Depth of Field

[Goldilocks]

Hi

I am very much a beginner and have just got my first bridge camera - a Panasonic Lumix FZ150. I know this is a very basic question and I apologise for my lack of knowledge but I'm struggling to get a photograph with an object in focus in the front of the photo and the background out of focus. I've tried both Intelligent Auto and the Macro settings but each time the whole of the photo is in focus. I focus on the item in the foreground. depress the button half way until the box round the item turns green and then depress the button fully. I have noticed a red outline of a camera appearing on the left hand side of the display screen but not sure what it's telling me. Any advice much appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[Railphotog]

Don't know the specifics of your model camera, but suspect it is comparable to my Canon SX30, with a 24-840mm zoom. To get an out of focus background on smaller objects, I use the close up mode and shoot at or near the long end of the zoom. The item, (a flower in this case) is relatively close - 10 feet or so, and the background does go out of focus, see here:

 

[Goldilocks]

Thanks. That's just the effect I want to achieve and will follow your advice.
Cheers

 

[deeky]

How far is the background from your subject? The further apart they are, the easier to be out of focus. Also, the more you zoom in, the easier to separate the two. There is a whole lot more to it, but that should get you started.

 

[AaronLLockhart]

There was a thread relative to this about a month ago, but I can't find it. It had to do with a mask being shot, and someone posted an image that was a DoF calculator, and showed where the object would have to sit in relation to the background to get shallow DoF. Maybe they will chime in here.

 

[Dao]

- Focal length, longer the better.
- Aperture, wider the better.
- Distance between subject and background, longer the better.
- Distance between subject and camera, shorter the better.

 

[HughGuessWho99 14]

Try this Depth of Field Calculator

 

[Goldcoin79]

I have only just got into photography a few months ago and have also got a bridge camera. The easiest way I found to get the effect you want is to set the camera to Av aperture priority mode and set the camera to the widest aperture (smallest F number) have some distance between the subject and background then zoom in slightly and take the shot.

Also I found the picture is better when you set the cameras light metering to spot metering.

 

[AaronLLockhart]

Try this Depth of Field Calculator

That is the EXACT thing I was talking about... Thank you!!!

To add to this,

You want to use the longest focal length possible, and stand as close as you can to keep the entire subject in the frame and have your aperture set to the largest setting (lowest F-stop number).

For an example, if you have a D40 with the 18-55mm kit lens. Set the focal length to 55mm and the aperture to f/5.6 (which is the minimum for that focal length). Take an image standing 1 foot away from your subject. Now, keep the settings the same, and take 3 steps backwards and do it again. You will notice the DoF gets deeper (more is in focus around your subject) when you stand further away.

Concluding:

Shallow DoF =

Longest focal length possible
shortest distance to subject possible
Largest Aperture possible (lowest f-stop number)
Large amount of distance between your subject and the background recommended, but if you're up close, it really won't matter.


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Well S.o.B. I didn't realize but Dao said the exact same thing I did... doh!