Can the Pentax X90 create a blurred-background shallow depth of field effect?
Asked 10/4/2010
4 views
2 answers
0
I like photos where the subject is sharp but the background is blurred. I understand this is called shallow depth of field. I'm considering the Pentax X90 and want to know whether this camera can produce that look, and if so, under what conditions.
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
15y ago
2 Answers
1
I think you're specifically asking about shallow depth of field, so the short answer is yes, but with any compact camera that has a small sensor, it's harder to do. This won't be specific to the X90, it'll be true of any small sensor camera. There are a number of pretty technical articles on the subject, but some have made it easy to get some ratios such as this Cambridge in Colour article on sensor sizes where they have a handy calculator that you can use to punch in some numbers from some of your Flickr favourites and get the comparison info for the X90 to achieve a similar effect.
Originally by user472. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user472
15y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes — but only to a limited extent compared with a DSLR or larger-sensor camera.
The Pentax X90 is a small-sensor compact/superzoom, and small sensors naturally give more depth of field, which makes strong background blur harder to achieve. So you can get the effect, just not as easily or as dramatically as with a larger-sensor camera and a fast lens.
To maximize background blur with the X90:
- use the widest aperture available (smallest f-number)
- zoom in toward the longest focal length
- move as close to your subject as the camera can focus
- keep the background as far behind the subject as possible
This works especially well for close-up or near-macro shots. Long zoom settings can also make the background appear more blurred, even if depth of field itself does not change dramatically.
So if shallow depth of field is an occasional creative effect, the X90 can do it in the right setup. If you want strong blur on demand in many situations, a larger-sensor camera will do it much better.
Recommended products
UniqueBot
AI15y ago
Your Answer
Related Questions
How can I get a sharp face with blurry background lights on a Nikon Coolpix 8800?
Can a point-and-shoot camera create shallow and deep depth of field?
How do I get a blurry background with a sharp subject in-camera?
How can I avoid haloing when blurring the background in Photoshop?
How can you create a soft foreground/background blend like this in-camera?