Do you ever use this? When the button is depressed this function sets the lens aperature to the setting used in the camera's current exposure settings so you can see the actual depth of field in the viewfinder. Whenever I try this everything just looks darker; I don't notice any difference in the depth of field. It looks like I can see the depth of field w/o using the button. I think I am missing something.

After re-reading my manual I just noticed it says the button enables you to see the "effect" of the depth of field in the viewfinder. This may be different than "actual" depth of field?

Not a clue...i am just a comic...insane grin

Thanks Tedz. I feel better now :-)

I'm with you on this one coolj. I think maybe my eyes aren't good enough to see the difference. But yes, you're supposed to be able to see the depth of field just as it will come out in your picture.

hmmm... on my DSLR i can do it and it works... if i press that button the aperture closes and i see a difference... (well - i don't see anything if i have the aperture fully open...) what cam do you use?

I didn't know there WAS a DOF preview button.But then I just got this cam and know very little about it. I'm always learning something new here!

I am using a Konica Minota 5D and one of their D-series lens designed for use with this camera. I wonder if my lens automatically does this DOF preview thing for me. Maybe if I tried a third party or non-D series lens it would work differently? hmmmm.

Margana...not all cameras have such a button.

Ah.That would explain it.Thank you!!! ;^) Hope it works out for you...it sounds like an interesting feature.

have you tried to close the shutter all way (in aperture mode) and tried the button there...?!? should work :) normally you should also see the viewfinder-pic getting darker a bit

I think I have found the problem...me! lol. I just tried again and I think I actually noticed a difference in the DOF. It definetely gets darker, and the difference in DOF is slight but apparant. The stuff outside the focus area becomes a bit clearer when using the button. The amount of change depends on the aperature as it should. It is just hard to tell when it gets darker. I must start paying better attention! I believe it was working correctly the entire time but I wasn't. :-)

lol but well... :) that does happen sometimes... :D try it in good light and with the aperture closed as far as possible (f=22) and you'll see big difference... :))

Thanks for getting me to try it again...I may not have ever realized it works if you didn't leave that last comment. Yes...I must try this outdoors...during the day. :-)

Yep, it makes things darker, and the effect is least noticable when using telelens (DOF is relatively shallow), but using wide angle you can notice it very well!

When I get a cam with that feature, I'll let you know. I don't know if my eye would be good enough to see much of a difference though. Come to think of it, I seem to recall my old TopCon film camera had such a button, it did make everything darker. I never really used it though.

sorry...i don't anything about this kind of button. :(

DOF preview is mainly on SLR's,...DSLRS

Is it on the 20D do you think?Because I just got it two minutes ago...

yes, it will Marlene...on the body!....most DSLR Canons have this feature...not sure about other makes of DLSR.

Oh goody!!!!Now I can keep reading this thread and it will be relevant,lol!

With digital cams, well, many of them that even have a dof button, you set the aperture and hit the button, get a look. What was nice with some old film slrs is you could move the lens apeture and see the effect immediately, one stop to another. I did this at work today with a coworkers Minolta 35mm slr. I have not tried this with digital lenses that actually have aperture settings, using manual. I do not know if it will work. Many cpu digital lenses have no apetrure setting, using camera for that. Otherwise, you are advised to set the lens at max aperture and lock it there. Then the cam does the stuff. I do have a lens or two with manual aperture and will try to see if I can cycle through using the lens on manual and get a dof preview...I doubt it will work since the cam is wanting to do it's own stuff. But, we will see. With a film camera, the preview is very useful in macro and closeup shots. It is realtively easy to see the central area of focus and adjust as needed, to focus in a third or whatever. Well, you do need decent light and a good eye while doing it..at least I do. For macro, I see the feature very helpful even if I have neglected this feature.

I use it nearly all the time (Canon 10D), I find it very useful. I find it works beter on bright sunny days, as my Cyprus series. Steve

My camera's cheap!!! I don't have one of those!!!