"Admirable" blur samples

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Jonas B
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p.2 #1 · "Admirable" blur samples

telyt wrote:
Jonas B wrote:
The EF135/2 is one of the best for anything, isn't it?

Ummm.... about half of the 135/2 L photos posted in this thread are showing bokeh that I'd say was distracting.

At a second look I think you are right. I'm just used to see great 135/2L images and didn't pay attention.

I don't know of any lenses that can't get lured into producing bad bokeh (bad as in distracting, bright rings or double lines or just very edgy edges). Maybe it is a combination of relative distances (camera - focus plane - background) and the used aperture.

Jul 03, 2008 at 01:29 AM

teh_rebel
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p.2 #2 · "Admirable" blur samples

cogitech wrote:
When did the 85L and 135L become alternatives?

As nice as they are, the shots are out of place in this forum.

per the OP of the thread, so just showing some examples .. sorry.

Jonas B wrote:
Jman13 wrote:
Only alternatives? I'll stretch the definition and include some from my Sigma 150 as well.

No, not alternatives only. But Sigma is not a stretch at all. And I like the blur in the portrait shots.

Jul 03, 2008 at 01:31 AM

Jonas B
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p.2 #3 · "Admirable" blur samples

asabet wrote:
The Sigma DP1 renders pleasing background blur on close-up shots:
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I don't agree here. The background highlights are to "edgy" to my eyes. I would ahve preferred a smoother background.

Jul 03, 2008 at 01:33 AM

StevenPA
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p.2 #4 · "Admirable" blur samples

Here's an unlikely candidate for producing admirable blur. That's right, kids. It's the Leica 35-70/4.

And here's the OM 90/2 wide open.

Jul 03, 2008 at 01:46 AM

Jonas B
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p.2 #5 · "Admirable" blur samples

teh_rebel wrote:
cogitech wrote:
When did the 85L and 135L become alternatives?

As nice as they are, the shots are out of place in this forum.

per the OP of the thread, so just showing some examples .. sorry.

Jonas B wrote:
Jman13 wrote:
Only alternatives? I'll stretch the definition and include some from my Sigma 150 as well.

No, not alternatives only. But Sigma is not a stretch at all. And I like the blur in the portrait shots.

As long as there aren't too many of them I personally don't mind something from a Canon or Nikon lens (perhaps a DC lens?). Then it can be discussed if it _is_ allowed - it is after all Fred's forum.

Jul 03, 2008 at 01:48 AM

mh2000
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p.2 #6 · "Admirable" blur samples

Personally, I hope no list Nazi's take hold and destroy nice threads like this one that show comparitive examples from many lenses... and illustrate why people shoot "alternative lenses." I also kind of agree that the 135L doesn't shine as brightly here as when it is compared to other Canon lenses in the Canon Forum.

telyt wrote:
Jonas B wrote:
The EF135/2 is one of the best for anything, isn't it?

Ummm.... about half of the 135/2 L photos posted in this thread are showing bokeh that I'd say was distracting.

and:

When did the 85L and 135L become alternatives?

As nice as they are, the shots are out of place in this forum.

Jul 03, 2008 at 04:06 AM

mh2000
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p.2 #7 · "Admirable" blur samples

I don't shoot that many shallow DOF images...

Summicron-R 50 @ f2.4 looks nice IMO (looks better on the print than downsampled for web):

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the very lowly EF 50/1.8 MKII @ f2.2 doesn't do too badly either IMO (no brightlines here):

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Jul 03, 2008 at 04:17 AM

goodwrench
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p.2 #8 · "Admirable" blur samples

I'll play, some Minolta bokeh

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KM 7D, Minolta 200G

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KM 7D, Minolta 85 1.4G @f2

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KM 7D, Minolta 100 Macro @f4

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KM 7D, Minolta 100 Macro @f2.8

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Sony A700, Minolta 200G

Garth

Edited on Jul 03, 2008 at 05:12 AM

Jul 03, 2008 at 05:11 AM

rsrsrs
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p.2 #9 · "Admirable" blur samples

hi,
i'm very pleased with this difficult blur situation.

canon 5D + nikkor 55mm 1:1,2

Jul 03, 2008 at 05:40 AM

pdmphoto
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p.2 #10 · "Admirable" blur samples

The Minolta AF 50/2.8 and 100/2.8 were some of my favorite lenses when I shot with Minolta film. The 85/1.4 is also spectacular, but I never owned it (too heavy, and close in focal length to the 100 macro) . Many of the Minolta AF lenses have great sharpness, color, and bokeh.

