Steve'sDigicams

confuzed · Dec 22, 2004, 5:21 PM

Hi,

Firstly, please be warned I'm completely ignorant when it comes to using a SLR camera - I'm buying the DRebel in the hope that I will learn a lot in time...

Thanks to this forum, I've come to understand that it's bokeh that's important to me - I love b&w portraits with very blurred backgrounds...My question is, do I buy just the body and get a seperate lens, if so, which one will suit my needs? Alternatively, do I get the enthusiasts kit while I'm still learning and move on to specialist lenses when I have more of an understanding about photography in general?

I'm in Australia so we don't get the rebates on lenses as far as I know.

Thanks in advance

Sheye

NHL · Dec 22, 2004, 5:23 PM

The larger the aperture (smaller f/stop)... the better the 'Bokeh'.
In this order:

85mm f/1.2 -> 85mm f/1.8 -> 50mm f/1.4 -> 50mm f/1.8
Alternately a 70-200 f/2.8 and best is a 300 f/2.8!

confuzed · Dec 22, 2004, 5:25 PM

Sorry, I should have added that in the past I've often tried to take indoor photos without flash as I hate un-natural light. I've not been very successful with my Nikon Coolpix 880 - either too much camera shake or too much noise when Itake the ISO right up. It will be photos of my children I'll be taking more than anything so I need to also consider that the subjects will not "pose" or stay still for long. Is there an ideal lens that covers all my requirements?

S

confuzed · Dec 22, 2004, 5:29 PM

The kit I'm referring to includes this:

The EOS 300D Big Zoom Kit includes the EOS 300D with Canon 28-90mm zoom, and additional EF 90-300mm lens.

S

NHL · Dec 22, 2004, 6:18 PM

oops...

NHL · Dec 22, 2004, 6:21 PM

You can always add the EF-50mm f/1.8 to any kit lens

This lens will have the best 'Bokeh' out of the whole 'kit'... and might do it for you indoor without flash as well!

eric s · Dec 22, 2004, 10:13 PM

I didn't think that Bokeh was only created by the size of the aperture... but also had to do with the number of blades in the aperture diaphragm.

I also kinda thought that the number of elements in the lens had something to do with it (but I'm less confident of that.)

I think this page might help:
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/essays/bokeh.shtml

The 50 f1.8 is so cheap its worth getting any ways. And it will help with low-light photography.

Eric

Tomsch · Dec 23, 2004, 4:06 AM

The number of blades and their shape define the shape of the OOF areas but it is more pronounced when stopped down, when shooting wide open on a fast lens the areas appear round with less defined edges. Of all the lenses I have used none display a more pleasing bokeh than the Sigma 180mm macro.

NHL · Dec 23, 2004, 5:46 AM

I tend to agree with Tomsch "when shooting wide open on a fast lens the areas appear round with less defined edges":

... The round shapes are geeses on a frozen lake! :-) :-) :-)

Tomsch · Dec 23, 2004, 8:51 AM

Here is a shot closed down where you can count the blades forming the shapes.

Dec 23, 2004, 8:51 AM	#10
Tomsch Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 442	Here is a shot closed down where you can count the blades forming the shapes. Attached Images

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Dec 22, 2004, 5:21 PM	#1
confuzed Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 15	Hi, Firstly, please be warned I'm completely ignorant when it comes to using a SLR camera - I'm buying the DRebel in the hope that I will learn a lot in time... Thanks to this forum, I've come to understand that it's bokeh that's important to me - I love b&w portraits with very blurred backgrounds...My question is, do I buy just the body and get a seperate lens, if so, which one will suit my needs? Alternatively, do I get the enthusiasts kit while I'm still learning and move on to specialist lenses when I have more of an understanding about photography in general? I'm in Australia so we don't get the rebates on lenses as far as I know. Thanks in advance Sheye

Dec 22, 2004, 5:23 PM	#2
NHL Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: 39.18776, -77.311353333333 Posts: 11,599	The larger the aperture (smaller f/stop)... the better the 'Bokeh'. In this order: 85mm f/1.2 -> 85mm f/1.8 -> 50mm f/1.4 -> 50mm f/1.8 Alternately a 70-200 f/2.8 and best is a 300 f/2.8!

Dec 22, 2004, 5:25 PM	#3
confuzed Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 15	Sorry, I should have added that in the past I've often tried to take indoor photos without flash as I hate un-natural light. I've not been very successful with my Nikon Coolpix 880 - either too much camera shake or too much noise when Itake the ISO right up. It will be photos of my children I'll be taking more than anything so I need to also consider that the subjects will not "pose" or stay still for long. Is there an ideal lens that covers all my requirements? S

Dec 22, 2004, 5:29 PM	#4
confuzed Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 15	The kit I'm referring to includes this: The EOS 300D Big Zoom Kit includes the EOS 300D with Canon 28-90mm zoom, and additional EF 90-300mm lens. S

Dec 22, 2004, 6:18 PM	#5
NHL Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: 39.18776, -77.311353333333 Posts: 11,599	oops...

Dec 22, 2004, 6:21 PM	#6
NHL Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: 39.18776, -77.311353333333 Posts: 11,599	You can always add the EF-50mm f/1.8 to any kit lens This lens will have the best 'Bokeh' out of the whole 'kit'... and might do it for you indoor without flash as well!

Dec 22, 2004, 10:13 PM	#7
eric s Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 5,803	I didn't think that Bokeh was only created by the size of the aperture... but also had to do with the number of blades in the aperture diaphragm. I also kinda thought that the number of elements in the lens had something to do with it (but I'm less confident of that.) I think this page might help: http://www.luminous-landscape.com/essays/bokeh.shtml The 50 f1.8 is so cheap its worth getting any ways. And it will help with low-light photography. Eric

Dec 23, 2004, 4:06 AM	#8
Tomsch Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 442	The number of blades and their shape define the shape of the OOF areas but it is more pronounced when stopped down, when shooting wide open on a fast lens the areas appear round with less defined edges. Of all the lenses I have used none display a more pleasing bokeh than the Sigma 180mm macro.

Dec 23, 2004, 5:46 AM	#9
NHL Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: 39.18776, -77.311353333333 Posts: 11,599	I tend to agree with Tomsch "when shooting wide open on a fast lens the areas appear round with less defined edges": ... The round shapes are geeses on a frozen lake! :-) :-) :-)