35mm adapter vs aperture settings

[yugosaki]

Hey, this is going to sound like a noob question to alot of you, but bear with me.

The way I understand it, a 35mm adapter just creates a narrow depth of field. As does a small-number aperture setting (say, oh. f1.6).

Now before you say anything, I realize that a 35mm adapter is probably quite a bit more dramatic than aperture setting. My question is: If I create the right lighting conditions, and position my subjects a good distance away from the background objects, with a really low f setting can I get a passable "film look"?

Don't be too harsh, most of my knowledge and experience comes from still photography, so I'm a little behind the ballgame.

[gonzo_entertainment]

The aperture controls how much light reaches the lens. It does effect the perception of DOF, but focal length is (I think) a bigger factor. You could create a more shallow looking DOF by using a lower aperture, but lighting is tricky enough (IMO) as it is without limiting yourself to very low aperture numbers. I'm also not sure how many cameras with a non-interchangeable lens let you have that much aperture control.

[yugosaki]

The aperture controls how much light reaches the lens. It does effect the perception of DOF, but focal length is (I think) a bigger factor. You could create a more shallow looking DOF by using a lower aperture, but lighting is tricky enough (IMO) as it is without limiting yourself to very low aperture numbers. I'm also not sure how many cameras with a non-interchangeable lens let you have that much aperture control.

I have a gl1. Full aperture control. As I said this would be in controlled lighting conditions (I.E. I could adjust the light level itself until exposure was correct) Low aperture numbers = more light reaching CCD's = less light needed, so I should be able to expose it correctly by moving the lights farther away from the subjects until exposure is good.

Plus my subjects would be positioned a good distance away from the background, so the background should be out of focus. I'm just wondering if that's enough to make it look passably like film.

[gonzo_entertainment]

I bet you can get some shallow DOF using that technique.

What will make it look even more like film though is well framed shots, good lighting, camera movement that IS NOT hand held (nice fluid pans, dolly shots, etc...)

[yugosaki]

I bet you can get some shallow DOF using that technique.

What will make it look even more like film though is well framed shots, good lighting, camera movement that IS NOT hand held (nice fluid pans, dolly shots, etc...)

Those are a given to make any shot look good. i just noticed that things shot with a 35mm adapter are REALLY dramatic, almost as if the subjects are perfectly cut out and placed there.

[gonzo_entertainment]

Not a given on this site....

Very dramatic shallow DOF shot in my trailer (using redrock micro and Nikon prime lenses). Near the beginning about the 10 second mark.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Odo8gIyOtRU

[stikyfingas]

http://www.vimeo.com/1456775 a short video I shot showing how using ND filters and the long end of the lens you can achieve shallow DOF for film look

[yugosaki]

http://www.vimeo.com/1456775 a short video I shot showing how using ND filters and the long end of the lens you can achieve shallow DOF for film look


Nice, I forgot to take zoom into account. I'll have to try that.