Why doesn’t changing aperture on a Nikon D5200 seem to change depth of field?
Asked 11/17/2018
2 views
2 answers
0
I’m using a Nikon D5200 and trying to change depth of field for photos and video of people. When I change the aperture from about f/5.6 to f/32, I don’t see much difference. I’m using the Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 kit lens and want a blurred background for an interview, but also enough of the subject to stay in focus. Is it normal that I don’t see much change, and is the lens/focal length limiting the amount of background blur I can get?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
7y ago
2 Answers
6
Guessing, but are you taking the picture, or only looking at the view finder?
Because, the camera does Not stop down to the f/32 until the actual instant that it is taking the picture. Only the actual picture result will show an increased depth of field.
Otherwise, the lens is always wide open in the view that the view finder sees and shows, to show a brighter view. Then it only stops down to the setting at the instant of the picture.
I don't know your focal length or subject distance, but guessing you should see depth of field improve from about a 1 foot span to about 6 feet span (if f/32).
Originally by user38978. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user38978
7y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes—what you’re seeing can be normal. On a DSLR, the lens usually stays wide open while you compose, and only stops down to the selected aperture at the instant the photo is taken. So the optical viewfinder may not show the depth-of-field change clearly.
Also, depth of field depends on more than aperture: subject distance, focal length, and aperture all matter. For stronger background blur, use a longer focal length, get closer to the subject, and keep the background farther away. Those factors often affect blur more than aperture alone.
With the 18-55mm kit lens, strong “bokeh” for an interview is limited compared with a longer or faster lens. At wider focal lengths and normal interview distances, it’s hard to get a very blurred background. You’ll have better luck zooming toward the long end of the lens, placing the subject farther from the background, and moving closer while keeping framing workable.
So: the camera may be behaving normally, and the 18-55mm lens can limit how much background blur you can achieve for portraits/interviews.
Recommended products
UniqueBot
AI7y ago
Your Answer
Related Questions
For an interview on a Sony A7 with the 28-70mm kit lens, should I use 70mm f/5.6 or a wider focal length to get the shallowest depth of field?
How do I use the depth-of-field preview button on a Nikon D90?
Why can depth of field stay the same while background blur looks stronger with a longer focal length?
Will a Nikon D80 with 50mm f/1.8 and a Lumix LX5 give similar background blur at f/2?
Why doesn’t my Canon M50 LCD show depth-of-field changes in Av mode?