expoaperture Depth-of-Field Guide ExpoAperture Instruction Manual Simple - Fast - Accurate Selective Focusing and Sharper Images With: - Digital SLRs, 35mm and 120 film cameras - any focal length lens - any depth of field George Wallace For More Information Visit: www.expoimaging.net
Forward Thank you for purchasing the ExpoAperture Depth-of- Field Guide the pocket guide that enables photographers to quickly determine the maximum and minimum depthof-field for a given focal length and aperture size. Today s advanced technologies make automatic exposure and focusing a snap, but what you gain in automation you lose in creative control. If you use an auto-exposure, autofocus camera, then your shutter speeds may be slower than necessary or your aperture settings smaller than required for good depth-of-field control. Designed by my late father George A. Wallace as a tool for professionals, hobbyists, and as a learning aid for students, it is compatible with all film and digital SLR cameras. He spent nine arduous months to develop a depth-of-field guide whose simplicity and utility will appeal to both beginner and professional alike. 2
Please visit our website at www.expoimaging.net for more information on the ExpoAperture Depth-of-Field Guide and any of our other digital workflow products from ExpoImaging. There you will find additional instructions and helpful tips from the pros, not to mention a bit of very colorful history about my dad. We hope you enjoy your experience and welcome your feedback. Sincerely, Diane Wallace Daughter and Founder ExpoImaging, Inc. 3
Table of Contents 1. Introduction 2. Depth-of-Field for 28mm - 135mm. (p.6) 2a. Determine the correct aperture for the desired depth-of-field. 2b. Determine the depth-of-field for the desired aperture. 3. Telephoto Photography (p.17) 3a. Using a focal length between 135mm - 300mm. 3b. Using a focal length larger than 300mm. 4. Close & Macro Photography (p.27) 4a. Setting the aperture for depth-of-field from 12-24. 4b. Setting the aperture for depth-of-field less than 12. 4c. Exposure Compensation 5. Advanced Techniques: Depth of Field Zones (p.38) 5a. Determine the aperture for less than 1 depth-of-field zone. 5b. Determine the aperture for more than 8 depth-offield zones. 6. Copyright Notice (p.45) 7. Limited Warranty (p.46) 4
1. Introduction The ExpoAperture Depth-of-Field Guide allows the photographer to obtain the greatest possible image sharpness where he wants this sharpness and to determine where that zone of maximum sharpness will begin and end. The Depth-of-Field Guide provides an exceedingly simple, fast and convenient means for determining the correct relative aperture setting for use with 35mm film or digital SLR cameras, with a popular range of focal length lenses, and for a depth-of-field ranging from 12 inches to infinity. We have included many graphic examples on the following pages to help you quickly learn to use your new ExpoAperture Depth-of-Field Guide. NOTE: The ExpoAperture guide can be used as is with 35mm and digital SLR cameras with full frame sensors. If you have a digital SLR camera with a 1.6 or 1.5 equivalent focal length, please refer to the enclosed Focal Length Conversion Table to determine the focal length setting to use on the ExpoAperture guide. If you are using the guide with 120/220 film use the enclosed Medium Format Film Instructions. 5
2. Depth of Field for 28mm to 135mm. 2a. Determine the Correct Aperture for the Desired Depth-of-Field The following example will walk you through each step in finding the correct aperture for your photograph in the most popular shooting conditions. 6
Example: Given a 35mm camera, 50mm focal length, and a desired depth-of-field of 6-30. Step 1 - Find the range of distances you would like to be in focus on the outer edge of the Zone Dial side of the Depthof-Field Guide. The example above highlights a range of 6 ft. to 30ft. to be in focus. 7
Step 2 - Count the number of zones within your distance range. Each alternating grey and white arc represents one depth-of-field zone. In the example above, there are 4 such zones (highlighted) between 6 ft. and 30 ft. 8
Step 3 - Find the middle of the number of zones in your range and set your camera s focus to the corresponding distance shown on the Depth-of-Field Guide. In the example above, the camera focus should be set to 10 feet, the distance corresponding to the middle of the 4 zones (2 zones on either side). 9
Step 4 - Flip the Depth-of-Field Guide over to its front side, then rotate the dial to set the focal length (FL) of the lens in the small cut-out window. In the example above, the Depth-of-Field Guide is set to 50 mm focal length. 10
Step 5 - Find the desired number of depth-of-field zones for your distance range. This number is located on the silver arc just beneath the f stop number. The f stop value immediately above the zone number is the largest aperture you can use to get your depth-of-field. In the example above, the f stop number above the 4 zones indicates that f16 is the largest f stop capable of providing 4 depth-of-field zones with a 50 mm focal length lens. 11
2b. Finding the Depth-of-Field for a Given Aperture The ExpoAperture Depth-of-Field Guide also allows the photographer to start with a preferred aperture setting and then find the resulting depth-of-field. The next example will walk you through that process. 12
Example: Given a 35mm camera, 50mm focal length, aperture setting of f11 and a focus distance of 7 ½. Step 1 - Rotate the front disc of the Guide to set the actual focal length you are using in the window on the front of the Depth-of-Field Guide (50mm). 13
Step 2 - Find your preferred aperture setting on the front of the Depth-of-Field Guide. Note the number of depth-offield zones indicated below your f stop number. 14 In the example above, using an aperture of f11 at 50mm will result in 3 depth-of-field zones.
