Pål said:
> I also have a problem with this
> anal-retentive fascination
> with focus accuracy. Does anyone
> really have problem with focusing
> on normal subjects with
> "normal" lenses? For this, any
> reasonable human error is way within
> DOF for anyone with normal
> vision, even with the lenses wide-open.
Well, Pål, it just depends on what one finds acceptable, and
what one finds acceptable depends on many factors. There are
times when being "anal retentive" (a rather dismissive and
condescending term by some standards) allows for superior
photographs. For example, what looks good and sharp at 5x
magnification may not look so good at 10x magnification, and may
look awful at 16x or 20x magnification. That's where sweating
the small stuff becomes a bigger issue.
What is a "normal" subject, and what is a "normal" lens?
Shooting a typical "portrait" focal length at relatively close
distances (which is exactly what this discussion is about) is
going to give one a rather limited DOF, and focusing accuracy is
going to be a very important consideration when making
larger-sized prints. Using a 100mm lens at an aperture of 4.0
allows for an approximate DOF of only 2" or so at a distance of
5-feet, and only 1.44" at 4-feet. Being just slightly off on
your focusing can mean the difference between a good 11x14 print
and one that's a failure.
--
Shel Belinkoff
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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