35 f/1.4 ART-isn't the bokeh "disturbing"?

Some good discussion points in this thread.
But I do like the idea that a specific lens would be ideal or near perfect in all conditions and uses.
Now if I could just find that lens..........

light_pilgrim wrote in post #16788270
In my opinion it is intended to isolate the main subject from the background to drive the attention to what you believe is right. Busy bokeh is something that can be distracting.

Frankly, I think that you have it backwards - it's not the OOF areas that drive attention, it's the *in focus* areas that drive attention. Can really busy bokeh be a distraction? Sure it can, but I think that you're currently experiencing a level of hyper-awareness, like those that get trapped in periods of pixel peeping for sharpness - virtually no one else cares at these thresholds.

Even so, as a photographer, selective focus the only one of your many tools available to you in your efforts to guide a viewers eye - if you *really* think that OOF areas are going to be problematic, do something about it. Understand it, anticipate it, work with it or work around it... but know that there's nothing wrong with your lens and, in fact, there are very few that are better (and those that are better are only marginally so).

Van Gogh's paintings are like busy bokeh. But they tell an emotion or movement. And photographs using busy bokeh can help express an emotion or add energy to the subject/ composition. This is what we do. Don't always follow learned rules, use your own taste.

We all have different habits I find that I reach for my 35mm when I want to include the background or just make use of the large depth of field and or angle of view. To be honest I wish I could shoot portraits at 200mm with more DOF living around so many mountains.

I find what you are seeing just about right, it is a 35mm lens after all.

I decide to do a quick fun test today, granted it's FF vs crop, but technically that's irrelevant, what is relevant is how focal length plays a huge role in bokeh.

Set up...
135 F2 on a 6D @ F2

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/mtGd​jv

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/mtFy​m8

Very good point and a very good shot!
I really like the discussion, a lot of good points from people....already learned a lot

snake0ape wrote in post #16789149
Van Gogh's paintings are like busy bokeh. But they tell an emotion or movement. And photographs using busy bokeh can help express an emotion or add energy to the subject/ composition. This is what we do. Don't always follow learned rules, use your own taste.

Nice to see it side by side Thank you for sharing!

The F stops here wrote in post #16789518
I find what you are seeing just about right, it is a 35mm lens after all.

I decide to do a quick fun test today, granted it's FF vs crop, but technically that's irrelevant, what is relevant is how focal length plays a huge role in bokeh.

Set up...
135 F2 on a 6D @ F2

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/mtGd​jv

35 F2 IS on a 60D @ F2

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/mtFy​m8

Granted these aren't with the sigma, it should give you an idea what to expect on a wider focal length, distance to subject plays a huge role here no matter the lens.

Another FOV comparison from a shoot I did last week:


5D3 - 85L @1.2 - with fill flash

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/meXm​Yv

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/mu76​3E

snake0ape wrote in post #16789149
Van Gogh's paintings are like busy bokeh. But they tell an emotion or movement. And photographs using busy bokeh can help express an emotion or add energy to the subject/ composition. This is what we do. Don't always follow learned rules, use your own taste.

Is this from one of those Petzval lenses? The bokeh looks weird but I like it, it looks like an old painting.

Maverique wrote in post #16789838
Is this from one of those Petzval lenses? The bokeh looks weird but I like it, it looks like an old painting.

Its a 1961 helios 40. I took this photo for the "disturbing" bokeh , "disturbing" light and "disturbed" subject.

I think its the backgrounds you picked as well.

jptsr1 wrote in post #16789981
I think its the backgrounds you picked as well.

Exactly. How one chooses the background is just as important as the subject. It's up to the lens and photographer to render and compose the two together well so it tells either a story and/or evoke an emotional response.

A 35mm lens is a great lens to tell a story.

Interesting discussion. I've shot extensively with the 35L and now own the Sigma 35. While there is a slight difference in how they render out of focus areas, I think it's pretty difficult to say which is better.

S35 @ f/1.4

The Canon 35 IS looks smoother to me based on the Sigma 35 shots I've looked at. Of course you loose 1 stop which is quite significants however it has other benefits - as always it's about compromises.

jptsr1 wrote in post #16789981
I think its the backgrounds you picked as well.

Yes. Backgrounds make a world of difference. As much as I like the bokeh of my Zeiss f/1.4 35mm ZE lens, the bokeh can look ugly with some backgrounds - especially visually busy backgrounds like tree branches.