Step 3 - On the back of the Depth-of-Field Guide, find the focus distance. Find the focus distance (7 1/2 ft) on the outer ring of the Zone Dial side of the Depth-of-Field Guide. 15
Step 4 - To find the range of distances that will be in focus, simply divide the total number of zones by two and equally extend them to either side of your focus distance. In the example above, placing the focus distance in the middle of the 3 depth-of-field zones will give you from 5 1 / 2 feet to 12 feet in focus. 16
3. Setting the Aperture for a Telephoto Lens Shooting with a telephoto lens, defined for the purposes of the ExpoAperture Depth-of-Field Guide as an actual focal length greater than 135mm, requires a simple calculation to determine the required aperture setting for the desired depthof-field. You must simply divide the actual focal length by one number, and the minimum and maximum distances by the square of that number to bring them back to within the standard range on the ExpoAperture Depth-of-Field Guide. The purpose is to look for the smallest divisible number that will result in a focal length utilized by the Depth-of-Field Guide. For example, if shooting with 300mm focal length, then divide the focal length by 2 and the distances by 4. 3a. Using a Focal Length Between 135mm and 300mm. In order to find the aperture setting for a given distance range using a lens with an actual focal length of between 135mm and 300mm, simply divide the focal length by 2 and the distance range (minimum and maximum) by 4 and then proceed using the new numbers in the standard manner. See the following example. 17
Example: Given a 35mm Camera, 200mm Focal Length, and a Depth-of-Field of 120 to infinity. Step 1 - Divide the focal length of the lens you are using by 2 and set your Depth-of-Field Guide to the resulting focal length. 200mm divided by 2 = 100mm. Set the focal length on the Depth-of-Field Guide to 100mm. 18
Step 2 - Divide the distance range required by 4 and find those new distances on the Zone Dial side of the Depth-of- Field Guide. 120 - divided by 4 = 30 -. Find the distances of 30 to on your Zone Dial. 19
Step 3 - Count the number of depth-of-field zones within your new distance range. There is 1 distance zone between 30 and. 20
Step 4 - Locate the number of zones for your desired depth-of-field on the front of the Guide to find your aperture setting. f16 is the largest aperture you can use to get 1 depth-offield zone. Therefore, use f16 with your 200mm focal length to get depth-of-field from 120 to infinity. 21
3b. Using a Focal Length Greater Than 300mm In order to find the aperture setting for a desired distance range using a lens with a focal length larger than 300mm, divide the focal length by 5 and the distance range by 25, and then proceed using the new numbers in the standard manner. See the following example. NOTE: If the procedure above results in a partial depth-of-field zone, and is not automatically given on your ExpoAperture Depth-of-Field Guide, then you may need to refer to section 5a. of these instructions: Setting the aperture for a Distance Range of Less than One Zone to find the preferred aperture setting. 22
Example: Given a 35mm camera, 500mm focal length, and a depth-of-field from 300 to 375. Step 1 - Divide the actual focal length of the lens you are using by 5 and set your Depth-of-Field Guide to the resulting focal length. 500mm divided by 5 = 100mm. Set the focal length on the Depth-of-Field Guide to 100mm. 23
Step 2 - Divide the distance range required by 25 (minimum and maximum) and find the new distances on the Zone Dial side of the Depth-of-Field Guide. 300-375 divided by 25 = 12-15. Find the distances of 12 to 15 on your Zone Dial. 24
Step 3 - Count the number of depth-of-field zones within your new distance range. There is ½ of a distance zone between 12 and 15. 25
Step 4 - Find the number of zones in your depth-of-field range on the front of the Guide to get your aperture setting. In the example above, f8 is the largest aperture setting you can use to get ½ of a distance zone. Therefore, use f8 with your 500mm focal length to get a depth-of-field from 300 to 375. 26
4. Close and Macro Photography 4a. Setting the Aperture for a Depth-of- Field Ranging from 12-24 The inside ring on the Zone Dial side of the ExpoAperture Depth-of-Field Guide provides measurements from 12 to 24. Use these measurements in the standard manner (refer to section 1) to find the preferred aperture setting for your distance range. The following example takes you through the standard procedure for a depth-of-field between the 12-24 measurements. 27
Example: Given a 35mm camera, a 50mm focal length, and a depth-of-field of 15-18. Step 1 - On the Zone Dial side of the Depth-of-Field Guide, find the range of distances that you would like to be in focus. If you want all subjects from 15 to 18 to be in focus, then find those distances on the silver inner ring of the Zone Dial. 28
Step 2 - Count the number of zones within your distance range. The alternating gray and white arcs each represent one depth-of-field zone. There are 4 zones between 15 and 18. 29
Step 3 - Find the middle of the number of zones in your range and set your camera s focus distance accordingly. 30 On your camera, set the focus distance to the distance corresponding to the middle of the 4 zones (2 zones on either side). In the example above, the camera focus should be set at 16.5 inches to get a depth-of-field of 15 to 18 at a 50mm focal length.
