Can this effect be achieved using kit lens?

[tchan03]

I still haven't bought any SLR yet. But assuming i am buying either Nikon D50 or Canon Rebel XT, using kit lens, would you say it's doable to get a shot like below (where you see water drop clearly and vague background)

http://family.webshots.com/photo/2151299190100093323BROPOT

Thanks again
TC

 

[YesDear]

Yes.

It is done with a combination of shutter speed to stop the water and aperture to affect depth of field. Fairly easy to do if you understand what you are doing. It can also be done with many P&S cameras if you are willing to take off of auto!

 

[Groucho]

Not exactly like that.

That shot is 70mm at F4. The closest the kit lenses can get is 55mm at F5.6, which will give you notably less depth of field.

It would be very difficult, if not impossible, to achieve with a PnS without getting very close to the water, forcing the camera to focus to a nearly macro level.

 

[boBQuincy]

If not with the kit lens it certainly can be done with a 50mm f/1.8, at a low $85!

 

[JR6ooo4]

Yes. It is done with a combination of shutter speed to stop the water and aperture to affect depth of field. Fairly easy to do if you understand what you are doing. It can also be done with many P&S cameras if you are willing to take off of auto!

in theory, yes. I thought that exactly...


then this guy comes at ya' with the numbers to show the limitations of a P&S Hehehehee darn numbers...

Not exactly like that.

That shot is 70mm at F4. The closest the kit lenses can get is 55mm at F5.6, which will give you notably less depth of field.

It would be very difficult, if not impossible, to achieve with a PnS without getting very close to the water, forcing the camera to focus to a nearly macro level.

Now I think I remember P&S cameras having really deep depth of field. the same as video camcorders.

but it should be possible with a DSLR and a kit lens. being outside on a fairly well lit day helps. Set the AV low (I use "lower number= shorter DOF for a reference), use the single upper focus point to grab the fountain and a shutter speed to blurr the water drops as much as you want. or not at all. Oh, then there is exposure levels, Hmmmmmm. maybe all that daylight is not so good.

MIkeeee

 

[GrumpyOne]

Not exactly like that.

That shot is 70mm at F4. The closest the kit lenses can get is 55mm at F5.6, which will give you notably less depth of field.

It would be very difficult, if not impossible, to achieve with a PnS without getting very close to the water, forcing the camera to focus to a nearly macro level.

As long as the OP doesn't mind cropping, he could go wider to reduce the aperture. While the basic kit lenses are usually 5.6 at the tele end, they're typically 3.5 at the wide end with varying points in between. The picture in question is 1600x2400 so it was either cropped out of a larger or scaled down.

The 1D Mk II is a x1.3 crop sensor so 70mm on a 1D Mk II is 91mm equivalent. 55mm on a crop camera (x1.5-1.6) would be 82-88mm equivalent so the 70mm focal length would be close on a low-end Canon body.

 

[Groucho]

As long as the OP doesn't mind cropping, he could go wider to reduce the aperture.

Going wider reduces your depth of field, though...

OK, a quick trip to the online DoF calculator should give us the numbers. Let's estimate that the photographer is about 10ft from the subject.

The photo in question, with the 1DS Mk2 at 70mm and F4, has a total DoF of 1.47 ft.

The same photo taken with a 50D with kit lens at 55mm and F5.6 will have a total DoF of 2.15 ft - about 46% larger. Going to 18mm and F3.6 (F3.5 is not available) gives you a whopping 21.1 ft! You need to get closer, like about 4 ft away, to get about the same DoF as you get at 55mm and F5.6. (That gives you 2.14 ft.)

To compare a PnS, your average PnS has a 1/2.5" sensor with a 6.02 crop factor. That would mean you'd want about 15mm to get close to the original photo's field of view - 90.3mm vs 91mm in 35mm equivalency. Even if you have a fast F2.8 lens in your PnS, your DoF will still be 3.96 ft, almost twice that of the 50D w/kit lens and getting close to 3x the original photo.

Now, if you want real DoF, the 50mm F1.8 lens on the 50D will give you 0.81 ft. Now we're talking!