EF50 F1.8 Lens and Bokeh

[FlyingPete]

This little lens has made it to the top of my buy list, out ranking a Battery grip and a 580EX (currently have a 420EX), and it is cheaper.

Why? My current 28-105 is too slow (read Aperture not focusing speed), at only F3.5 at the wide end I am finding that I am sacrificing ISO to keep shutter speeds up, it has got me into all sorts of trouble I never had with my trusty G3 and its F2.0 - 2.8lens.

One of the other things I would really like is to narrow the field of view, I am thing mainly portraiture for this lens.

The answer - a faster lens, and at the moment I can only really afford the 50/1.8 (I am going to have enough trouble getting that past my wife after my recent 20D purchase, she wants an expensive hobby too :neutral: )

My only concern about this lens is bokeh, I have read that it can be a problem in blurred backgrounds, but if I am doing portrait work with it, and the background is fairly even is it an issue?

Yes I know I should get the 50/1.4, but it is over three times the cost!

[JulianoL]

The 50/1.8 isn't the 50/1.4 as you said, but It's capable of producing some great photos with nice bokeh, for an amazing price. I'm always using it to take portraits. You can't go wrong with the 50/1.8. Buy it, shoot and have fun.

[F1_Fan]

My only concern about this lens is bokeh, I have read that it can be a problem in blurred backgrounds, but if I am doing portrait work with it, and the background is fairly even is it an issue?
With the 1.8 you will get 5-sided highlights under certain conditions but it's never really bothered me... not enough to pay for the 1.4 that is.

Sample:

http://www.foosoftware.com/html/modules/gallery/albums/minoltavslabscan/kodak100UCscantest2.jpg

[Olegis]

The 50mm f/1.8 MkII is capable of producing some nasty looking bokeh :

http://www.pbase.com/olegis/image/30873404.jpg

If you're using more uniform backgroungs, it shouldn't be a problem.

[FlyingPete]

Thanks guys, it seems that under most circumstances the 50/1.8 will do just fine, there are a couple of things I shoot that might get me into trouble with bokeh, however it may not even be noticed if the foreground shot is good enough!

BTW, are the bokeh problems only when the lens is stopped down? Does it do it if you are at F1.8? (my main reason for getting that lens is to shoot at F1.8!)

[mr.photoguy]

My 50mm 1.8 is doing just fine for me also...
http://www.pbase.com/brucescott/image/37630878
http://image.pbase.com/u32/brucescott/upload/37630878.readytoserve.jpg


1/125s _ f/3.2 at 50.0mm _ iso1600
http://www.pbase.com/brucescott/chairs
http://image.pbase.com/u32/brucescott/upload/37631315.chair.jpg
1/125s_ f/2.8 at 50.0mm_ iso200

I have never used a lens this much. lol.

[MDJAK]

Today's dumb question: What the heck is bokeh and how is it pronounced?

[FlyingPete]

Today's dumb question: What the heck is bokeh and how is it pronounced?

Not a dumb question, I had to ask it a couple of months ago. The best explaination I have seen is from Robert Gross:

"It's sort of a Japanese term for the unfocused blur that sets the mood of the background. To some, it is the shape of the points of light. To others, it is the density of the points of light. But it sets a mood to the background.

It is often created by the structure of the diaphragm of the lens aperture. So, some good lenses are known to help create "good bokeh" and mirror lenses are known to help create "weird bokeh."

If you have a look at the shots here, they have hexagons in the blurred parts of the images, thay is 'bad bokeh', a mirror lens produces little rings, hence 'weird bokeh'

I haven't a clue how it is pronounced, but think Japanese!

[MDJAK]

Thank you, Pete. My 70-200 2.8 IS makes very nice bokeh, very uniform out of focus background.

