Any Sony DSC-R1 owners out there ??? Depth of Field problem...

[dunkmeister]

Hey Gang,

Am trying to learn ALL the features of my nifty Sony DSC-R1 and I think I'm there (not being a Japanese engineer is a definite handicap) but have one basic question: WHERE IS THE DEPTH OF FIELD INFO?? 30 yrs ago I started w/ my trusty Canon AE-1 (film cam) and the lens barrels had markings on them so we cld calculate D.O.F. in advance of the exposure.

But in 'the modern era' lenses (at least by Sony) are not so marked. I've read and reread the crazy manual 3 times, I don't think it's in there. I have a manual focus ring and the other night I was having to guesstimate DOF w/ various apertures, based on my long history of working w/ my Canons. But for the big money this cam costs, you think there would be a chart somewhere? WHAT IS THE DEAL, ANYWAY? :confused:

PS: I wonder why the DSC-R1 was discontinued after its introduction? Anybody know? I love mine, but wonder what Japanese wisdom did it in?

[wulf]

Does it have a Depth of Field preview button? If not, you can always take your picture and review the results. That is probably why DoF markings are less common on modern lenses - for the average photographer (which now includes many more people, including a good number who aren't technically inclined) it is much easier to just try a shot than to estimate distances and calculate the optimal settings.

Actually, I have to admit that, even though I am definitely a "geek", I haven't applied myself to making use of the scales that are on my old lenses. Guess, shoot and review has the advantage that you see what the aperture setting does with the available light and the adjustment is often more a matter of artistic sensibility than the dispassionate application of numbers.

Wulf

[clockdoc]

Hi,
I don't have an R1 but let me offer a guess. Because the sensors on digital cameras are smaller than the 35mm film cameras we grew up with, the depth of field is greater. I just looked a a couple of my Nikon lenses and the only one that has the depth of field markings is the 50mm, f/1.8. Even so, the first aperture indicated is f/11 and the next is f/22. I'll try to compare the markings to a 50mm on my film camera. I hope someone who has an R1 will be able to provide a better answer.

[porterd2nz]

Sorry, I too do not have that particular camera, but with the Sony's I do have the DoF info is only shown on the Lens docs.

The only clue I can find for your camera is from the Luminous Landscape site: (http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/cameras/sony-r1.shtml) (<- links to full article)

The viewfinder, through a separate rear switch, can be set to either Framing or Preview mode. What this does is either show you as bright an image as possible at all times, or an image that is representative of how the final image will appear, at the actual shooting aperture. This is useful for judging the effect of exposure compensation as well as depth of field.

Hope that helps.