How to achieve a shallow DoF in digital cameras?

Question

How does it work? The larger the sensor, the shallower the DoF you can achieve, right? And the larger the sensor, the larger the amount of megapixels? So a camera with more megapixels will achieve a shallower DoF?

Which camera is the best digital (non SLR) to achieve a good shallow DoF?

Answer 1

Without real apperture control and a wide angle of view you will not be able to achieve a shallow depth of field. Most of the non-SLRs have a wide angle of view. Like Dr. Sam says, if you can afford to, come as close to the subject, zoom in and set a small f-stop number.

It depends on a number of factors. Go to the site below:
http://www.dofmaster.com/dofjs.html

You will be able to check the depth of field for a number of cameras. Hope yours is in the list.

Answer 2

This is kind of a problem with digital cameras, as you are aware. I like your logic about the larger sensor or higher pixel count aiding in this quest.

If you can back up and use a longish telephoto, you will decrease the depth of field.

For what it's worth, which may be nothing, here's a photo I took with D200 and the 18-200 mm zoomed out to 200 mm. I was about 3 or 4 feet away. The aperture was in the f/4 neighborhood, but I forget now... It's a 10 MP camera.

http://www.members.aol.com/swf08302/dragonfly.jpg

Here's a chart of possible interest to you in your quest. The SMALLER "M" values will allow for creating the shallower depth of field that you are looking for. Here's where the full sized Canon sensors must really shine.

http://www.wrotniak.net/photo/dof/#APPEND

Answer 3

I am using FZ-30. It is NOT an SLR camera.
You have DoF (where DoF = Depth of Field) from Aperture Adjustments... from f2.8 up to f11.

DoF it is NOT about sensor size it is about lens aperture.

Answer 4

Hi, perhaps you can also try google picasa.

picasa is a Google's photo software. It's what should've come with your camera.

It can Edit , organise and Share you picture and small video flips.

It's very easy to use and is free, just like Google

Download it free and just have a try:

http://www.bernanke.cn/google-picasa/

Good Luck!