9 replies to this topic

[Mdrogun]

I've been playing around with 3 lenses that magnify at 7X, 14X and 21X. I've noticed that as I increase the magnification, the Depth of field decreases dramatically. Why does this happen?

Edited by Mdrogun, June 14 2017 - 8:32 AM.

[drtrmiller]

Macro lenses made for phones are almost always single convex lenses. If you Google it, you'll see that a convex lens changes the focal length based on the characteristics of the lens. The higher magnification ones are thicker, and so the focusing distance will be shorter and more shallow.

[nurbs]

Focal length of a lens is your field of view; ie how wide (how much of the sides you see) or how telephoto (zoomed in) an image is. For example, a 16mm lens is extremely wide and can be used for landscapes because it captures a lot into the frame. A 200mm lens zooms in much closer to the subject so if you are far far away and shooting a sports match, you can get a shot of one player in the frame instead of the entire field. The higher the number, the more telephoto. The lower the number, the wider.

 

So when you say your "focal length decreases" with those magnifier clipons, that statement makes no sense.

 

Are you referring to DEPTH OF FIELD? The closer you magnify something at the same aperture, the more shallow your depth of field. With a very shallow depth of field, your width of focus area is reduced, so you get less things in focus. My guess is that is what you are referring to.

[soulsynapse]

like OP said I can't get any decent depth of field taking video with my camera, don't know if there's a solution really

Edited by soulsynapse, June 13 2017 - 10:40 PM.

[nurbs]

If DEPTH OF FIELD is what you are talking about, that's the nature of physics and lens design in relation to the size of your sensor. Too much to explain here, but generally the smaller your subject (like an ant) vs the size of your camera sensor and lens aperture (which would be huge relative to an ant) determines your DOF - so you would get very shallow depth of field.

 

 

How can I take good macro photos with a depth of field wider than a sheet of paper lol

 

Several ways.

 

Reduce the size of your camera sensor and aperture (it is why many cell phones like an IPHONE with a macro adapter is generally easier to take macro shots than with an expensive full frame DSLR with a macro lens).

 

Stack focusing. Take multiple focus points and stack multiple images in an image editing program like Photoshop to increase your DOF. It's how those images you see on places like Antweb are taken. 

 

If you're wondering where this option is in Photoshop, it is under File -> Automate -> Photomerge. Google "focus stacking" for more information.

[soulsynapse]

cheers nurbs 

[soulsynapse]

If DEPTH OF FIELD is what you are talking about, that's the nature of physics and lens design in relation to the size of your sensor. Too much to explain here, but generally the smaller your subject (like an ant) vs the size of your camera sensor and lens aperture (which would be huge relative to an ant) determines your DOF - so you would get very shallow depth of field.

 

 

How can I take good macro photos with a depth of field wider than a sheet of paper lol

 

Several ways.

 

Reduce the size of your camera sensor and aperture (it is why many cell phones like an IPHONE with a macro adapter is generally easier to take macro shots than with an expensive full frame DSLR with a macro lens).

 

Stack focusing. Take multiple focus points and stack multiple images in an image editing program like Photoshop to increase your DOF. It's how those images you see on places like Antweb are taken. 

 

If you're wondering where this option is in Photoshop, it is under File -> Automate -> Photomerge. Google "focus stacking" for more information.

 

This bit, the photomerge tool. Jesus christ I googled like 4 months ago for half an hour and I found all this random [censored] and not a single mention of photoshop lol

 

Thanks a bunch

 

I realize this one is a stretch, but is there an app on android that will take a bunch of photos at different focus settings?

Edited by soulsynapse, June 13 2017 - 11:09 PM.

[nurbs]

 

If DEPTH OF FIELD is what you are talking about, that's the nature of physics and lens design in relation to the size of your sensor. Too much to explain here, but generally the smaller your subject (like an ant) vs the size of your camera sensor and lens aperture (which would be huge relative to an ant) determines your DOF - so you would get very shallow depth of field.

 

 

How can I take good macro photos with a depth of field wider than a sheet of paper lol

 

Several ways.

 

Reduce the size of your camera sensor and aperture (it is why many cell phones like an IPHONE with a macro adapter is generally easier to take macro shots than with an expensive full frame DSLR with a macro lens).

 

Stack focusing. Take multiple focus points and stack multiple images in an image editing program like Photoshop to increase your DOF. It's how those images you see on places like Antweb are taken. 

 

If you're wondering where this option is in Photoshop, it is under File -> Automate -> Photomerge. Google "focus stacking" for more information.

 

This bit, the photomerge tool. Jesus christ I googled like 4 months ago for half an hour and I found all this random [censored] and not a single mention of photoshop lol

 

Thanks a bunch

 

I realize this one is a stretch, but is there an app on android that will take a bunch of photos at different focus settings?

 

 

Possibly, I don't own an Android. Look in their app store for "focus stacking"?

 

There is a new camera made by Olympus in their line of ruggedized point and shoots called the TG-5. I've been eyeing it (and may possibly purchase) which does focus stacking in camera, and it has an amazing macro mode. It is also waterproof, dustproof, and crushproof. 

Edited by nurbs, June 13 2017 - 11:21 PM.

[nurbs]

https://en.wikipedia.../Focus_stacking

[Mdrogun]

If DEPTH OF FIELD is what you are talking about, that's the nature of physics and lens design in relation to the size of your sensor. Too much to explain here, but generally the smaller your subject (like an ant) vs the size of your camera sensor and lens aperture (which would be huge relative to an ant) determines your DOF - so you would get very shallow depth of field.

 

 

How can I take good macro photos with a depth of field wider than a sheet of paper lol

 

Several ways.

 

Reduce the size of your camera sensor and aperture (it is why many cell phones like an IPHONE with a macro adapter is generally easier to take macro shots than with an expensive full frame DSLR with a macro lens).

 

Stack focusing. Take multiple focus points and stack multiple images in an image editing program like Photoshop to increase your DOF. It's how those images you see on places like Antweb are taken. 

 

If you're wondering where this option is in Photoshop, it is under File -> Automate -> Photomerge. Google "focus stacking" for more information.

I was talking about depth of field. I guess you can tell I really know nothing about cameras, lol. Thanks for the answer.