I'm with Mike, Ali You didn't give us anything to work on. We'd need
to know the parameters you were facing (distance, lighting, final image
size, etc) and what you hoped to get.
For the macro shot you need to be aware that at f/22 the 35mm ZD is
probably at or close to problems with diffraction. You might get a
little more DOF over f/16 but the overall image might be softened by
diffraction due to the small aperture. You'd have to do some testing to
figure out what's the best combo. And, yes, you'll get much better
results on a tripod even if you're not stopped all the way down to f/22.
One possibility is to use stacked images in PhotoShop. Take several
with the focus on a different plane on each one. Then stack them and
blend them together such that the sharpest part of each image is used
for the result.
For a group of people these kinds of tricks can't be done. You've got
to either arrange the folks differently front to back or else deal with
the cards you were dealt. Your first option might be to try framing the
shot with a shorter focal length. The shorter focal length will give
you some additional depth of field but might not be the perspective you
intended. The only other option is limited to a smaller aperture which
means either higher ISO, longer shutter speed, adding light or all of
the above in some combination. If you can't do those things either live
with the result or, as my photo mentor says; "Don't take that picture
there, do something else."
None of this really has anything to do with a DSLR except that, if
anything, the DSLR will make the job easier. For the macro job it would
be a lot easier to stack the digital images than deal with film and
scanning beforehand. The 4/3 mount lenses also make this job easier
since, for an equivalent field of view, the lenses are only half the
focal length of a those for a full 35mm frame size. Count your
blessing. The job would be more difficult with a 5D.
Chuck Norcutt
Mike Lees wrote:
> I'm not sure I have enough information to comment on the issue you have
> - can you provide a link to the picture?
>
> The E-500 should have a Depth of Field preview button somewhere, so at
> least you can see what you are going to end up with.
>
> Maybe someone with an E-500 can comment.
>
> Mike.
>
> ALI wrote:
>
>>I am starting to take notice of Depth of Field (or lack of) in my macro
>>photographs or photographs in which I want to 'lead' the person from
>>one end to
>>another while maintaining focus.
>>
>>I downloaded a DOF Calculator:
>>
>>http://www.ayton.id.au/gary/photo/photo_calc.htm
>>
>>According to the calculator I would need to set my F to 22.5 using the ZD 35mm
>>Macro on an E-500/four-thirds camera? This means I might have to use a tripod
>>in many cases? I took a shot of the kids and wife...the 1st person was
>>in focus
>>while the subject behind were out of focus. The shot worked well but I would
>>have liked all of them in focus. Is there a way to do this with a dslr?
>>
>>Thanks.
>>
>>- Ali
==============================================
List usage info: http://www.zuikoholic.com
List nannies: olympusadmin@xxxxxxxxxx
==============================================
|