Author Topic: Bokeh Shots (Read 6389 times)

Ray Edwards · « **on:** March 17, 2010, 04:43:34 PM »

Brand new to this forum but not a forum noob AT ALL.
My first question here is about something that is really frustrating to me as i am new to photography on this level.

Is it even possible to take photographs with a good "Bokeh" effect with my E-P1 and its 17mm lens??? Ive had some accidental success with
scene modes but when i set out to do it with purpose, i get nothing. Its to the point where im suspecting something is wrong with the camera.
I've seen sample shots similar to what i expect but i'll be darned if i can do it.

Thanks
...and hello

Finder · « **Reply #1 on:** March 17, 2010, 04:50:04 PM »

I assume you are looking for a narrow depth of field. Set your camera on aperture priority (A) and set the aperture to f/2.8. That will give you the least depth of field. Getting close will also give a narrower depth of field.

Federico Alberto · « **Reply #2 on:** March 17, 2010, 05:38:13 PM »

In order to fund the purchase of my Lumix G 20mm, I had to sell my little 17mm. The only shot in my flickr gallery showing some bokeh with this lens is the following:

Pinhole Wine

The aperture was f/4. If I had used f/2.8 the out-of-focus effect (bokeh) would have been blurrier.

Ray Edwards · « **Reply #3 on:** March 17, 2010, 08:12:40 PM »

I'm going to have to play around some more.
I have been trying on A priority but it seems like im not getting anything close to the sample above or any others ive seen at f2.8 or even higher.

Luke · « **Reply #4 on:** March 18, 2010, 05:00:17 AM »

The distance between the item in the foreground and the background needs to be substantial to get something fairly noticeable.

Finder · « **Reply #5 on:** March 18, 2010, 05:52:42 AM »

It is just a lot harder to get narrow depth of field out of a small chip and a short focal length.

cosinaphile · « **Reply #6 on:** March 19, 2010, 12:04:21 AM »

i can throw the background into pleasing out of focus in A mode as was said, your subject should be close to the lens as possible the out of focus area far away as possible , use at 2.8!

Ian Tindale · « **Reply #7 on:** March 19, 2010, 01:36:40 AM »

The E-P1 is just naturally good at bokeh, no matter which lens I choose, whether itâ€™s the 20mm or the 14-42mm.
For example, this typical shot, featuring 100% bokeh.

adash · « **Reply #8 on:** March 19, 2010, 06:40:01 AM »

Put your subject closest to the lens as possible, and the background furthest from the subject as possible and open the aperture at maximum.
Extend your lens to the longest possible focal length.
If unsatisfied, go buy the cheapest adapter m4/3->OM or M42 or whatever you choose, and a correspondingly cheap 50mm f/1.8 or f/1.4 MF lens to use with the adapter.
Follow the guidelines above and you will get lots of bokeh.

raffy_d · « **Reply #9 on:** March 19, 2010, 06:55:33 AM »

I've been able to get some bokeh with the 17mm wide open. I just did what adash said in his post. Excuse the picture - I'm new at this.

Thanks.

Ray Edwards · « **Reply #10 on:** March 19, 2010, 01:43:21 PM »

Im having a little bit of luck with some of the suggestions here, such as subject as close to the lens with background as far away as possible but mostly with manual focus. Im noticing my auto focus is what is messing up the results
im looking for.
It seems i just cant get that look as seen in Federico's photo with the multiple objects at varying distances.
As usual though, input on forums like really help out a lot.

I'll keep at it and move out in the real world some more, instead of testing in the house shooting at my feet while propped up watching TV

Thanks all

cosinaphile · « **Reply #11 on:** March 20, 2010, 12:48:44 AM »

i play with the machines for hours that way too ,lol

Ray Edwards · « **Reply #12 on:** March 20, 2010, 09:04:09 PM »

Hows this?

cosinaphile · « **Reply #13 on:** March 20, 2010, 09:15:14 PM »

love the dog.............. was that 2.8?

Ray Edwards · « **Reply #14 on:** March 20, 2010, 09:42:14 PM »

Yes 2.8 but with manual focus. Auto focus just wont yield the same result. I should have saved the shot as a comparison sample but basically
The armchair comes into focus and you can see more detail / less blur.

Thats my girl, Nana (nah-nah) she loves getting her picture taken.

adash · « **Reply #15 on:** March 21, 2010, 01:46:39 AM »

The 50mm f/1.8 gives the best bokeh results from all the lenses I have.

Details

Having the subject closer gives even more blurred background:

Details

At the closest focusing distance of about 45cm gives extremely shallow DOF and most blurring in the background.

Details

All pictures above at f/1.8, which is not the sharpest aperture setting for the lens, but the bokeh is most blured.

pld · « **Reply #16 on:** July 19, 2010, 07:39:52 AM »

Exposure: 1/4000 sec
Aperture: f/2.8
ISO Speed: 200
Focal Length: 17 mm
Exposure Bias: -3 EV
Flash: Auto, Did not fire

Thin dof with smoothed out bokeh in the distance (especially with the focus set so close).

voyager · « **Reply #17 on:** July 19, 2010, 07:46:06 AM »

That is really good. You sure have a unique talent for producing such amazing photos.

lisandra · « **Reply #18 on:** August 17, 2010, 06:57:55 PM »

Quote from: Ian Tindale on March 19, 2010, 01:36:40 AM

The E-P1 is just naturally good at bokeh, no matter which lens I choose, whether itâ€™s the 20mm or the 14-42mm.
For example, this typical shot, featuring 100% bokeh.

depth of field has nothing to do with a particular camera. Its not gonna be good with a PEN and bad with a panny, It's more dependent on sensor size, aperture, distance, and at some level, lens.

Panther · « **Reply #19 on:** August 17, 2010, 07:05:27 PM »

Here's a straight-out-of-camera (no post processing) shot I did with the Olympus Micro Four Thirds 14-150ED...(And yep, I know the exposure is terrible too

)

Adash's tips are spot on....

niva_explorer_photo · « **Reply #20 on:** August 17, 2010, 11:36:43 PM »

I got nice bokeh with an adapted lense, the "Minolta 50mm f1.7 with MD Rokkor mount" and I can say I am very pleased.

I also posted these in the lense section of the forum:

and the camera with the lens:

Cheers,

Las Palm as · « **Reply #21 on:** August 18, 2010, 05:05:07 AM »

with Oly 17,

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Las Palm as · « **Reply #22 on:** August 18, 2010, 05:29:04 AM »

First with Pana 20mm at f1.8 , i sold this lens.

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

And wiht Oly 17mm at f 2.8,

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

pretzston · « **Reply #23 on:** September 25, 2010, 04:23:43 PM »

Why did you sell the Panasonic? Looks so sharp.

Em5 Pete · « **Reply #24 on:** December 01, 2010, 11:13:29 AM »

Quote from: adash on March 19, 2010, 06:40:01 AM

Put your subject closest to the lens as possible, and the background furthest from the subject as possible and open the aperture at maximum.
Extend your lens to the longest possible focal length.
If unsatisfied, go buy the cheapest adapter m4/3->OM or M42 or whatever you choose, and a correspondingly cheap 50mm f/1.8 or f/1.4 MF lens to use with the adapter.
Follow the guidelines above and you will get lots of bokeh.

This is you best option.......
50mm at f/1.5 (Adapted lens)

Author Topic: Bokeh Shots (Read 6389 times)

Finder

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Ian Tindale

Panther

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