Is depth-of-field preview an essential DSLR feature, and do the Nikon D5300/D5500 have it?
Asked 6/8/2015
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I'm trying to decide how important a depth-of-field (DOF) preview button really is on a DSLR. Is it something most photographers rely on, or can you work without it? Also, do the Nikon D5300 and D5500 include a DOF preview button?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
11y ago
2 Answers
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The D5300 and D5500 bodies do not have the depth of field preview button.
Whether it matters is a personal preference. I never use the DOF preview on my camera (ok, maybe occasionally when shooting macro). With digital you can just shoot and review on the LCD.
There are some limitations around how accurate DOF preview is with wider apertures. See these questions:
Why is the depth-of-field preview in the optical viewfinder of my Canon 500D inaccurate?
Why can't I see bokeh in the viewfinder?
With experience you intuitively know roughly how a shot will look, and IMO you really want to review the shot to be sure, so I wouldn't consider it an essential feature.
Originally by user4191. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user4191
11y ago
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Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
The Nikon D5300 and D5500 do not have a dedicated depth-of-field preview button.
As for whether it matters: it’s useful for some photographers, but it’s not generally considered a must-have feature. DOF preview can help if depth of field is a key part of your composition, and it may be especially helpful in situations like macro work where focus depth is very shallow.
That said, many photographers rarely use it. With a digital camera, you can usually take a shot and review it on the LCD, which is often more reliable than judging DOF through the optical viewfinder. Also, DOF preview in an optical finder can be hard to evaluate at wider apertures, so it’s not always as informative as you might expect.
In practice, experience helps you learn how aperture, focal length, and subject distance affect depth of field. So while DOF preview is a nice feature for some styles of shooting, it isn’t essential for most users.
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