Jul 03, 2008 at 05:52 AM

cogitech
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p.2 #11 · "Admirable" blur samples

Jonas B wrote:

I don't know of any lenses that can't get lured into producing bad bokeh (bad as in distracting, bright rings or double lines or just very edgy edges). Maybe it is a combination of relative distances (camera - focus plane - background) and the used aperture.

I agree. Likewise, most lenses can produce good bokeh in the right circumstances, and I know for a fact that relative camera - focus plane - background - subject distances are the key.

Here is the Zuiko 50/1.4 wide open on my 5D:

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Jul 03, 2008 at 07:41 PM

cogitech
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p.2 #12 · "Admirable" blur samples

Here's some $6 bokeh. CPC 135/2.8, wide open:

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But, as per the discussion immediately above, the situation changes significantly when the distances (and content) change:

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Edited on Jul 03, 2008 at 07:48 PM

Jul 03, 2008 at 07:46 PM

Andi Dietrich
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p.2 #13 · "Admirable" blur samples

50mm zf

Jul 03, 2008 at 07:51 PM

cogitech
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p.2 #14 · "Admirable" blur samples

And how about some $2500 bokeh?

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(CZ21)

Edited on Jul 03, 2008 at 08:36 PM

Jul 03, 2008 at 08:18 PM

Jonas B
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p.2 #15 · "Admirable" blur samples

cogitech wrote:
Jonas B wrote:

I don't know of any lenses that can't get lured into producing bad bokeh (bad as in distracting, bright rings or double lines or just very edgy edges). Maybe it is a combination of relative distances (camera - focus plane - background) and the used aperture.

I agree. Likewise, most lenses can produce good bokeh in the right circumstances, and I know for a fact that relative camera - focus plane - background - subject distances are the key.

Here is the Zuiko 50/1.4 wide open on my 5D:

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And here we have the same lens again, but now with a much more demanding background:

Jul 03, 2008 at 09:19 PM

PeaktoPeek
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p.2 #16 · "Admirable" blur samples

Another unlikely lens for decent bokeh, Zeiss 35-70 -- this was in MACRO mode 35mm at I think about f/8. The combination of close focussing distance and distant background really help.

Jul 03, 2008 at 09:44 PM

ovredal73
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p.2 #17 · "Admirable" blur samples

The macro mode on the Zeiss 35-70 is quite a remarkable feature. Also this bokeh example you posted here is really nice, Paul.

Jul 03, 2008 at 10:39 PM

ovredal73
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p.2 #18 · "Admirable" blur samples

Does the Canon 50 1.0 qualify as alt yet...? Visited a good friend yesterday who has one and can´t help myself. Shot with my 5D at his kitchen table:

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( A Norwegian brown cheese)

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Edited on Jul 04, 2008 at 12:08 AM

Jul 04, 2008 at 12:07 AM

Jonas B
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p.2 #19 · "Admirable" blur samples

ovredal73 wrote:
Does the Canon 50 1.0 qualify as alt yet...? Visited a good friend yesterday who has one and can´t help myself. Shot with my 5D at his kitchen table:

It's "alt" to me, at least thinking of its age...

But... it won't win any bokeh prices, at least not for the images you have shown here. That said, I would love to experiment a little with that lens if it had been available.

Jul 04, 2008 at 12:11 AM

Jonas B
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p.2 #20 · "Admirable" blur samples

Andi Dietrich posted a 50mm zf image:

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That is an, to my eyes, appealing image. I like the curve the leave (or what it is) describes and how the light and tone is changed when it meets the curtain. The focus is not at the center petals but I guess there is a reason for that. I like this image.

Technically I would describe the bokeh as decent but not stellar. The curtain isn't gently rounded off but there are distracting lines at the bottom end of it and the salt and pepper cellars are also a little distracting (the bright bottoms).

Jul 04, 2008 at 12:30 AM

cogitech
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p.2 #21 · "Admirable" blur samples

Jonas B wrote:
cogitech wrote:
Jonas B wrote:

I don't know of any lenses that can't get lured into producing bad bokeh (bad as in distracting, bright rings or double lines or just very edgy edges). Maybe it is a combination of relative distances (camera - focus plane - background) and the used aperture.

