Zeiss 55mm F1.8 - background blurs too quickly, compact alternative?
Appreciate the responses from you all.
Steve Spencer wrote:
You might also consider the Sigma 45 f/2.8 i-series lens. It doesn't produce a lot of blur as an f/2.8 lens, but I like the quality of the blur it produces. The lens also has a slow transition from in focus to out of focus. Both the quality of the blur and the transition are a bit usual and probably the product of less than fully corrected spherical aberrations. Take a look at the thread for that lens in this forum--it is pretty long--and see if it might be more to your liking.
I think the 45 f2.8 is almost like the opposite of the 55mm f1.8. Out of focus fall off is so slow that you need to get really up close.
I agree that it has really pleasing rendering when you are close but, I was hoping maybe the Sigma 50mm f2 would be a nice in-between.
I'm finding it hard to let go of the 45mm f2.8 even though it's not really what I want as my go-to.
Really close to the subject, it's wicked, not close enough and it's a touch too slow for general purpose.
I feel I'm constrained with both of them. Distortion on peoples faces and being a nuisance with the camera just a bit too close with the 45mm, or walking back far with the 55mm f1.8.
At 2.5m, the fall off on the 55 is lovely. But it's too far and I don't have the a7cr.
Similarly for action with great autofocus, and a compact size, hard to let go of the 55mm f1.8 either.
Aug 05, 2025 at 11:12 AM
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