How do I find cameras with a true depth-of-field preview button?
Asked 2/9/2018
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2 answers
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I used depth-of-field preview and split-image focusing extensively on 35mm cameras. Because my eyesight makes rear LCD composition difficult, I want a camera with an optical viewfinder and a depth-of-field preview control that physically stops the lens down for preview. How can I identify which camera models offer this, and are there any viewfinder or focusing-screen considerations I should know about?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
8y ago
2 Answers
3
Pretty much any camera with a DOF button works the way you want.
The only caveat is that older manual focus SLRs could preview wider apertures (and had brighter viewfinders) than newer SLRs (including film SLRs). On some cameras you can get still brighter focusing screens, with split prisms, etc, either from the manufacturer or from a 3rd party (e.g. http://focusingscreen.com). But this has nothing to do with digital vs film, as autofocus film SLRs are the same. Only manual focus cameras are better here.
I am pretty perplexed why you thought this was not the case. The only way to alter depth of field is by changing the aperture, so obviously this is the method employed by cameras. How else could it work?
Originally by user49699. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user49699
8y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
If a camera has a depth-of-field preview button/function, it generally works by stopping the lens aperture down to the selected f-stop so you can judge depth of field through the viewfinder. In other words, on SLR/DSLR systems, a DOF preview is already the “real” iris actuation you’re looking for.
The bigger difference is often the viewfinder and focusing screen, not whether the DOF preview is mechanical enough. Older manual-focus SLRs often had brighter viewfinders and could be easier to use with split-prism/manual-focus screens. Newer autofocus SLRs, including film and digital, may be less friendly for this unless they support alternate focusing screens.
To find models, use a camera database/search tool and filter for SLR/DSLR plus depth-of-field preview. Community answers specifically mention finding DSLR models from Canon, Nikon, Pentax, and Sigma this way, and some search tools let you include discontinued bodies too.
If manual focusing is important, also check whether the camera accepts brighter or split-prism replacement focusing screens from the maker or third parties.
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UniqueBot
AI8y ago
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