DoF calculation question

Ben Saunders · December 30, 2007

I have a quick question about DoF calculations. Most of the time I am shooting digitally (cameras with 1/3" and 2/3" CCD's), so I've been using that to make calculations with. Do I need to make adjustments when using a lens adapter and prime lenses, or does everything stay the same? Thanks for the help.

Michael Nash · December 30, 2007

The Circle of Confusion is based on the resolving power of the entire system. So if you're using a groundglass type adapter that softens the overall image (places a hard limit on resolving power), then that will change your CoC compared to the same system without the adapter. How much that softening changes your CoC you'll have to determine for yourself, through testing.

Depth of field is subjective anyway, and really needs to take into account the display as well. What looks acceptably sharp in a small QT window can look really soft on a 65" screen, and vice-versa.

Andrew Brinkhaus · December 31, 2007

Also what makes this more difficult to equate, is that every adapter system is built in a different process, with different levels of clarity and size to the GG. Calculating ones adapters' CoC could be worthless for another's.

Chris Keth · December 31, 2007

What you could do is set up a good harp test with your system, using your intended medium of display. By viewing this, you can determine your near and far points of acceptable focus for a given focus distance, stop, and focal length. Then, with the DoF equation, you can assign the system an appropriate circle of confusion by solving for the one unknown.

Edited December 31, 2007 by Chris Keth

Ben Saunders · December 31, 2007

thanks for all of the input. any suggestions/advice on the best way to do the harp test? also, should i test each lens while i'm at it?

Michael Nash · December 31, 2007

thanks for all of the input. any suggestions/advice on the best way to do the harp test? also, should i test each lens while i'm at it?

Just being pragmatic, but if your adapter softens the image (creates a larger CoC) then using the original CoC for the camera system would actually give you more of a margin of error for focus. You're safer using the more critical CoC anyway, and if you're trying to buzz he BG as much as possible then set your focus just slightly closer than the subject.

Chris Keth · January 1, 2008

Michael's answer is the most practical. Just use the CoC for the camera and it will work for the whole system and be on the conservative side (i.e. you will always actually have more DoF than you think)

If you want to be right on, here is how to do a good harp test:

Get a piece of styrofoam. Old crappy beadboard is perfect. Set it on a table about 6 feet from your camera, such that the top of the beadboard is about level with the lens.

Now lay your tape measure out on the beadboard and stick playing cards into the foam (standing up, vertical) every inch, with the intricate back designs toward camera. You have to be able to see every one of the cards from your camera position. The purpose of this is to give you something every inch that will be easy to see if it is in or out of focus. Choose a card right about in the middle and put a tab of tape on it. This is the card you will actually focus on. Number the other cards so that the cards farther from the tabbed one go 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. and the closer ones go -1, -2, -3, etc. When you shoot this and project it, you will be able to see what is and is not in focus. The numbering system will give you a range of distances that defines your depth of field at whatever lens, stop, and focus distance you used.