Bokeh advice

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mangolicious

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I'm thinking of getting the recession-busting Canon EF 50 mm f/1.8 II Lens to use mainly for family shots, especially now that we have a 10-month baby.

The main problems with this lens (so I'm led to believe) are shoddy build quality and poor bokeh. I'm willing to overlook the build quality if the lens will help capture sharp images, but I'm a little worried about the bokeh issue.

Today I read a review of this lens which detailed how the bokeh is sometimes rendered as bright highlights with obvious pentagonal spots, an effect caused by the 5-bladed diaphragm.

Q: Would I be likely to see these pentagonal blur spots on most shots taken with this lens using a shallow DOF? Or is it only really apparent in areas where the highlights are more pronounced?

I'd be interested to know if anyone has experience using this lens to achieve a bokeh effect, and whether you are happy with the results, or do you often have trouble with the dreaded pentagons in your images?

Or am I nitpicking? This is, after all, a superb little lens with a price tag under £90. Perhaps I am asking for too much. :)
 
mangolicious said:
I'm thinking of getting the recession-busting Canon EF 50 mm f/1.8 II Lens to use mainly for family shots, especially now that we have a 10-month baby.

The main problems with this lens (so I'm led to believe) are shoddy build quality and poor bokeh. I'm willing to overlook the build quality if the lens will help capture sharp images, but I'm a little worried about the bokeh issue.

Today I read a review of this lens which detailed how the bokeh is sometimes rendered as bright highlights with obvious pentagonal spots, an effect caused by the 5-bladed diaphragm.

Q: Would I be likely to see these pentagonal blur spots on most shots taken with this lens using a shallow DOF? Or is it only really apparent in areas where the highlights are more pronounced?

I'd be interested to know if anyone has experience using this lens to achieve a bokeh effect, and whether you are happy with the results, or do you often have trouble with the dreaded pentagons in your images?

Or am I nitpicking? This is, after all, a superb little lens with a price tag under £90. Perhaps I am asking for too much. :)
Click to expand...


IMO good bokeh is subjective just like what makes a good image. As much as I like smooth bokeh from some if my expensive glass, sometimes I prefer the shape the iris blades make when stopped down a little. I wouldn't worry about it too much if I were you.
 
The 'dreaded pentagons' will only really be noticeable from small, sharp light sources such as the lights on a christmas tree behind your subject, or small reflections on a car window, etc. Otherwise, it's generally ok in my opinion! Yes, it could be sharper at f1.8, but for £90ish one can't moan too much! Besides, beyond f2.5 or so, it becomes awesome.

Some samples, all at f1.8... First 3 were shot on a Canon 400D, the last one was on a 7D at a high ISO.


4252154054_aac875607b.jpg



This shows the pentagons quite well:

4592082525_fd73d2d76a.jpg


However, this one from the same set shows nice bokeh because there were no bright, sharp points of light.

4592091665_94a1cd554b.jpg



5324737586_d9548d240f.jpg



5504238458_4677e8414e.jpg
 
This is the kind of bokeh I've been getting from my 50mm f/1.8:



This was shot at f/1.8, as you can tell by the round(ish) specular lights. But if you stop down, you'll start to notice more and more pentagon shapes. You gets what you pays for, as they say.
 
to me good bokeh is like good wine,not much in it! £90 is a steal for a 1.8 lens and remember if you come to be a bokeh cconnoisseursur there is always the for sale section,where the 50mm seems to go within a few mins.
 
I bought my 50mm 1.8 because I personally like the bokeh it creates, it is also cheap, very sharp, small, great fun as it makes you have to compose the shot(move about), it is a bit long for indoors general shooting but great for portrait. I just don't use mine enough as I am usally have a 70-300 mounted but love it when i do.


Here are a few of mine





 
TriggerHappy said:
That's a Nikon lens and this thread is regarding the Canon equivalent. They're not really comparable aside from focal length unfortunately.
Click to expand...

And all us Nikon owners know why!:naughty:
 
Thanks to everyone who contributed their opinions, and it always helps to see examples of shots taken with the lens in question.

It's a bit of a no-brainer, methinks. Every photo enthusiast should carry a nifty fifty at some time in their life.
 
mangolicious said:
Thanks to everyone who contributed their opinions, and it always helps to see examples of shots taken with the lens in question.

It's a bit of a no-brainer, methinks. Every photo enthusiast should carry a nifty fifty at some time in their life.
Click to expand...

That's the overwhelming opinion of the lens! Even if you really can't live with the build quality, you'll at least have learnt just why it earns it's 'nifty' name :)
 
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