Possible Dumb Question About Aperture Ring

[Dr. G]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I noticed that in order to get a depth of field preview the shutter needs to be half pressed.  You can also then adjust the aperture while continuing to half press to see changes in depth of field.  Is this something that is recommended or not?  Or should I back off the shutter release before moving the aperture ring and then check depth of field again?

 

To be more clear, what I'm asking is if it's ok to stop down while I'm half pressing the shutter after getting focus lock, or will it somehow damage the camera?

Edited October 7, 2024 by Dr. G

[FlashGordonPhotography]

No. No damage will occur. If you get a use from this keep going.

Gordon

[Foto Pixx]

I'm curious, what camera are you using? It was my understanding that the Q3 does not offer any pathway to a depth of field preview, much to my disappointment. So maybe that's available in the Q3 43?

[Smogg]

35 minutes ago, Foto Pixx said:

I'm curious, what camera are you using? It was my understanding that the Q3 does not offer any pathway to a depth of field preview, much to my disappointment. So maybe that's available in the Q3 43?

In AF-S mode both Q3 and Q3 43 show DOF preview after half-pressing shutter button.

Edited October 8, 2024 by Smogg

[Dr. G]

4 minutes ago, Smogg said:

In AF-S mode both Q3 and Q3 43 show DOF preview after half-pressing shutter button.

Yes, it was something that I knew you see when half pressing the shutter.  I didn’t realize that if you kept the half press and turned the aperture ring the aperture would still open and close.  

[Smogg]

20 minutes ago, Dr. G said:

Yes, it was something that I knew you see when half pressing the shutter.  I didn’t realize that if you kept the half press and turned the aperture ring the aperture would still open and close.  

Yes, DOF preview changes in this case. This happens very quickly and it doesn't seem like the aperture opens fully each time before closing to the desired value.

Edited October 8, 2024 by Smogg

[aficionados]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I thought DOF-like view in EVF only goes up to f5.6,

Beyond that, the exposure doesn't change.

[Smogg]

3 minutes ago, aficionados said:

I thought DOF-like view in EVF only goes up to f5.6,

Beyond that, the exposure doesn't change.

This is definitely not the case with Q3. As far as I remember, DOF preview works up to 5.6 on Nikon Z7

[aficionados]

17 minutes ago, Smogg said:

This is definitely not the case with Q3. As far as I remember, DOF preview works up to 5.6 on Nikon Z7

Can you try this:

Use aperture priority mode (with shutter speed dial to A), and an auto ISO mode with max ISO to be  6400 and slowest shutter speed auto, in a relative dark environment, turn the aperture to f/8, and then half press the release button. What do you see in EVF? Is the picture darker than it is supposed to be?

I found when ISO is maxed out (in this case 6400), and shutter speed is still proper (in my case 1/80), the picture preview in EVF looks darker/underexposed. The picture taken turns out to be fine and properly exposed.

That's why I said DOF preview works up to f/5.6, because this phenomenon doesn't happen at bigger aperture like f/4

 

[Smogg]

3 minutes ago, aficionados said:

Can you try this:

Use aperture priority mode (with shutter speed dial to A), and an auto ISO mode with max ISO to be  6400 and slowest shutter speed auto, in a relative dark environment, turn the aperture to f/8, and then half press the release button. What do you see in EVF? Is the picture darker than it is supposed to be?

I found when ISO is maxed out (in this case 6400), and shutter speed is still proper (in my case 1/80), the picture preview in EVF looks darker/underexposed. The picture taken turns out to be fine and properly exposed.

That's why I said DOF preview works up to f/5.6, because this phenomenon doesn't happen at bigger aperture like f/4

 

In extreme modes (when there is a very strong lack of light) the image brightness on the EVF has its own limitations. When I wrote about DOF preview I meant conditions with sufficient light

[aficionados]

1 minute ago, Smogg said:

In extreme modes (when there is a very strong lack of light) the image brightness on the EVF has its own limitations. When I wrote about DOF preview I meant conditions with sufficient light

I doubt it's the limitation of the EVF. Because on f/4, the image on EVF looks bright and well exposed. EVF goes darker only when aperture is f/5.6 or smaller.

If it were EVF limitation, why doesn't it happen with aperture wide open. I can certainly find a really dark environment where f/2 is not even sufficient.