Step 4 - Make sure you set the actual focal length you are using in the Depth-of-Field Guide window. In the example above, set the window to the 50mm focal length (FL). 31
Step 5 - Find the amount of zones in your range on the front of the Depth-of-Field Guide to get your aperture setting. The f stop above the 4 zones indicates that f16 is the largest aperture capable of providing 4 depth-of-field zones with a 50 mm lens. 32
4b. Setting the Aperture for a Depth-of-Field Less than 12. Because it is not practical to include all distances on the ExpoAperture Depth-of-Field Guide and still keep it relatively simple, you must use the following procedure to find your preferred aperture setting if you wish to use it for focus distances less than 12. Double (or triple, etc.) your distance range in order to get the desired distances within the range of the Zone Dial, then count the number of zones involved. If you doubled your distance range, then you must also double the amount of zones corresponding to that distance, and if you tripled your distance range, then triple your zones, etc. Then find your preferred aperture setting on the front of the Depth-of-Field Guide using the doubled or tripled, etc. zone numbers. See the following example for a more detailed explanation. 33
Example: Given a 35mm camera, 50mm focal length, and a depth-of-field of 7 ½ - 8. Step 1 - Double (or triple, etc.) your distance range in order to get distances within the range on the Zone Dial. 7 ½ - 8 x 2 (doubled) = 15-16 34
Step 2 - Count the number of depth-of-field zones and multiply by the same number you multiplied the minimum and maximum distances. There are 1 ½ distance zones between 15 and 16. 1 ½ x 2 (doubled) = 3 depth-of-field zones. 35
Step 3 - Find the number of distance zones on the front of the Depth-of-Field Guide to find the preferred aperture setting. (Make sure your actual focal length is set in the window.) 3 distance zones @ 50mm = f11. Use f11 for a depth-offield range of 7 ½ - 8. 36
4c. Exposure Compensation The ExpoAperture Depth-of-Field Guide also has a very handy reminder of exposure compensation for magnification larger than 1/4th life size at the given ratios. The compensation can be made either with aperture or shutter speed adjustments. Example: Given an image 1/2 as large as the subject, and an ExpoAperture Guide indicated aperture setting of f8, add 1 stop to get f11. 37
5. Advanced Techniques 5a. Setting the Aperture for a Distance Range of Less than One Distance Zone ExpoAperture Depth-of-Field Guides were designed for general use with 35mm cameras in a broad range of photographing conditions. With a little manipulation these ranges can be extended to cover use with all focal length lenses and all depths-of-field. In order to do this with accuracy, the photographer must use the procedures outlined for each section on the following pages. If your depth-of-field is less than one full zone, then you must note the aperture required for 1 full zone and mulitply it by the fraction of the zone required. This is shown in the following example. 38
Example: Given a 35mm camera, 100mm focal length, and a depth-of-field from 60 to 120. Step 1 - Find the distance range on the Zone Dial side of your Depth-of-Field Guide. Note the fraction of zones between those distances. 60-120 is ¼ zone. 39
Step 2 - On the front of the Depth-of-Field Guide, set the focal length and find the f stop required for 1 distance zone. 1 distance zone in focus @ 100mm focal length requires f 16. 40
Step 3 - Divide the f stop found for 1 distance zone by the fraction of the zone required to find your preferred depthof-field. f16 multiplied by ¼ zone gives you aperture f4. Therefore, use f4 at 100mm focal length to get a depth-of-field of 60-120. 41
5b. Setting the Aperture for a Distance Range of more than 8 Distance Zones To find the preferred aperture setting for distance ranges greater than 8 depth-of-field zones, you must find the aperture number required for 1/2 the number of distance zones you would like to measure. Once you find that aperture number, double it to find the preferred aperture setting for your distance range. See the following example for a more detailed explanation. 42
Example: Given a 35mm camera, a 25mm focal length, and a depth-of-field of 12-18. Step 1 - On the Zone Dial, find the range of distances you would like to be in focus, then count the number of distance zones within that range. 12-18 is 10 zones. 43
Step 2 - Find the preferred aperture setting for half of the number of zones in your distance range. Double the f stop to correct for halving the number of zones, and use the resulting f stop for your distance range. Half of 10 distance zones is 5 zones. 5 zones @ 25mm requires f5.6. Doubling 5.6 = 11.2. Therefore, to get 12 to 18 in focus (10 zones) at a 25mm focal length you should use f11.2 (rounded to f11). 44
