Depth of Field - Charts ??? (4x5 'rail )

[Luddite Frank]

So, I'm planning to haul my 4x5 Calumet mono-rail out of hibernation and go shooting this Saturday.

My "prey" is a Steamtown excursion.

I am going to set-up my position a day ot tow ahead of time, to get a feel for the light, etc.

Since I am shooting an oncoming train (30-35 mph), I'm not going to have much time for adjustments, and no second-chances...

One element I'm trying to work into my planning is Depth of Field...

RF & SLR cameras spoil us with the handy DOF indicators on the lens or focusing mounts; view or field cameras do not have such a convenient feature (at least mine doesn't!).

Are there charts some where that would give basic DOF for given lens FL / neg. size ?


I am shooting 4 x 5 , with a 152mm Kodak Raptar.


Thanks for any guidance !

Luddite Frank

 

[rogue_designer]

Go here - input a few variables, and then print to take with you.

http://www.fineart-photography.com/dof_print.html

(may not be working online, I just downloaded the excel file to test - it seems to work just fine)

 

[David Goldfarb]

I like a shareware program called "f/calc" that can do a number of useful calculations. I think there may be a version for handheld devices now.

If you look on the main lfphoto.info page, I think there may be a link for a DOF scale you can print out and put on your focusing knob.

 

[Philippe D.]

I am going to set-up my position a day ot tow ahead of time, to get a feel for the light, etc.

Do the weather old so steady that long time ?

One element I'm trying to work into my planning is Depth of Field...

RF & SLR cameras spoil us with the handy DOF indicators on the lens or focusing mounts; view or field cameras do not have such a convenient feature (at least mine doesn't!).

Are there charts some where that would give basic DOF for given lens FL / neg. size ?

I am shooting 4 x 5 , with a 152mm Kodak Raptar.

Well, i have such an handy DOF indicator on my Horseman 450EMII. 🙂
It depends mostly on your f stop.
Let say, on 4x5" focused at infinity full open, add 3mm @ f/11, +5mm @ f/22, +7mm @ f/32
That's should work fine.

 

[venchka]

FROM AN ONLINE CALCULATOR:

Focus at 90'. f/11. Everything from 46' to inf will be in focus.

Sears, Lowes, Home Depot, Ace Hardware, even Wal-Mart sell 100' tapes.

 

[venchka]

Add weights to your tripod. You don't want it blown over or vibrating.

 

[Luddite Frank]

Yes, I will weight the tripod... I ran into the shake/ vibrate issue on my other outing, on a blustery November day... with my wimpy Kaligor tripod...

This time I am using an ultra beefy TV camera dolly-tripod, minus the dolly.

(Certainly not a hiking aparatus, but for one "money shot" , it'll do the job !)


The rest of the day's "train chasing" will be done with LTM or Rollei TLR...

Thanks for the input !

LF

 

[dave lackey]

Frank,

Where is Steamtown? Was in PA in October but never made it out of Lancaster County...

Maybe next trip will go to Strasburg and anywhere else recommended for photo ops!

Sound like you're gonna have a blast this weekend. Enjoy and don't forget to post an image or three...😀

 

[Luddite Frank]

Steamtown Nat'l Historic Site is located in downtown Scranton (NE PA), at the old Delaware & Lackawanna RR ("Where do you work-a, John ? ") yards/shops.

It is the old Nelson Blount collection that was purchased and moved down from Bellows Falls, Vermont about 12 years ago.

They have 3 operating steam locos on roster: Canadian Nat'l #2317 (Pacific), Canadian Nat'l #3254 (Mikado), and Baldwin Locomotive Works #26 (0-6-0 switcher), plus many others on static display ( including a UP "Big-Boy"), and full shop facilities, where two locos (B&M Pacific, and Pennsy K-4) are undergoing full -restos, to be returned to operating condition.

They have regular Steam excursions on the Lackawanna main-line to Moscow (about 10 miles SE of Scranton), plus specials to Tobyhanna, and Delaware Water Gap, and this Saturday, a special "Santa Train" running north to Carbondale on the old Delaware & Hudson main-line (Diesel power, alas...)

They have a website with some schedule info. It is worth a visit if you're travelling up this way.

In Southern PA, Strasburg RR and the adjacent RR Musem of PA are outstanding attractions. a few hours NW, into Central PA, is East Broadtop, the only remaining narrow-gauge RR East of the Mississippi...

And, since you're down South, if you want some great train spotting & foliage in the fall, consider Cass Scenic RR in W. VA... OUSTANDING scenery, plus some of the only operating Shay-type lokies in the East. Not to far away from Cass, is Durban, which has a little scenic RR operating a Climax geared logging lokie (the Durban "Rocket" )....

Drop me a PM if you'll be heading up this way...

LF

 

[RObert Budding]

I use this on-line calculator:

http://www.dofmaster.com/doftable.html