[kufel]

bokeh is a blur produced by having background out of focus. Pronaunciation would be [bo:keh] http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/bokeh.htm
It's said that the more blades in the lense's diaphragm the nicer bokeh. My 70-200 IS with 8 blades produces really nice one :)

[snibbetsj]

Anyone who is not an avid photographer is not going to complain about bokeh and doesn't have any idea what is, how, or why, it's the way it's produce. That said, here's my bokeh image for the day:

http://www.pbase.com/image/33904746.jpg

:)

[cmM]

the 50mm 1.8 has a 5 blade diaphragm, so you circles of confusion won't really be circles, they're pentagons.
If you ask me, that looks cool sometimes :)

[DocFrankenstein]

I don't know if you're aware of this, but bokeh is extremely important for a dramatic photograph. It's a psychological fact that the eye is drawn to defined shapes with edges. If you have a sharp bokeh, it takes away from the photograph, because the eye concentrates on some circles behind your subject... and sometimes the shapes seem to come out "for no reason"

I consider this a good pic in term of composition and all, and beleive it was ruined by the optics of 50/1.8.

For some reason, the uniform leaf transformed into a bunch of pentagons. It's the reason I don't sold my 50/1.8... Good lens, but crappy bokeh.

Cheers

http://andrew4137.fotopic.net/p9274070.html

[Nicky D]

That is a great shot, these are shots that I hoep to able to get some time:D

Anyone who is not an avid photographer is not going to complain about bokeh and doesn't have any idea what is, how, or why, it's the way it's produce. That said, here's my bokeh image for the day:

http://www.pbase.com/image/33904746.jpg

:)

[snibbetsj]

Doc Frankestein wrote:
I don't know if you're aware of this, but bokeh is extremely important for a dramatic photograph. It's a psychological fact that the eye is drawn to defined shapes with edges. If you have a sharp bokeh, it takes away from the photograph, because the eye concentrates on some circles behind your subject... and sometimes the shapes seem to come out "for no reason"to come out "for no reason"

I consider this a good pic in term of composition and all, and beleive it was ruined by the optics of 50/1.8.

For some reason, the uniform leaf transformed into a bunch of pentagons. It's the reason I don't sold my 50/1.8... Good lens, but crappy bokeh.



I've noticed these and sometimes they do bother me, I've been looking for a 1.4 used but haven't been able to find one yet. Hmm... perhaps the 8-bladed 1.4 should be on order soon. :)

I'm not sure about you're last statement Doc, it seem ambiguous to me.

Jeff

[snibbetsj]

Thank you NickyD.

You have to be prepared to sit around a flower for several hours with your camera on a tripod, focused and ready (get a remote cable release) while your friends and other half wonder if you've totally lost your mind. :D :D :D

[DocFrankenstein]

I'm not sure about you're last statement Doc, it seem ambiguous to me.
Look at the pic I posted. The pentagons on the left side of the lizard are just a smooth leaf in reality. But the lens distored them real bad, and instead of making them smooth out of focus it turned the leaf into sharp pentagons.

[snibbetsj]

DocFrankenstein wrote:
It's the reason I don't sold my 50/1.8... Good lens, but crappy bokeh.

I saw the pentagons Doc, that's why I was wondering why you weren't selling your 1.8. :)
Jeff

[timmyquest]

50 f/1.8 is my fav lens, more so then my 70-200 (in most cases). I honestly cant tell a difference between the two other then the effect their focal length has on a photo. Otherwise they are both sharp as a tac!

And my 70-200 cant really do this. Ordered an 11x14 on some Kodak Enudura paper tonight, cant wait to see how it turns out.
http://www.questphotos.com/october2004/bluekitty.jpg

[DocFrankenstein]

But how would you like pentagonal ears on your cat?

[Brianbar]

I found this a very interesting topic with some great feedback.
Is there a list of Canon lenes that are better than others, or is this too broad of a question?

Brian

[DocFrankenstein]

Brianbar - the more expensive it is, the better it is usually.

[spearce6]

I like the bokeh of the 1.8 and it's a lovely sharp lens.

[Andy_T]

Brianbar - the more expensive it is, the better it is usually.

... with the 50/1.8 being the exception to this very broad generalization.

Best regards,
Andy

[DocFrankenstein]

I've had 3 50/1.8 lenses. In the end, I'm still gonna go with 50/1.4

IMO it's worth extra 200 bucks

[FlyingPete]

Well looks like I'm getting my 50/1.8, it will be payment for a job in a couple of weeks!

Will see if I can contribute to a 50/1.4 though, worth a shot :cool: