Originally posted by Class A "[I]
If you use the same lens (i.e., not an equivalent lens) with the same settings on both formats then the larger format will provide narrower DOF, but the angle of view (the framing) will be very different as well. It really does not make sense to compare the DOF of such vastly different images.
Hi Class A, Either you have this swapped or I'm simply confused by your wording (possible.) The same lens, same settings (f-stop) from the same distance, on FF and aps-c - the
aps-c shot will have 1.2 stops
less DOF, but will be framed 1.5x tighter (i.e. be a completely different shot, so your point about comparing DOF in radically different framing is right.)
Or by 'same settings' do you mean 'same physical aperture' and not 'same f-stop'?
Quote: If you choose the same framing (have the same part of the scene captured) then the larger sensor does not yield a narrower DOF (and gives you the option of giving you a shallower DOF, provided you have the respective lens).
Backwards again? Same framing/FOV (say, 50mm on FF vs 35mm on aps-c, same stop, distance) the FF image
will have less DOF.
I'll paste the 'cliff's notes' below, I had to refer to them myself to check my sanity just now
• For an equivalent field of view, an APS-C crop sensor camera has at least 1.5x MORE depth of field that a 35mm full frame camera would have - when the focus distance is significantly less then the hyperfocal distance (but the 35mm format needs a lens with 1.5x the focal length to give the same view).
• Using the same lens on an APS-C crop sensor camera and a 35mm full frame body, the a APS-C crop sensor camera image has 1.5x LESS depth of field than the 35mm image would have (but they would be different images of course since the field of view would be different)
• If you use the same lens on a APS-C crop sensor camera and a 35mm full frame body and crop the full frame 35mm image to give the same view as the APS-C crop image, the depth of field is IDENTICAL
• If you use the same lens on a APS-C crop sensor camera and a 35mm full frame body, then shoot from different distances so that the view is the same, the APS-C crop sensor camera image will have 1.5x MORE DOF then the full frame image.
• Close to the hyperfocal distance, the APS-C crop sensor camera has a much more than 1.5x the DOF of a 35mm full frame camera. The hyperfocal distance of a APS-C crop sensor camera is 1.5x less than that of a 35mm full frame camera when used with a lens giving the same field of view.
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