How Too Much Tilt Can Tilt the Beginner's Brain

[tgtaylor]

I think that most "serious amateurs" use aperture when shooting 35mm or medium format to control depth of field...

For 35 and MF I use the method espoused by Galin Rowell which consists of finding the aperture on the lens where the foreground comes into sharp focus and the point where the background comes into sharp focus and then set the lens to the aperture that encompasses both points.

Thomas

[Alan Klein]

For 35 and MF I use the method espoused by Galin Rowell which consists of finding the aperture on the lens where the foreground comes into sharp focus and the point where the background comes into sharp focus and then set the lens to the aperture that encompasses both points.

Thomas

Can you explain how that works?

[ic-racer]

I find the aperture needed for a sharp print by determining the focal spread at the film plane in the camera. Other than say a mental or technical error on my part, this system provides excellent prints.
For example I know 1/4 turn of my camera's focus knob is F32, etc.

[tgtaylor]

Can you explain how that works?

The distance scale on your lens is correlated to the aperture scale. When you focus on the foreground the distance scale will indicate the distance, refocusing on the background will indicate a different distance. For a sharp focus throughout, simply choose the aperture that encompasses both points. This same procedure can be used with LF except that you use the scale on the cameras bed as the distance scale. Much easier and quicker, though, to use movements.

Thomas

[Ulophot]

Much easier and quicker, though, to use movements.

Thomas

When they can make a difference, of course.

[Vaughn]

For 35 and MF I use the method espoused by Galin Rowell which consists of finding the aperture on the lens where the foreground comes into sharp focus and the point where the background comes into sharp focus and then set the lens to the aperture that encompasses both points.

Thomas

It has risen from the dead!!!

I do the same with the Rolleicord -- I learned camera use with a Rollei and figured out the DoF info on the focusing dial pretty quick (once I learned there was such a thing as DoF). I used a tripod a lot, and after working with the GG of the Rollei (everything backwards) I found moving to 4x5 for me to be a natural smooth progression.