Hmmmm...;-)

The diopter will shorten the effective FL, maintain

the effective relative aperture, and shorten the

focus distance, if all else is held equal. In itself,

this would not have the effect of reducing DOF

except for the closer focus (offset by the wider

angle of view...). The focus in camcorders is different,

though, and is often achieved by moving the CCD instead

of the lens (which would not in itself change things),

but this arrangements often permits correct distance

focus with diopters added, unlike for still cameras with

fixed correct infinity-focus. (I use this to make one-scene

shots going from a tiny bug occupying most of the frame

to a wide garden shot...) I don't see, though, how

this can result in much of a change in DOF compared

with not using the diopter and simply shooting closer

with the widest stop set and the longest practical

zoom position used...

 

 

On Sat, 29 Mar 2003 02:41:28 +0000 (UTC), Claire <claire@showstoppersfx.com> wrote:

>

>Provided the subject is not too far away I'd like to suggest the use of a

>simple 1x diopter lens to achieve the shallow depth of field required.

>

>Unlike true Macro lenses, a simple type of close up lens like this costs very

>little. I have a set of three (x1,x2,x3) and find them invaluable for blurring

>out backgrounds behind objects such as flowers and insects. The 1x size still

>allows me to focus on objects several yards away while retaining a short depth

>of field.

>Claire@showstoppersfx.com

 

>Wedding Collection animations

>http://www.showstoppersfx.com

>

>> If you really want to cheat the look- you need to use various tricks -

>> dictated by the shot you want... a center focus filter is a nice trick, also

>> there are filters that are designed with different focus areas on top and

>> bottom- they are supposed to be used to bring distant objects into focus

>> along with close objects- the exact opposite of what you want, but if you

>> spin the filter around and focus your camera properly, it will cheat the

>> look.