How to Get Maximum Depth
From your Photography Guide

Using maximum depth of sharpness in a picture enables you to show near and distant objects sharply.

Difficulty Level: Easy    Time Required: 5 minutes

Here's How:

1. You can only control depth of field in your picture if you camera allows you to turn off autofocus and focus manually, and to set the lens aperture.
2. The smaller the aperture (larger f number) the more depth of field you get. There is an
3. Decide on the closest and furthest objects in the scene you want to be sharp.
4. Focus on each in turn and read the distance from the focus scale.
5. If your lens does not have a depth of field scale you can use depth of field tables.
6. Choose what you think might be a suitable aperture, and set the closest distance to the near depth of field marker shown for that aperture on the scale.
7. Check the distance against the far depth of field marker; if it is less than your furthest object, try again for one stop less, if more for one stop more.
8. When you have both near and far markers for a particular aperture on the depth of field scale at the required distance, set that aperture.
9. Check the shutter speed you need and decide if a tripod is necessary (normally advisable for speeds under 1/60 second with a normal or wideangle lens.)
10. Take your picture without refocussing the camera.

Tips:

1. It is seldom best to focus on infinity - set the far marker for the lens aperture in use against infinity to get maximum depth of field.
2. For cameras with lens or back movements the plane of focus is not necessarily parallel to the film plane. Check sharpness with a magnifier on the ground glass.
3. For large prints you may need to close the aperture one stop before exposure.