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#1 |
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Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 48
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Bokeh...:drools:
I plan to buy the FZ30... but the XT along w. a nifty lens always cross my mind. :evil: I know that the Fz30 is capable of bokeh. I've seen so many photos here of birds w. the background blurred. My question is...can you tell me at what magnification range (or focal point) AND aperture value the the FZ30 has to be 'set' at to induce bokeh? Particularly, w. a background as close as this one: http://www.deviantart.com/view/29026472/ Vets, I know you probably know this by now. So please help me out. I know that a DSLR is the perfect camera for this...but it's gonna cost me nearly a thousand dollars to get fast lens w. a reasonable focal range. ![]() |
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#2 |
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 90
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what about a nikon d50?
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#3 | ||
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Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Savannah, GA (USA)
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Birds are one thing, full length portraits are another thing entirely.
See this Depth of Field calculator, making sure to use the actual versus 35mm equivalent focal lengths. http://www.dofmaster.com/dofjs.html Keep in mind that if you use longer focal lengths, you'll need to shoot from further away for your subject to fill the same percentage of the frame. So, Depth of Field doesn't really change by using a longer focal length at most ranges where you'll want a shallower depth of field (since the requirement to shoot from further away to achieve the same framing cancels out the DOF differences). But, by shooting from futher away, you'll have a different perspective, with the more compressed background giving the illusion of a greater depth of field. Depth of Field was not all that shallow in your sample. So, you could probably get away with about as much background blur as the sample in the link you posted using a Panasonic Ultra-Zoom Model. Just open the aperture up (shoot at f/2.8 and zoom in, which will require you to shoot from further away) and shoot. Make sure to frame just as tight (headshot versus more of the subject). Quote:
Quote:
[img]file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/JIMCOC%7E1/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-1.jpg[/img] |
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#4 |
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One more ... Focus on closest eye. Wide open at f/2 with a Minolta 100mm f/2, taken with a KM 5D (but, I won't recommend one since you think the image quality is too bad).
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#5 |
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OK -- It doesn't have anti-shake with every lens, and it doesn't have ISO 3200. See this thread:
http://www.stevesforums.com/forums/v...amp;forum_id=9 |
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#6 |
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Join Date: Mar 2006
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Thanks a lot Jim. The bokeh from the photo you've posted is definately something!
But I know the Pany's limitations so I'm not asking for that shallow a DOF. I'll be very pleased if the FZ30 is capable of inducing blur like the one in the photo ive showed you and you said it is..and I sure hope you're right :blah: because I'm gonna buy the DMCFZ30 the first moment I get the chance. There are limitations to any camera. The thing about SLRS is that they cost a lot of money and they lack some features that P&S cameras have ( that are necessary for candid photography). You talked about the cheap nifty fifty lens...but a prime is kinda limiting, especially for candid st photography which I plan to do. A zoom lens gives you more control w/o having to move around and attract people's attention. The Fz30's tiltable LCD screen allows for even more 'secrecy' by making waist-lv shots possible. The only SLR that has the tiltable lcd option is the Olympus E330 (w. lcd live preview) but it's retailed at $1000. That, plus a f2.0 50mm (100mm) lens will cost me around $1500. :O Not to mention that the e330's image quality is a tad too soft for my tastes. I do know the FZ30's limitations. Noise is an absolute killer at higher ISO's..but fortunately, it is not that visible when you (greatly :P) reduce the image size. And I think that an ISO of 400 along w. the maximum aperture range of f.3.7 will allow for some decent subway shots.. |
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#7 | |
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Join Date: Mar 2006
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Another thing about Konica..they were bought over by Sony, weren't they? The company's future kinda worries me.
But admittedly Yes, IS on every lens is an awesome feature. ![]() JimC wrote: Quote:
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#8 |
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Join Date: Jun 2003
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Sorry, I couldn't resist teasing you a bit over the XT.
