DOF for the M8 - the facts

[jaapv]

What are we talking about? A short list (I may add later). All at 3 m distance.

135-2.8
08 cm film
06 cm M8
05 cm RD1

90-2.0
13 cm film
10 cm M8
09 cm RD1

90-2.8
18 cm film
14 cm M8
12 cm RD1

75 - 1.4
13 cm film
10 cm M8
9 cm RD1

75-2.0
27 cm film
20 cm M8
18 cm RD1

50-1.0
21 cm film
16 cm M8
14 cm RD1

50 -1.4
30 cm film
23 cm M8
20 cm RD1

50-2.0
43 cm film
33 cm M8
28 cm RD1

35-1.4
62 cm film
48 cm M8
41 CM RD1

35-2.0
89 cm film
60 cm M8
59 cm RD1

24-2.8
326 mm film
227 mm M8
192 mm RD1

I used DofMaster, calculated the M8 at 0.023 mm and the film at 0.03 mm.
Unless I have been clicking very stupidly,(not impossible at all) or DofMaster is totally out (rather more unlikely), the DOF on the M8 will be more shallow than film at the same focal length, not too much out when "jumping" one length.

 

[rxmd]

The jump from a 75/1.4 on film to a 50/1.4 on the M8 could be problematic, since you buy a 75/1.4 for the DOF. Some people will have to buy Noctiluxes.

Philipp

 

[jaapv]

The jump from a 75/1.4 on film to a 50/1.4 on the M8 could be problematic, since you buy a 75/1.4 for the DOF. Some people will have to buy Noctiluxes.

Philipp

Or step 50 cm back and take a 90/2.0....

 

[rxmd]

Or step 50 cm back and take a 90/2.0....

But then one could have done that with the film M just as well (slight perspective differences notwithstanding). Nevertheless, people choose to blow 3100 EUR on a Summilux 75.

Philipp

 

[jaapv]

But then one could have done that with the film M just as well (slight perspective differences notwithstanding). Nevertheless, people choose to blow 3100 EUR on a Summilux 75.

Philipp

True- for some- I bought mine used - quite considerably less but not so much for the shallow DOF as for the character of the lens.

 

[Ben Z]

It doesn't seem correct that a lens would have more or less DOF at the same distance just because the periphery of the image is cropped. Where the DOF difference works in is that to frame the same shot with the same focal length on a 1.33x camera as a FF camera means standing farther back from the subject, and DOF increases with subject distance.

 

[rxmd]

It doesn't seem correct that a lens would have more or less DOF at the same distance just because the periphery of the image is cropped.

But that's exactly what it does, because you have to enlarge the frame more to get the same image size.

Jaap & I have been discussing this to death today in this thread (which is why he thought of posting this list, I think).

Philipp

 

[plummerl]

Here is a fairly interesting article (& thread) concerning DOF/Digital:
http://photo.net/learn/optics/dofdigital/

 

[jaapv]

It doesn't seem correct that a lens would have more or less DOF at the same distance just because the periphery of the image is cropped. Where the DOF difference works in is that to frame the same shot with the same focal length on a 1.33x camera as a FF camera means standing farther back from the subject, and DOF increases with subject distance.

All DOF figures in my table are at 3 m distance.Comparing would be rather difficult otherwise, as one would drown in a sea of numbers if I had to work it out at various distances. Besides, I'm lazy 😉. I want to shoot sitting in my armchair using a ZOOM lens!! 😀😀

 

[jaapv]

Jaap & I have been discussing this to death today in this thread (which is why he thought of posting this list, I think).

Philipp

I was planning this earlier, as there was some full-frame flak a few days ago, but that thread certanly made me add the figures for the RD1.

 

[ffttklackdedeng]

Jaap,

you didn't take into account the 'you'll take another lens because of crop factor' factor, or did you? As far as I understand you calculated smaller CoC because of the bigger enlargement factor caused by the sensor crop factor.

😉

What I mean is: a picture made with film and a 50mm lens at f2 compared to one made with the RD-1 with a 33mm lens at f2.

 

[AndersG]

But that's exactly what it does, because you have to enlarge the frame more to get the same image size.

