DOF Indicator at DVinfo.net

Joe Oliverio · September 21st, 2010, 05:10 PM

Can someone describe to me how to interpret the Depth of Field inicator on the viewfinder? There is nothing in the manual except to say that it is there. You can select feet or meters; but that's all I can figure out.

Is it the range in which the image is in focus? Is it the distance in front of and behind the main image in the viewfinder? Or what?

JoeO.

Les Wilson · September 21st, 2010, 07:55 PM

As you adjust the iris (f-stop), zoom and focus rings, the depth of field (area in focus) changes in depth and distance from the lens. That is, the area in focus has a starting point some distance from the lens and an ending point further away from the lens.

The indicator has a solid white line segment that moves along the indicator and grows/shrinks in length trying to show you the distance from the lens that is in focus based on the iris, zoom and focus rings. The indicator is read from left to right where the closest pint to the camera is on the left. For example, if the left side of the sliding line segment is at 5 and the right at 8, then the area in focus is from 5 to 8 feet from the lens.

September 21st, 2010, 05:10 PM	#1
Joe Oliverio New Boot Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 15	DOF Indicator Can someone describe to me how to interpret the Depth of Field inicator on the viewfinder? There is nothing in the manual except to say that it is there. You can select feet or meters; but that's all I can figure out. Is it the range in which the image is in focus? Is it the distance in front of and behind the main image in the viewfinder? Or what? JoeO.

September 21st, 2010, 07:55 PM	#2
Les Wilson Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Boca Raton, FL Posts: 3,014	As you adjust the iris (f-stop), zoom and focus rings, the depth of field (area in focus) changes in depth and distance from the lens. That is, the area in focus has a starting point some distance from the lens and an ending point further away from the lens. The indicator has a solid white line segment that moves along the indicator and grows/shrinks in length trying to show you the distance from the lens that is in focus based on the iris, zoom and focus rings. The indicator is read from left to right where the closest pint to the camera is on the left. For example, if the left side of the sliding line segment is at 5 and the right at 8, then the area in focus is from 5 to 8 feet from the lens.