goofin with Depth of Field, small sensors and old lenses...

I just HATE my Tamron 28-200 zoom, it's the very definition of a cheap lens, right down to the lack of AF and the way the zoom ring moves when the camera's (Nikon D5000) tipped down. I also have some of the best Nikon 35mm glass made. So, whether it's necessity being the mother of invention, or just plain curiosity, it got me thinking. How about I pull out the old Nikkor 50mm f1.4 and see what the depth of field looks like, wide open. Everybody KNOWS these digital cameras can't do shallow DOF, right?

Well, it's a little different from what we've all become used to, but it's hard to call it a challenge if you've shot, as I have, for 20 years with a camera without a battery in it. (Hasselblad 500C/M and Sinar 4x5). Armed with my trusty histogram and my rusty memory of approximate exposures, I started snapping away.

Here's a hand-held shot at ISO 200- 1/125 at f1.4. Depth of filed that would make even Martha Stewart weep tears of lust.



Here's a detail at around print size...



Think I'm starting down a strange, but somehow comforting new road...