Most used zone focus distance on 28mm

[gzisis69]

Hello to the forum, since i startef getting more into street photography the last year i realised i like the 28mm view a lot since i like the character i get from it. Which is the most used focus distance when you do street with 28mm ? Do you constantly change the focus for example 1, 1,5 3 meter or do you set mostly one and stay with it ?

 

[Richard G]

Does your lens have a tab or lever? Are you shooting film or digital? Many of us would focus by feel with a tab or lever, and change focus. ISO 800 with film gives more options for fixed focus setting. The Monochrom with open shade on a sunny day at ISO 1600 is ridiculous with a setting of 1/500s at f8. You could fix focus at 3m on that exposure setting, but habit means you probably wouldn’t.

 

[gzisis69]

My lens doesnt have a tab or lever so i normaly check te distance that is writen on it. I shoot mostly trix 400 and on darker days i push it to 1600.

 

[neal3k]

Does you lens have DOF markings?. If it does and you don't know how to use them, look at some articles and videos on DOF markings. That's how I zone focus my 28mm and I rarely use any other type of focus. If your lens doesn't have DOF marked, you will need to use a table. The main thing is to know the distance range you use for your street photography and make sure the ranges fit the DOF scale based on you f/stop needed.

 

[Rayt]

I like 3 meters for 28mm.

 

[Beemermark]

3m or close to infinity depending what I'm shooting

 

[DownUnder]

Almost all my lenses are "fixated" on f/8. The 28 is no exception. My 28/2.8 D Nikon ha been set on eight for so long, it may well be stuck there.

Years, in fact decades of experience have taught me that f/8 is about perfect with a 24, 28 or 35. The 50 is more fiddly with distances and demands a more careful approach. Anything above 60 macro requires very careful focusing on the main subject, but I reckon most wouldn't be using a 60 or an 85 for street work anyway.

In general, the lens distance settings will vary depending on the subject. For street work, try 2.5-3.0 meters. Landscapes do better with infinity.

Different strokes for different folks...

 

[pvdhaar]

My approach is to divide the focal length by 10 and set that as a distance (in meters that is) for zone focusing.
50mm -> 5m
35mm -> a little over 3m
28mm -> halfway between 2 and 3m
This fits a person full length in the frame..

 

[Bbsteinle]

My approach is to divide the focal length by 10 and set that as a distance (in meters that is) for zone focusing.
50mm -> 5m
35mm -> a little over 3m
28mm -> halfway between 2 and 3m
This fits a person full length in the frame..

That’s a useful rule of thumb.

 

[pvdhaar]

That’s a useful rule of thumb.

I forgot to add that it works both ways..

If you set the scale focus at the focal length divided by 10, it fits a person full length in the frame.
And vice versa, if you have a person full length in the frame, you know that that person is within the zone covered by DOF; it's a sort-of focus by framing.

 

[agentlossing]

I forgot to add that it works both ways..

If you set the scale focus at the focal length divided by 10, it fits a person full length in the frame.
And vice versa, if you have a person full length in the frame, you know that that person is within the zone covered by DOF; it's a sort-of focus by framing.

Very nice!