It is indeed so. Here is an example I once prepared to have handy for these kinds of discussions (they sure seem to occur again and again..😉 )

These two images were taken with the same lens, at the same aperture and the same distance, but with differently sized sensors. The images have then been enlarged to the same display size. Is the DOF the same in both? 😎

[EDIT]
Of course, if we want the same framing the game is different, we would have to change the focal length and/or the subject distance and these changes will also affect the DOF. (Indeed, they will cause a larger increase in DOF for the smaller format than the decrease caused by the extra magnification needed.)
[/EDIT]

Cheers,

Anders

 

[thurows]

The physical lens has the same depth of field since it isn't lens that's physically changing, it's the size of the image area - think cropping. The difference is you get a 28mm with the depth of field charecteristics of a 21mm, the 1.33 conversion factor. So the cropped 21mm, 28mm digital, has more inherent depth of field than a 28mm on a film camera.

 

[jaapv]

Jaap,

you didn't take into account the 'you'll take another lens because of crop factor' factor, or did you? As far as I understand you calculated smaller CoC because of the bigger enlargement factor caused by the sensor crop factor.

😉

What I mean is: a picture made with film and a 50mm lens at f2 compared to one made with the RD-1 with a 33mm lens at f2.

The lens choice according to the FOV one wishes to have is your own, you can read the relevant DOF in the list.Focal length does not influence the accepted COC, that is fixed according to the format of the film/sensor.- a COC for a 1.33 sensor is 0.023 according to general agreement,for a 1.5 0.02, a 4/3 sensor 0.015, etc. DofMaster will do that automatically for you if you choose your camera from the list.

PS. A different format sensor/film does not change the focal length of the lens - that is a characteristic of the lens - not the camera.

 

[newyorkone]

True- for some- I bought mine used - quite considerably less but not so much for the shallow DOF as for the character of the lens.

I'd be greatful if you could elaborate on your user experience with this lens - 75 lux. Are there differences between the late Canadian versions and the newest German versions since 1998? Thanks for any info.

Steve

 

[newyorkone]

The physical lens has the same depth of field since it isn't lens that's physically changing, it's the size of the image area - think cropping. The difference is you get a 28mm with the depth of field charecteristics of a 21mm, the 1.33 conversion factor. So the cropped 21mm, 28mm digital, has more inherent depth of field than a 28mm on a film camera.

I've never quite understood what the fuss was all about but this single post has cleared things up for me. Thanks! 🙂

 

[ampguy]

Zoom lens

Zoom lens

Zoom lens are so '80s 😀

All DOF figures in my table are at 3 m distance.Comparing would be rather difficult otherwise, as one would drown in a sea of numbers if I had to work it out at various distances. Besides, I'm lazy 😉. I want to shoot sitting in my armchair using a ZOOM lens!! 😀😀

 

[AndersG]

I am still convinced that in addition to the more shallow DOF, any RF error gets amplified by the crop factor as well. Will make focusing shallow DOF lenses even harder.

Yes, for a given lens that is correct, since the cropped image will need to be enlarged more and thus shrinking the perceived depth of field and making any fokus error more visible. However, at the same time you'll get a narrower angle of view.

If you instead change to a shorter lens or move back to get the same framing as in the full frame case, the depth of field at the same aperture will be greater and thus the focusing less critical.

Cheers,

Anders

 

[rvaubel]

Thanks for posting this, Jaap.

I am still convinced that in addition to the more shallow DOF, any RF error gets amplified by the crop factor as well. Will make focusing shallow DOF lenses even harder.

Roland.

I know I'm making a pest of myself but I still claim the larger format cameras have a reduced depth of field. I thought everyone accepted that. In fact one of the things I don't like about point n' shoots is the too broad depth of field. But now I find that actually the DOF has been razor thin.

I don't get it. Why do my eyes seem to lie?

Rex

 

[AndersG]

I know I'm making a pest of myself but I still claim the larger format cameras have a reduced depth of field. I thought everyone accepted that. In fact one of the things I don't like about point n' shoots is the too broad depth of field. But now I find that actually the DOF has been razor thin.

I don't get it. Why do my eyes seem to lie?

Your eyes don't lie - it is just that you compare the two formats using the same angle of view and subject distance but then by necessity with different focal length lenses. This is also a perfectly valid comparison.

So, in short: if you'll use the same set of angle of views on your new smaller format camera - no worries! DOF at the same apertures will be greater.

If OTOH you'll use the same set of lenses then you might need to worry since a lens that was hard to focus accurately on the larger format might be next to impossible on the smaller format.

Cheers,

Anders