50mm - "Bokeh Machine..."

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Archive 2008 · 50mm - "Bokeh Machine..."

dcmiller
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p.2 #1 · 50mm - "Bokeh Machine..."

Leica or Sigma

Dec 14, 2008 at 04:12 PM

Sean Mills
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p.2 #2 · 50mm - "Bokeh Machine..."

I adore the the bokeh from the 50L.
There are lots of nice alt lenses out there that draw bokeh nicely too, but for native EF mount the L is the champ IMO.

Dec 14, 2008 at 04:57 PM

krobatshov
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p.2 #3 · 50mm - "Bokeh Machine..."

thanks for your help

I've also considered getting - don't hit me now...

- a nikon prime 1.2 ais or 1.4
is it possible to use af lenses via adapters on canon? in MF mode, I mean

I know that MF nikons do work on canon... does the same go for af lenses, as long as you switch to mf?

Dec 14, 2008 at 06:21 PM

mh2000
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p.2 #4 · 50mm - "Bokeh Machine..."

Thanks!

No PP other than simple curve work... it was shot on BW400CN film (in a Rebel G heehee) and even the Walgreens proof print looked good.

PetKal wrote:
mh2000 wrote:
EF 50/1.8 wide open with a tree in the background:

That's an exceptionally fine portrait, hopefully exemplifying a notion that good non-commercial photography doesn't hinge on gear prices nor manic postprocessing.

Dec 14, 2008 at 06:30 PM

mh2000
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p.2 #5 · 50mm - "Bokeh Machine..."

>>While the pic is nice, It looks postprocessed to me.

?? What looks postprocessed ??

A straight film scan with a simple curve adjust... are you just not used to seeing film images?

Dec 14, 2008 at 06:32 PM

mh2000
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p.2 #6 · 50mm - "Bokeh Machine..."

I'm thinking both!

dcmiller wrote:
Leica or Sigma

Dec 14, 2008 at 06:33 PM

Mike Tuomey
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p.2 #7 · 50mm - "Bokeh Machine..."

on my monitor, mh2000's pic is gorgeous. something in it brought peter pan or maybe wiz of oz to mind, actually. very nice use of dof, but imho a wonderful composition most of all. tom, what are you viewing with?

Dec 14, 2008 at 08:42 PM

RobertLynn
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p.2 #8 · 50mm - "Bokeh Machine..."

Lance Couture wrote:
RobertLynn wrote:
I actually like the bokeh from my nifty fifty.

Have you shot it wide open with say, trees in the background, Robert?

It actually has pretty nervous bokeh. One reason I ditched it and went with the 1.4 version.

I would go with the Sigma, but with all of the front/back focus horror stories... eh... no thanks.

Yes, i've shot with it wide open, with busy backgrounds. I still like it

Dec 14, 2008 at 10:35 PM

ansye
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p.2 #9 · 50mm - "Bokeh Machine..."

I have used all the canon 50mm and 50L is way better in my opinion, but you would expect that from such a high price. I haven't use any alternative, but for bokeh, and overall image quality, I will just keep my 50L. Quite happy here.

Sample at f3.2 with 5D: http://www.pbase.com/titik_dua/image/84935633

/ansye

Dec 15, 2008 at 02:20 AM

Drew_Persson
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p.2 #10 · 50mm - "Bokeh Machine..."

Sigma 50mm f/1.4 on 1Ds2, ISO 1000, handheld, 1/13 second at f/2.0.

Yeah the 1Ds2 is noisy above 800, but I like this lens, a lot.

100% crop

Dec 15, 2008 at 05:10 AM

alexandre
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p.2 #11 · 50mm - "Bokeh Machine..."

Rokkor all the way, followed closely by Pentax K 50/1.2 and Zuiko 50/1.4
Didn't like Zuiko 55/1.2, planning to buy Zuiko 50/1.2
You people should go to alt forum discuss this

Dec 15, 2008 at 01:56 PM

adnan76
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p.2 #12 · 50mm - "Bokeh Machine..."

mh2000: Excellent photo! After I saw that, I thought to myself "hmmm, maybe I should let go of my hangups and realize that digital B&W CAN look as good as film B&W"... but then your confirmation it was shot on film set my world right again

Dec 15, 2008 at 08:54 PM

jm42
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p.2 #13 · 50mm - "Bokeh Machine..."

Here’s one comparison between EF 1.8 and 1.2L. Both shots at f/2.0.

This image is copyrighted by the owner

It’s much dependent on the circumstances of course. The 1.8 can be completely ok sometimes, and at the same time if you push the 1.2L a bit the blur may “split” in a way which looks kind of cheap. See below sample, at f/1.6.

This image is copyrighted by the owner

If you work on it you can even get the blur from a noctilux look busy it seems. Anyway, both the noctilux and the rokkor seem to be a class over the EF 1.2L in terms of technical (but not necessarily esthetical) perfection of the bokeh. That's my impression.

Dec 15, 2008 at 09:05 PM

Paul Yi
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p.2 #14 · 50mm - "Bokeh Machine..."

Many people say the bokeh is a subjective taste.
The 50mm lens with best bokeh I've seen is not listed in the choices.

It's a Russian lens called Volna-9.

This was the thread that covered the 50mm lens bokeh test.
http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/665563/0?keyword=volna-9#5939881

Dec 15, 2008 at 09:12 PM

ovredal73
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p.2 #15 · 50mm - "Bokeh Machine..."

For exciting, beautiful bokeh - the Minolta Rokkor 58 1.2 converted to EOS. For perfectly smooth bokeh, there is only one 50mm to consider - the Sigma 1.4.

Dec 16, 2008 at 12:49 AM

Roy Pertchik
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p.2 #16 · 50mm - "Bokeh Machine..."

I'm just learning my Canon 50L, but I like it. It took 3 tries to get a copy I like. First two had terrible backfocus throughout. This third one came directly from Canon HQ after they failed to calibrate the previous copy. It does have the infamous focus shift, but at it's worst, it's about 3/8" at f2.8 at about 2'. The upside is pretty amazing bokeh, IMHO.

2012 © Roy Pertchik

Dec 16, 2008 at 03:25 AM

Mike Farren
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p.2 #17 · 50mm - "Bokeh Machine..."

jm42 wrote:
Here’s one comparison between EF 1.8 and 1.2L. Both shots at f/2.0.

Forgive my ignorance here but which is which in that pic?

Dec 16, 2008 at 11:55 AM

ovredal73
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p.2 #18 · 50mm - "Bokeh Machine..."

jm42 wrote:
Here’s one comparison between EF 1.8 and 1.2L. Both shots at f/2.0.

This image is copyrighted by the owner

The left one has to be the L, right?

Dec 16, 2008 at 12:07 PM

Mike Farren
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p.2 #19 · 50mm - "Bokeh Machine..."

I thought so, the bokeh looks "softer" somehow (and better IMO). I wouldn't stake my house on it though....

Dec 16, 2008 at 12:30 PM

teh_rebel
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p.2 #20 · 50mm - "Bokeh Machine..."

besides that rokkor 58 f1.2 ...

definitely the 50L. i rented for a week and like someone mentioned, while not as sharp as the 85L wide open, i do love the bokeh from it. it has a certain look to it, kinda like how the 85L does.

Dec 16, 2008 at 01:40 PM

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