I agree. Likewise, most lenses can produce good bokeh in the right circumstances, and I know for a fact that relative camera - focus plane - background - subject distances are the key.

Here is the Zuiko 50/1.4 wide open on my 5D:

This image is copyrighted by the owner

And here we have the same lens again, but now with a much more demanding background:

In the image cogitech posted we can actually see hints of this "bright ring" behavior if we look closely to the background. There are some spots there rendered as pretty large circles with a tiny ring on them.

Thanks for completing the comparison of the Zuiko 50/1.4, Jonas. Not only is the background more challenging in your shot but also, even more importantly, the focus was much closer in my shot. As these relative distances between the sensor plane, the subject and the background change, the nature of the bokeh is dramatically affected. That is a brick wall behind my wife and her pink vest has a quilted pattern that was simply smeared to nothing. If you had stepped forward and focused 6 to 8 inches closer, the bokeh (among many other aspects) of your shot would look entirely different.

I think this is why macro (including flower "macro") shots often show creamy smooth bokeh. Likewise, all of this is affected by the ratio of focal length to aperture, as well. Hence, my 350/5.6 Soligor renders gorgeous blurred backgrounds at or near close focus distance, even at f11. (I think the 15 beautifully curved aperture blades do help a bit, though.)

Edited on Jul 04, 2008 at 01:38 AM

Jul 04, 2008 at 01:28 AM

Jonas B
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p.2 #22 · "Admirable" blur samples

cogitech wrote:
(...) As these relative distances between the sensor plane, the subject and the background change, the nature of the bokeh is dramatically affected. That is a brick wall behind my wife and her pink vest has a quilted pattern that was simply smeared to nothing. If you had stepped forward and focused 6 to 8 inches closer, the bokeh (among many other aspects) of your shot would look entirely different.

I think this is why macro (including flower "macro") shots often show creamy smooth bokeh. Likewise, all of this is affected by the ratio of focal length to aperture, as well. Hence, my 350/5.6 Soligor renders gorgeous blurred backgrounds at or near close focus distance, even at f11. (I think the 15 beautifully curved aperture blades do help a bit, though.)

I agree. I also think that is why we see alot of close-ups and flowers in this thread.

Here is one small image:

It is the thumbnail from a small gallery showing the same image in 50% size, taken with the Leica Summicron-R 50/2, Summilux-R 50/1.4 type 1 and Summilux-R 50/1.4 E60. Each image is around 800kB so anyone wanting to see them can use this link.
It has been posted here earlier as a reply to a question about Leica 50mm lenses.

regards,

Jul 04, 2008 at 02:17 AM

Daniel Buck
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p.2 #23 · "Admirable" blur samples

here's some that will be difficult on 35mm, a 145mm f2.0 petzval type lens on a 4x5 camera. I'll be using this lens alot!

It's roughly a 'normal" focal length lens, but pretty darn fast for being put infront of a 4x5.

1st one focused at about 10 feet, 2nd one focused at about 4 feet

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Edited on Jul 04, 2008 at 02:59 AM

Jul 04, 2008 at 02:56 AM

goodwrench
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p.2 #24 · "Admirable" blur samples

I agree with Cogitech, almost any lens can be lured into back bokeh (except mabey the Minolta/Sony 135 STF). Close up bokeh is the easiest to have nice, like the flower shots posted. The lens is tested much more when the distance from photographer to subject is greater and the subject occupies a smaller part of the frame.

Some examples.

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KM 7D Minolta 70-210 f4 @ 210 and f5.6

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Konica-Minolta Maxxum 7 Digital
1/300s f/2.8 at 200.0mm iso100

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KM 7D, 85 1.4 @f2

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KM 7D, 85 1.4 @ 1.4 or mabey f2

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Sony DSLR-A100
1/3200s f/1.4 at 85.0mm iso100

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Sony DSLR-A100
1/80s f/2.0 at 50.0mm iso200

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Sony A700, Minolta 200G

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Sony A700, Minolta 200G

Comments please!

Garth

Edited on Jul 04, 2008 at 04:57 AM

Jul 04, 2008 at 04:56 AM

pdmphoto
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p.2 #25 · "Admirable" blur samples

Your Minolta 200G shot looks like its stopped down a little (circles are lookking a little edgy)? Wide open, I always got beautiful smooth bokeh with it.

Edited on Jul 04, 2008 at 07:21 AM

Jul 04, 2008 at 07:20 AM


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