Sensor Size and DOF

[jimhare]

There have been a lot of discussions about sensor size and how it relates to depth of field. :cursing:

Just trying to get my head around the reality of this.

In one sense the DOF can't change with sensor size because the depth is the same whether the image is cropped or not. Just because we're only looking the center of the image doesn't change the depth we can see.

However, is the real fact that to obtain the same zoom/crop level, you would naturally use longer lenses on a larger sensor, which will have a VERY real effect on DOF?

Can someone in the know let me know if this is the right thinking, or if in fact a larger sensor in itself affects DOF, as some seem to suggest.

Thanks,

Jim

[Stephen Strangways]

You've got it figured out. To obtain the same field of view (zoom/crop level) on different size sensors, you would use different lenses (yes, longer lenses on larger sensors) which does have an effect on DOF.

[jimhare]

Thanks Stephen, I was scratching my head for a while based on the discussions that have been floating around regarding DOF and sensor size.

This was the only conclusion I could come up with.

Cheers,

Jim