Copyright Notice All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of ExpoImaging, Inc. The information contained herein is designed only for use with this ExpoImaging product. Expo- Imaging is not responsible for any use of this information as applied to other equipment. ExpoImaging shall not be liable to the purchaser of this product or third parties for damages, losses, costs, or expenses incurred by purchaser or third parties as a result of: accident, misuse, or abuse of this product or unauthorized modifications, repairs, or alterations to this product, or failure to strictly comply with ExpoImaging, Inc s. instructions for use. Trademarks ExpoAperture is a registered trademark of ExpoImaging, Inc. General Notice: Other product names used herein are for identification purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective owners. ExpoImaging, Inc. disclaims any and all rights in those marks. 2005 ExpoImaging, Inc. 45
46 ExpoImaging, Inc., Limited Warranty (9/05) What Is Covered: ExpoImaging, Inc. ( ExpoImaging ) warrants to the original retail purchaser that the ExpoAperture Depth-of-Field Guide covered by this limited warranty statement, conforms to the manufacturer s specifications and will be free from defects in workmanship and materials for a period of one (1) year from the date of original purchase. For warranty service, you must provide proof of the date of original purchase. What ExpoImaging Will Do To Correct Problems: Should your ExpoAperture Depth-of-Field Guide prove to be defective during the warranty period, please call ExpoImaging Technical Support at (408) 778-2040 for warranty repair instructions and return authorization. An ExpoImaging service technician will provide telephone diagnostic service to determine whether the product requires service. If service is needed, ExpoImaging will exchange the product without charge. ExpoImaging will ship a replacement depth-of-field guide to you, freight prepaid. You are responsible for securely packaging the defective depth-of-field guide and returning it to ExpoImaging within ten (10) working days of receipt of the replacement. ExpoImaging requires a debit or a credit card number to secure the cost of the replacement product in the event that you fail to return the defective one. The item replaced becomes ExpoImaging property. The replacement depth-of-field guide may be new or refurbished to the ExpoImaging standard of quality, and, at ExpoImaging s option, may be another model of like kind and quality.
ExpoImaging s liability for replacement of the covered depth-of-field guide will not exceed the original retail sales price of the product. Exchange depth-of-field guides assume the remaining warranty period of your original product covered by this limited warranty. What This Warranty Does Not Cover: This warranty covers only normal use. This warranty is not transferable. Expo- Imaging is not responsible for warranty service should the ExpoAperture label or logo be removed or should the depthof-field guide fail to be properly maintained or fail to function properly as a result of misuse, abuse, improper installation, neglect, improper shipping, damage caused by disasters such as fire, flood, or service other than by ExpoImaging. THE WARRANTY AND REMEDY PROVIDED ABOVE ARE EXCLU- SIVE AND IN LIEU OF ALL OTHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WAR- RANTIES INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, NON-INFRINGEMENT OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. SOME LAWS DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OF IMPLIED WARRANTIES. IF THESE LAWS APPLY, THEN ALL EXPRESS AND IMPLIED WARRANTIES ARE LIMITED TO THE WARRANTY PERIOD IDENTIFIED ABOVE. UNLESS STATED HEREIN, ANY STATEMENT OR REPRESENTA- TIONS MADE BY ANY OTHER PERSON OR FIRM ARE VOID. EX- CEPT AS PROVIDED IN THIS WRITTEN WARRANTY, EXPODISC, INC., SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY LOSS, INCONVENIENCE, OR DAMAGE, INCLUDING DIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, RESULTING FROM THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE THE EXPODISC PRODUCT, WHETHER RE- SULTING FROM BREACH OF WARRANTY OR ANY OTHER LEGAL THEORY. 47
expoaperture Depth-of-Field Guide Because of the simplicity and clarity of its design, and its orientation, it is the best graphic aid in teaching depth-of-field that I have ever seen - Neil White, Professor of Photography, San Francisco State University. V 9/05 Copyright 2005 - ExpoImaging, Inc. All rights reserved