Shallow DOF/Creative Blur with the Rebel

[B.D.]

Hi,

Rookie Here.

I have ordered the 300d and wanted to know ahead of time if there are any special lens that help with creating a shallow depth of field in situations other than closeup shots?

I have been using Canon G3 and due to the smaller aperture, have found it difficult to induce good creative blur. Growing weary of trying to reproduce in Photoshop.

Thanks in advance,

B.D.

[Belmondo]

Welcome to the forum and congratulations on the new camera.

Depth of field is really a function of aperture. The larger the opening, the shallower the depth of field.

You'll notice that a s a general 'rule of thumb,' lenses with larger apertures tend to be more expensive. Compare the 70-200 f/4L to the 70-200 f/2.8L (non-IS), or the 85 f/1.8 with the 85 f/1.2L.

This is not to say you won't get some control over depth of field with your kit lens. It just won't be as pronounced as it would be on the larger lenses.

[petiot]

Hi

First welcome, i am sure you will enjoy your camera. regarding your question on dof, i woudl say that the longer the focal and the larger the apperture you have, the more shallow the dof. (sorry for the poor english)

For instance, long lens are good for portrait photo since they allow to blur the background (and also to reduce the perspective effect). Fast lenses (e.g. canon ef 50 f1.4, 85 f2.8) would most certainly give you a shallow dof.

you can have a look a those sites which provide dof calculators as a function of focal, apperture and subject distance. You can play around with these and make yourself an idea of what focal and what apperture, and therefore which lens, would suits your needs.

http://dfleming.ameranet.com/dofjs.html
http://www.outsight.com/hyperfocal.html
http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/fototech/htmls/depth.html

hope this can help

Dan

[Andy_T]

Hi,

welcome to the forum ...

no big problem, simply spend a whopping 80$ on the 1.8/50.
Apart from being very fast, it's also a very sharp lens (a lot better than the kit lens) and offers great value-for-money.

The corresponding DOF value of the G3 can really not be compared to a DSLR due to the smaller sensor size of the G3.

If you use f/5.6 on the DRebel, my guess from viewing photographs from both cameras is that it will be similar to f/2.0 on the G3, as far as the DOF is concerned.

So the 50 f/1.8 will give you all the creative options you need.
Actually, if you use the lens wide open, you'll have to learn to select the DOF plane so that everything you want to have in focus fits inside.

There have been posted portraits with the 85 f/1.2 L on this forum where the tip of the nose was perfectly in focus, but the eyes were not because of the shallow DOF.

Oh yeah ... nothing like an example picture from a very good review that can be found at http://www.photo.net/equipment/canon/ef50/

Left image is 50/1.8 @F2 ; Right image is 50/1.8 @F5.6

http://www.photo.net/equipment/canon/ef50/bokeh-2-18.jpg

Best regards,
Andy

[cmM]

. Compare the 70-200 f/4L to the 70-200 f/2.8L (non-IS), or the 85 f/1.8 with the 85 f/1.2L.
Or the 50mm f/1.8 with the 50mm f/1.0 :P

Welcome, B.D.
I have the Rebel and the amazingly-cheap-yet-wonderfull 50mm f/1.8
I think you can get cool background blur with it.

here's a shot almost wide open
http://www.cmuntean.net/images/july2.jpg

[hmhm]

Your g3, shot at its widest aperture of f/2.0, will give comparable depth of field to the 300d shot at f/6. Shoot the 300D at an aperture larger than f/6, and you'll get more shallow depth of field. Since pretty much every EF lens goes larger than f/6 (except for some telephoto zooms mated with tele-converters, etc.), you can get shallower depth of field on the 300D without needing any specific lens.

You can get pretty far just knowing two things about depth of field: it gets shallower as the subjects get "smaller" and as the aperture gets wider (smaller f-numbers).

The more expensive zooms typically go to f/2.8, beyond that you'll need primes. A 50/1.8 is a pretty cheap way to get very shallow DOF. Again, though, just moving from the g3 to the 300d will give you a big boost in your ability to get shallow depth of field, so see what the kit lens gets you before you decide you need to buy something more.
-harry

[drisley]

When I sold my G3 and got a 300D, one of my favourite improvements was the ability to get creative DOF blur. The 300D is MUCH, MUCH better in this respect (and the same as most DSLR's)!

This picture was shot with the 70-200F4L from a LONG way away, and I still got great blur. I couldnt even come close with the G3 even if I had the camera right in her face at F2 :)

http://www.mts.net/~lftbrain/rebel/dance/hi_nbour_june05_018_std.jpg

[Persian-Rice]

When I sold my G3 and got a 300D, one of my favourite improvements was the ability to get creative DOF blur. The 300D is MUCH, MUCH better in this respect (and the same as most DSLR's)!

This picture was shot with the 70-200F4L from a LONG way away, and I still got great blur. I couldnt even come close with the G3 even if I had the camera right in her face at F2 :)

http://www.mts.net/~lftbrain/rebel/dance/hi_nbour_june05_018_std.jpg

Drisley, is that taken at 200? If so how far away are we talking?
I just want to get an idea of what the reach of a 200 with a 10d is.

Thanks

[drisley]

Yes, that was 200mm @F4 from a very good distance.
I was about 25 feet away from the stage, and she was behind the stage which was about 25 feet deep. I'm guessing it was about 50 feet, but that is just a guess.
All I know is, she didnt realize that big 70-200F4L was pointed at her.

[B.D.]

Thank you everyone for the warm welcome and terrific information!

B.D.

[Haifidelity]

The following was taken w/70-200mm f/2.8L at 200mm & a 10D.

In 35mm terms, it's about 320mm. Looking at the relative size of the lens, you'd expect it to reach more, but I find that I wished I had even more at the telephoto end with the 70-200.

http://hza.pgbco.com/gallery/albums/inbox/temp_rock1.jpg

[roanjohn]

To blur the background.........you need a wide aperture and a longer focal length.

And yes..........the f1.8 aperture of the 50mm lens will give you a beautiful background blur in the cheap.........:-)

Ro1