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D40 : Depth of field

Having shot almost exclusively with a compact digital (Canon A510) for the last four years I forgot how much fun and challenging optics is.

The small sensor and the short focal length of the compact, much like older, rangefinder point and shoots (e.g. yashika mg-1) gave almost pinhole camera like behavior. Basically with these cameras infinity was about an arms length or so away and I would be more causal with the focus.

With the D40 its back to the F65 habits. Depth of field is back down (which is what I wanted). But I'm not used to it any more.

For this shot (click for full size crop) I thought "I'll just focus on them clouds there, the trees are at infinity, just like the clouds, it'll be all right". Not so. The trees look annoying because they are slightly out of focus, but you can see the sharp edge of the cloud. f6.3, 18mm. Shoulda stopped down the lens more.

In case there was any doubt, the kit lens can focus:

So I have no one to blame but myself...
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