Shallow dof on crop

[Unicronatron]

Hi

I've been trying to expand my photography recently, and have been playing with shallow dof.

I have a 60d with the 17-55 2.8 lens. At the long end shooting at 2.8 I can get reasonably shallow dof but at the slightly wider end I have to get really close to the subject.

I was thinking of buying the sigma 35 1.4 art. Is the extra 2 stops enough to help achieve that nice background separation I see on people's photos, or does this need full frame?

Thanks

 

[woof woof]

If looking at FF pictures just apply the crop factor when trying to decide if you can get close with APS-C.

A 35mm f1.4 on your 60D would be pretty similar to a 55mm lens at f2.2 on FF but you could certainly get a shallow DoF look by using a longer lens like a 50 or 85mm f1.4 on your 60D and/or reducing your camera to subject distance.

Also keep in mind that shallow DoF can maybe be done to death.

Here's a nice read...

http://theonlinephotographer.typepad.com/the_online_photographer/2012/06/in-defense-of-depth.html

I know that thin v more DoF is a different discussion from how to get shallow DoF but I thought I'd mention it anyway

 

[HoppyUK]

Try this blur simulator https://dofsimulator.net/en/

The DoF difference between crop format and APS-C is a bit more than one stop. If the crop factor was 1.4x, it would be exactly one stop. For shallow DoF, apart from larger formats and low f/numbers, longer focal length increases blur substantially, along with getting close to the main subject to really fill the frame while maximising distance to the background.

 

[Unicronatron]

Thanks Woof. Indeed the article is a good read.

I think it's just something I wanted to have a play with and add to the repertoire. Just didn't want to splash out on a fast lens if its not going to help with achieving the effect I want.

Felt 50mm is a bit long on the crop so I wondered if anyone had experience of the fast 35mm on a crop

 

[woof woof]

Thanks Woof. Indeed the article is a good read.

I think it's just something I wanted to have a play with and add to the repertoire. Just didn't want to splash out on a fast lens if its not going to help with achieving the effect I want.

Felt 50mm is a bit long on the crop so I wondered if anyone had experience of the fast 35mm on a crop

Years ago I had a Sigma 30mm f1.4 which I used on my APS-C Canon 20D. I was very happy with that lens and it gave shallow enough DoF for me.

 

[twist]

Thanks Woof. Indeed the article is a good read.

I think it's just something I wanted to have a play with and add to the repertoire. Just didn't want to splash out on a fast lens if its not going to help with achieving the effect I want.

Felt 50mm is a bit long on the crop so I wondered if anyone had experience of the fast 35mm on a crop

This should give you enough of an idea, its the ART on crop sensor. Check the exif details in the images.

https://www.flickr.com/search/?group_id=2064616@N24&view_all=1&text=apsc

 

[LongLensPhotography]

Try 85mm or 100mm primes. Longer lenses have far greater defocusing effects.

35mm gets a little bit interesting but really it is just a very low light fast medium-wideangle lifestyle / street lens.