Even when my eyes were younger and in good condition I was never able to see 'depth of field' I always relied, and still do, on the lens distance scales. On the Kern Macro Switar 50 mm I used for 30 years these are very clear and easy to see. I picked up a P30 a moment ago with a 50 mm f1.7 and tried to see what would be in focus, and what not, out of my office window. Not only did I fail to determine the depth of field, I could hardly see a bloody thing. If a lens, because of its design does not provide a usable scale like the Sigma 50 mm f2.8 macro, I use common sense.
Dr E D F Williams http://personal.inet.fi/cool/don.williams Author's Web Site and Photo Gallery Updated: March 30, 2002 ----- Original Message ----- From: "Cotty" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Pentax List" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Sunday, November 24, 2002 9:36 PM Subject: Depth of Field Preview (was: Re: Why I won't be buying an MZ-S) > >I can't imagine anyone claiming to be remotely professional who don't use > >DOF preview. The Z-1p don't have DOF preview when using the AV wheel. I > >have no problems setting the aperture on any lens and grossly prefer it to > >pokig my eye with my right thumb every time I tried to set the aperture > >with the Z-1p's Av wheel. > > Warning: the following statement will start a huge argument, but it's > about time we had a decent technofight ;-) > > I'm sorry Pal, but I have always believed (and still do) that the depth > of field preview on any camera is a complete and utter waste of time. If > I want to use focus and aperture to achieve wide (or indeed narrow) depth > of field, I certainly wouldn't use the DOF button on a Pentax, Canon or > any camera. I would use the distance scale on the lens. If it didn't have > one I would use tables. > > How anyone would tolerate stopping the lens down to try and see what the > focus is like on the foreground (say) of a poorly-lit, grainy focussing > screen is beyond me. How could anyone possibly see the subtle nuances of > the fringe area between focus and out-of-focus down the viewfinder? Sure > you can start to see the effect, but certainly not for judging DOF to any > extent other than as a minor hint. > > Disclaimer: my method requires that I be very good at estimating > distance. Which I am. > > Anyone care to take up the challenge? I'd love to read your explanations > in favour of DOF preview. > > Respectfully, > Cheers, > > Cotty > > ____________________________________ > Free UK Macintosh Classified Ads at > http://www.macads.co.uk/ > ____________________________________ > Oh, swipe me! He paints with light! > http://www.macads.co.uk/snaps/ > ____________________________________ >