I've got shots that would be impossible with an XT (shutter speeds would be too slow with one to hand hold the camera, lack of ISO 3200) using a KM 5D. There are pros and cons to any of them. For low light work, I keep a 28mm f/2 on my KM 5D more often than not. Yep, you don't have the flexbility of a zoom with one. But, they are small, bright and sharp, and a prime is not as limiting as you think. I'll take a prime over a zoom any day of the week for low light use. As for more depth of field with a model like a Panasonic, that's probably a good thing in most conditions, and you can get some nice background blur from one at longer focal lengths with the aperture opened up to f/2.8 (just make sure to frame tight -- going for a head shot versus a full length shot). You're limited with a DSLR using a bright lens in low light because your DOF is very shallow at wider apertures, and when you stop down the aperture for more depth of field, you begin to lose the benefits of higher ISO speeds compared to a non-DSLR model with a bright lens. Any choice is a compromise. |
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#9 | ||
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Join Date: Jun 2003
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dissembled wrote:
Quote:
Sony is one of the largest sensor suppliers in the world, and supplies sensors to most manufacturers for many of their non-DSLR models. If you use an Olympus, Konica-Minolta, Nikon, Pentax, or Canon non-DSLR camera, there's a good chance it's got a Sony sensor in it. They also supply the sensors for Nikon, Pentax, and Konica-Minolta DSLR models, and by launching their own DSLR lineup, they don't have to worry about buying sensors from someone else, lowering their R&D cost for new products (while still supplementing revenue by selling sensors to the "other guys". In addition, Sony is number 3 in market share in Digital Camera sales in the U.S. behind Kodak and Canon (and number 2 worldwide). They've already announced their intent to capture 25% of the DSLR market, too. So, I wouldn't underestimate them, and they've already got a huge distribution network in place to market DSLR models. I'm sure you'll be seeing new lenses announced, too. Third party suppliers are still announcing new lenses for KM models. For that matter, in just the past month, Tamron and Sigma have announced more lenses that will be available in Minolta mount. I'm keeping an eye on the new Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 to see how well it's received. It's designed only for DSLR models with sensors smaller than 35mm film. So, it's going to be smaller and lighter compared to a lens designed for 35mm models. http://www.tamron.co.jp/en/news/rele...s0215_a16.html I'm also keeping an eye on the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC that Sigma has decided to make available in Konica Minolta mount, for when I need something brighter than my Minolta 28mm f/2 provides in very low light clubs and restaurants with live music in the area (and the Sigma will be available at a much lower price point compared to a Minolta 35mm f/1.4G, too). Minolta has manufactured 16 Million Lenses in Maxxum/Dynax mount since this mount was introduced in 1985. That's a lot of lenses in the market (and that doesn't even included third party lenses in this lens mount from Tamron, Tokina, Sigma, Vivitar/Cosina, etc.). Even Canon (which has been making DSLR models for much longer, with a huge number of users), has only manufactured 32 Million lenses in their EF mount. So, even though we're seeing some short term "panic buying" in the used market impacting supply, what lens is going to be harder to find on the used market...many times the users of Canon DSLR models trying to pick between 32 Million lenses, or a small number of KM DSLR owners in comparison, trying to find deals with 16 Million lenses in the market? ![]() Also, KM is not going out of business. They've just decided to stop selling cameras under the Konica Minolta brand name. They'll still be making cameras and lenses for Sony (as the OEM supplier). That Sony will be selling cameras and lenses in Minolta mount is not a new thing. That was announced a LONG time before KM decided to stop selling cameras. So, models with a Sony brand name have been "in the works" for quite a while now, and they've announced their intent to launch them this summer. Sony DSLR models using the Minolta Maxxum/Dynax mount have been in the works since last July. http://www.steves-digicams.com/digin....html#sony_slr We've already got a new Nikon models using Sony's 10 and 12 Megapixel sensors, and Pentax has announced a DSLR that will be 10MP (probably using a Sony CCD, as do their existing DSLR models). I have no doubt that we'll be seeing higher resolution models from Sony that can use Minolta Maxxum Mount lenses, too (and I have zero doubt we'll be seeing some new lenses announced, too). I got a KM DSLR myself (KM 5D), and I wouldn't trade it for another model for my needs. A news story from last month: Quote:
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#10 |
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Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 48
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It's possible to get bokeh using smaller apertures right?
Take a look at Red's shots: http://www.stevesforums.com/forums/v...mp;forum_id=23 The second photo has an EXIF data attached noting that the shot was taken w. a f. 5.6 aperture. And this was taken from his car window, 6ft away. Bokeh is already evident here. So unless the Panda program is wrong..I dunno. I sure hope not. |
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