How to have shallow depth of field?

[cichlid]

Hi, how to have shallow depth of field for portrait photo during day / night time. What are the settings. I know must have big aperture but i can't get it right. Only when taking small objects at near distance then can. Any tips? Btw, I'm using D40.

 

[kross]

Hi, how to have shallow depth of field for portrait photo during day / night time. What are the settings. I know must have big aperture but i can't get it right. Only when taking small objects at near distance then can. Any tips? Btw, I'm using D40.

what your lens' focal length?

cheers...

 

[westwest1]

get a f2.8 lens can liaoz...70-200 will be good to start off with...

 

[SnapJaX]

switch to aperture-priority mode, adjust to ur lowest f-stop number, (i think for ur kit lens is F3.5), then try experimenting.
Zooming helps..
Try learning off e internet, search for "depth-of-field"
This site may help too: http://www.takegreatpictures.com/Articles/Details/params/object/10817/default.aspx

 

[grimicer]

use max zoom, let's say 70-200 ( u choose 200)
then biggest aperture, meaning f3.5-f5.6, you choose f3.5

 

[+evenstar]

DOF is affected by:
1) Aperture
2) Focal Length
3) Subject-to-lens distance

 

[ExplorerZ]

DOF is affected by:
1) Aperture
2) Focal Length
3) Subject-to-lens distance

and also subject-to-background distance.

 

[knpan]

i think u did not zoom in the kit lens, from the way u said only achivable at near disance to lens only. zoom in to the max 55mm. and u will see.

 

[goldbird]

use max zoom, let's say 70-200 ( u choose 200)
then biggest aperture, meaning f3.5-f5.6, you choose f3.5

No.. if he's at 200mm then he can only choose f5.6. ;p

 

[broccoli]

50mm F1.2

 

[+evenstar]

use max zoom, let's say 70-200 ( u choose 200)
then biggest aperture, meaning f3.5-f5.6, you choose f3.5

is there even a 70-200 f3.5-5.6?

and if he chooses 200mm, max aperture is 5.6

 

[grimicer]

is there even a 70-200 f3.5-5.6?

and if he chooses 200mm, max aperture is 5.6

not referring to the same lens just asking him to choose the max focal length + use wide open to achieve as much bokeh as possible.

sorry if it was confusing

 

[zac08]

not referring to the same lens just asking him to choose the max focal length + use wide open to achieve as much bokeh as possible.

sorry if it was confusing

If's it's a variable aperture lens. The smaller aperture will be for the max zoom setting.

For e.g. Nikon's 70-210 f4 - f5.6

at 70mm f4 is MAX
at 210mm f5.6 is MAX. You can't get it to open to f4 at 210mm...

 

[grimicer]

hihi, guess it wasn't a good example.
my mistake.

probably more applicable with constant aperture rather than variable aperture.

 

[cichlid]

Merry X'mas, thanks for all the replies...i got it...just zoom in and use wide aperture....got a lot to learn...

 

[bernardy4416]

Merry X'mas, thanks for all the replies...i got it...just zoom in and use wide aperture....got a lot to learn...

Hi cichild,

correct, getting closer to the subject also helps.

Using the widest aperture on your lens helps too.

Happy snapping.


Bernard

 

[Artosoft]

and also subject-to-background distance.

and CoC (Circle of Confusion) also determine DoF.

Regards,
Arto.