Distance from end of lens to subject

[Sadie1]

Is there an easy way to see the distance in feet when reviewing pics. I’d like to know how far away the subject was. A friend’s Nikon has it as part of metadata but I’m not seeing it in the Canon metadata

[kvbarkley]

It will not be from the front of the lens. It will be from the sensor, and only certain lenses provide the data. Moreover, you might need DPP to see it.

[TCampbell]

Focus distance is measured from the sensor (there's a universal mark on nearly every camera body ... looks like a circle with a horizontal line drawn through the center of it)  

See:  http://www.photokonnexion.com/definition-focal-plane-mark/

The camera in that photo happens to be a Canon camera, but it doesn't matter... every camera manufacturer uses that same symbol and has for years... you can find this on cameras that are 50 years old.  On some older cameras it was just a line (no circle) but the line with the circle has been the industry standard for a very long time.

Many lenses will report the focus distance to the camera ... but not ALL lenses.  If the lens reports the info, then Canon includes it in the image meta-data. 

The distance from the front of the lens to the subject is sometimes called the "working distance".  This info is not in the meta-data (the industry standard is to go by "focus distance" not "working distance").  If you really wanted to know the "working distance" you'd have to measure from the focus mark to the front of the lens and subtract that from the focus distance.  Just place the camera nose-down (lens down) on a flat table and measure the height from the table to the focus plane mark.

[Sadie1]

Thank You. I was hoping the exif data would list the distance as I am asked after a picture is printed what distance I was.

[Sadie1]

Thank you - on my laptop - DPP does not work well - it keeps crashing.     Do you know where I can find the list of lenses that provide that info?

[CaliforniaDream]

Quote: " If you really wanted to know the "working distance" you'd have to measure from the focus mark to the front of the lens and subtract that from the focus distance.  Just place the camera nose-down (lens down) on a flat table and measure the height from the table to the focus plane mark."

And of course if the lens extends as you use the variable focal length set it to the same fl.  That info is usually in the meta data also.

[Sadie1]

Thank you.    I think I should hit the resolve button.     I don't think I presented my question clearly.     If I'm looking at a picture on the laptop and I'm not pleased with the sharpness of the subject I was focusing on - it would be nice to know approximately how many feet I was from the subject.

When out shooting wildlife - there are birds I think I can get a decent shot and they do not come out.     I am not a good judge of distance so I was hoping there was an easy way of finding the the focus distance.     I am using the Canon 100-400 L II lens.    Must be I would need the larger lense to get that information displayed in the metadata.

Thank you

[kvbarkley]

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@Sadie1 wrote:

Thank you - on my laptop - DPP does not work well - it keeps crashing.     Do you know where I can find the list of lenses that provide that info?

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I don't think Canon provides that info.

[kvbarkley]

What camera do you have? Some will display the points that were in focus when the shot was taken - as long as you have lens coreections turned off.

[Sadie1]

I have the Canon 5D Mark IV