.dvinfo.net/articles/optics/dofskinny.php

Chuck Fadely · December 13th, 2006, 10:32 PM

And lighting helps. Light the subject and let the background go darker to make it less obtrusive.

Rick Hensley · December 13th, 2006, 11:06 PM

Funny, I was just at the Brevis35 lense adapter site reading about how it lets you control DOF by adding other lenses. You might go look at it - read the forums.

http://www.cinevate.com/

Alex Leith · December 14th, 2006, 05:25 AM

Walter Graff's lighting guides are invaluable for anyone looking for ideas on how to get the best lighting in a range of challenging situations.

http://www.film-and-video.com/new-page6.html

Particularly look at "backgrounds", "beyond three point lighting" and "lighting small spaces creatively".

Even if physics (and the size of the room you're working in) make it hard to throw the background out of focus, lighting the subject at least a stop or two brighter than the background and using a gobo to create a soft pattern on your background will really help draw the eye to your subject.

John Huling · December 14th, 2006, 07:28 AM

Thanks for all the info. Spent the last 2 hours reading it all. Really great info!

December 13th, 2006, 09:44 AM	#1
John Huling Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: USA Posts: 172	Selective Depth of Field on Canon A1? I noticed the DOF on the A1 goes forever. I guess wide DOF is inherent in these cameras. I think I read somewhere on this forum that bigger chip size would allow more selectively choosing the desired DOF. I am shooting an interview in a small room 12 X 10 (room of stone about 1000 years old) I want to selectively stay focused on the subject speaking not the stone wall behind him. I need to go wide just to get him and what he is doing in the shot. Is this camera capable of narrowing the depth of field? Is there a way to do it in post processing? Any help or suggestions? Other than aquiring another camera?

December 13th, 2006, 07:54 PM	#4
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,366 Images: 513	See also http://www.dvinfo.net/articles/optics/dofskinny.php __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

December 13th, 2006, 11:06 PM	#6
Rick Hensley Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Austin Texas Posts: 52	depth of field Funny, I was just at the Brevis35 lense adapter site reading about how it lets you control DOF by adding other lenses. You might go look at it - read the forums. http://www.cinevate.com/

December 14th, 2006, 05:25 AM	#7
Alex Leith Major Player Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Northampton, England Posts: 500	Walter Graff's lighting guides are invaluable for anyone looking for ideas on how to get the best lighting in a range of challenging situations. http://www.film-and-video.com/new-page6.html Particularly look at "backgrounds", "beyond three point lighting" and "lighting small spaces creatively". Even if physics (and the size of the room you're working in) make it hard to throw the background out of focus, lighting the subject at least a stop or two brighter than the background and using a gobo to create a soft pattern on your background will really help draw the eye to your subject. __________________ Alex

December 13th, 2006, 07:39 PM	#3
Andy Wason Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Ridgeway, Ontario Posts: 79	check out this post http://dvinfo.net/conf/archive/index.php/t-41612.html

December 13th, 2006, 10:32 PM	#5
Chuck Fadely Major Player Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: United States Posts: 306	And lighting helps. Light the subject and let the background go darker to make it less obtrusive.

December 14th, 2006, 07:28 AM	#8
John Huling Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: USA Posts: 172	Thanks for all the info. Spent the last 2 hours reading it all. Really great info!