"Lee" <leemeadowcroft@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
news:2f9e7c60-5766-47bd-b6cf-7f9f6521b3ed@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> I've recently bought my first Digital SLR, a Nikon D40 with 18-55mm
> lens. The quality of pictures it's taking is great. I'm mostly playing
> around with the preset scenes before getting in to the more
> complicated settings. The only trouble I am having is with the depth
> of field, I can get my object (person, boat, whatever) in focus but
> everything else in the picture is out of focus, noticeably. Comparing
> this with my Kodak point-and-click, I used to take a picture and my
> foreground and background would both be perfectly focused
> auotmatically but I can't seem to acheive the same with my SLR. The
> following is a link to a picture taken with my point-and-click where I
> have good depth of field but I can't see how to acheive this with my
> new camera (http://www.trekearth.com/viewphotos.php?l=3&p=506700).
Any
> advice on firstly, why this is the case and secondly, how to correct
> it, would be very appreciated.
>
> Thanks
>
> Lee
If the D40 has a full size sensor (ie 24 x 36 mm) the depth of field will
naturally be less than a point & shoot with a smaller sensor. You can
increase the depth of field by several methods - increase the ISO setting,
which forces the camera to use a higher stop. Using manual mode, set the
aperture to maximum (f/16 or higher if possible). Use the lowest zoom
setting - this will increase the depth of field. Alternatively, buy
another
point & shoot or make a pinhole camera - everything from 1" to infinity
will
then be in focus, although the exposure time may be somewhat long! You're
obviously not yet ready for higher range digital photography. You should
experience large frame photography (6 x 6 and larger). Depth of field
with
these cameras could be measured in inches, especially with long focus
lenses, and autofocus hadn't been advented. Anyway, what's wrong with an
out of focus background - it's the same view as your eyes see the world.
Terry D.
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