Wide aperture shooting - what's the trick?!?!?

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Archive 2008 · Wide aperture shooting - what's the trick?!?!?

TVRguy
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p.2 #1 · Wide aperture shooting - what's the trick?!?!?

well... here is a sample of what I'd call a reasonably sharp shot. I BELIEVE it is "more likely" to front-focus, which may have happened slightly in this shot. Either way, if I could get results like this with people, handheld, I'd be pretty happy.

This was wide open (POSSIBLY F/2 but I"m pretty sure wide open). I took a series starting wide open, this was the first shot. Braced my elbows on the countertop.

This image is copyrighted by the owner

to downlaod the whole file. remove the space at the beginning of the URL:
h ttp://images42.fotki.com/v1380/filepE4b/1668d/2/242648/6955734/RokkorSample002.jpg

This was processed from RAW using Capture One, with auto-correct. The contrast boost helped a lot, wide open this lens has mediocre contrast and color.

I will try the ruler test with a tripod to figure out the pattern.

Thanks

Nov 23, 2008 at 05:50 PM

TVRguy
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p.2 #2 · Wide aperture shooting - what's the trick?!?!?

Ok - now I"m getting somewhere... :-) These are with available light, wide open at 1.4:

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The "macro rocking" method seems to work best. Still mostly throwaway... but now getting some shots that look pretty good.

And the lens is PLENTY sharp - these are WIDE OPEN. Contrast and color are not great at f/1.4 but that is manageable.

full download:
ht tp://images48.fotki.com/v1406/filek56y/1668d/2/242648/6955734/RokkorSample008.jpg

This image is copyrighted by the owner

full download:
ht tp://images48.fotki.com/v1406/file4QyN/1668d/2/242648/6955734/RokkorSample007.jpg

Another:

This image is copyrighted by the owner

whole file:
ht tp://images46.fotki.com/v1413/file5PP2/1668d/2/242648/6955734/RokkorSample003.jpg

Thanks
-Glenn

Nov 23, 2008 at 07:18 PM

Mike Ganz
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p.2 #3 · Wide aperture shooting - what's the trick?!?!?

TVRguy wrote:
Ok - now I"m getting somewhere... :-)

You should still give consideration to a focus screen that's more conducive to manual focusing...you'll be able to focus that much quicker (without the macro 'rocking'), and your keeper rate will jump up significantly.

Nov 23, 2008 at 07:26 PM

TVRguy
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p.2 #4 · Wide aperture shooting - what's the trick?!?!?

I agree, Mike. I would like to be able to shoot more spontaneously...

So now I've just got to pick the right one :-)

Thanks
-Glenn

Nov 23, 2008 at 07:41 PM

sworth
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p.2 #5 · Wide aperture shooting - what's the trick?!?!?

It helps to use just one focus point. That way, you know exactly what AF is locking in on.

Nov 23, 2008 at 07:59 PM

TVRguy
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p.2 #6 · Wide aperture shooting - what's the trick?!?!?

sworth, this is all manual focus :-)

Nov 23, 2008 at 08:10 PM

TVRguy
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p.2 #7 · Wide aperture shooting - what's the trick?!?!?

You know - it's kind of cool NOT being a sharpness junkie for once.

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This is going to be fun :-)

Thanks
-Glenn

Nov 24, 2008 at 03:50 AM

ISO1600
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p.2 #8 · Wide aperture shooting - what's the trick?!?!?

some of you guys are shakey bastards if you can't handhold a 50 at 1/100th.

Nov 24, 2008 at 04:34 AM

TVRguy
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p.2 #9 · Wide aperture shooting - what's the trick?!?!?

Did you ever see "Blazing Saddles"?

"but this is the hand I shoot with...."

That's me :-)

Actually partly due to a blood sugar condition - but hey, I never claimed to have steady hands.

Nov 24, 2008 at 04:48 AM

TVRguy
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p.2 #10 · Wide aperture shooting - what's the trick?!?!?

So let me ask this - if I get the Ec-S screen, I'd have to change it out occasionally? How hard is that to do?

I have the following lenses:

AF:
Vivitar 100mm 3.5 macro (more like a MF lens, but it's f/3.5 so...)
Canon EF 17-40 F4L
Canon EF 70-200 F4L
Tamron 28-75 2.8 - this is the one on the camera 90% of the time
Canon 50mm 1.8 II

MF:
Zenitar 16mm fisheye
Minolta Rokkor-X PF 55mm 1.4

I guess I'd have to choose for each occasion, if I prefer MF or AF, and choose the focusing screen that works best? What about all this shimming?

Changing screens doesn't sound like something I want to do on a regular basis...

Thanks
-Glenn

Nov 26, 2008 at 03:33 AM

cogitech
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p.2 #11 · Wide aperture shooting - what's the trick?!?!?

Nah, just get the Ec-S and leave it in.

Nov 26, 2008 at 04:10 AM

TVRguy
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p.2 #12 · Wide aperture shooting - what's the trick?!?!?

but won't that be a problem with the F4 lenses?? will I have a dark viewfinder?

thanks

Nov 26, 2008 at 05:47 AM

HansenTsang
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p.2 #13 · Wide aperture shooting - what's the trick?!?!?

Yes but from your list you only have AF lenses at f4. I don't like to manual focus on f4 lenses with any screen unless it is very bright and sunny.

Nov 26, 2008 at 06:49 AM

cogitech
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p.2 #14 · Wide aperture shooting - what's the trick?!?!?

TVRguy wrote:
but won't that be a problem with the F4 lenses?? will I have a dark viewfinder?

thanks

Dark?

It's all relative.

I stuck my Ee-S (the 5D equivalent of the Ec-S) in on day 3 and it has been in there ever since.

I can use it with my f5.6 mirror lens (manual focus), and for slower AF glass it is fine too. People overstate the darkness issue in my opinion. The only way to find out is ...

Nov 26, 2008 at 12:18 PM

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