Lens advise

[Slabstick]

Ok, thanks. Wow, so many different lens' to research.

[Slabstick]

Ok, thank you. I'm sure ill have more questions as they arise.

[Slabstick]

Ok, thanks for the info. That will help.

[Dave Humphries]

I wasn't aware that I had any responses. You make some great points ( the ones that I understand) I have a lot of learning to do to understand all the "jargon".

Hi Larry,

You'll soon get used to quick responses here and just log in (several times a day) to be sure to keep up
Almost no need to subscribe to the thread if you do that
(and I'm only partly joking)

To help with a few questions; this shot;

was taken with at a 90mm focal length at an aperture of f/2.8

So, I will experiment with my 18x55 kit lens and see if I can get the shot I want. I've been taking photos all my life but, this is my first DSLR so, I'm on a huge learning curve.

This is a great idea, in fact I'd recommend it over trying to research other lenses too much.

If you stand say, 5 feet from the subject, zoom to 55mm and ensure there's 15 feet (or more) between the subject and the background, you should get the kind of effect you want - if you shoot at f/5.6 in Av mode.
If you vary the camera to subject distance, remember to also vary the subject to background distance in proportion to maintain that ratio; subject to background needs to be 3 x whatever the camera to subject distance is. That said, it's only a rough rule of thumb

I bought the T3i because it was an affordable choice for me. It seems like a really good camera. A great one to learn with anyway. Thanks again you have been very helpful.

It is - there really aren't any bad DSLRs.

Cheers,

[jcuknz]

I'm apologetic to everyone who answered my post for a late response. I'm new to the forum and still learning the ropes. Interesting that you say you use your editor. I'm not sure I have anything that will soften the background. .

Well in just my individual opinion you simply do not have an editor. The situation my son is at the moment and he has regretably just bought himself LR ahead of Elements [ he has a MAC so seemingly cannot use Paint Shop Pro ]

If your programme has layers it is very simple and quick to duplicate the image and apply blurr to the top layer and then use the eraser on the top layer to reveal the sharp version in the lower level ... for smooth results I usually use a very soft edged tool rather than selecting out the bits I want sharp which leads to a 'cut-out' look. But I am not sure LR has the neccessary tools to do things like this, it is obviously a great programme for what it does but it is not an editing programme of the likes of Photoshop, Elements or Paint Shop Pro for what I usually use my PSP editor for. I did briefly download a trial copy of LR4.1 awhile back and probably didn't work out its full capabilities and I am biased towards PSP from long use rather than Adobe products.

I rarely do this but it is posssible to make an extra copy and blurr it to a different degree and so achieve strong blurr for distant objects less blurr for nearer and sharp for the plane of focus you want. My editor also has a 'blurr tool' which I would use on small areas. If one selects out a particular area while it is selected anything you do is only applied to that area .. I gather people use this to get sharp eyes with portraits, while yesterday I applied motion blurr to just the wheels of a racing car as an experiment in an adjacent thread.

I would strongly echo Dave's comment " This is a great idea, in fact I'd recommend it over trying to research other lenses too much."

[rtbaum]

Hi Larry,

You'll soon get used to quick responses here and just log in (several times a day) to be sure to keep up
Almost no need to subscribe to the thread if you do that
(and I'm only partly joking)
To help with a few questions; this shot;



was taken with at a 90mm focal length at an aperture of f/2.8



This is a great idea, in fact I'd recommend it over trying to research other lenses too much.

If you stand say, 5 feet from the subject, zoom to 55mm and ensure there's 15 feet (or more) between the subject and the background, you should get the kind of effect you want - if you shoot at f/5.6 in Av mode.
If you vary the camera to subject distance, remember to also vary the subject to background distance in proportion to maintain that ratio; subject to background needs to be 3 x whatever the camera to subject distance is. That said, it's only a rough rule of thumb



It is - there really aren't any bad DSLRs.

Cheers,

Oops....Busted....What can I say....I really love that Macro.....I will go out this weekend and see what I can find for the 17-50mm

[Slabstick]

Thanks I'll remember that. For every 5 ft from subject add 3 times that for background. Nice tip thanks.

[Slabstick]

Oops, I responded to wrong one. Anyway, maybe you saw but thanks for the great tip. For every 5 feet from the subject try and get 3 times that for the background.

[Slabstick]

On a Tight Budget and depending upon your generally expected and/or usual Shooting Distances, I suggest: one, two or all of these PRIME LENSES:

• EF 35 F/2
• EF 50 F/1.8 MkII
• EF 85 F/1.8

***

Samples fitting the description, using an APS-C camera

EF 35 F/2:
Sample of EF 35 F/2 used at aperture F/2 on an APS-C Camera:


EF 50 F/1.8 MkII:
Sample of the EF 50 F/1.4, used at aperture F/3.5 on an APS-C Camera:


And the EF 50 F/1.4 at aperture F/1.6 and ISO3200 in ‘low level bar-room light’ o[IMG][/IMG]n an APS-C Camera:


EF 85 F/1.8:
Sample of EF 85 F/1.8 at aperture F/1.8 used on an APS-C Camera:


WW

And the winner was the EF-50mm f/1.8 ll
Here is Test shot I took. 1/15 sec. f/2.5 I'm pretty sure this lens will work out fine. Thanks to everyone for the help. Lol, don't know what happened to get my photo in Bills post...

[William W]

And the winner was the EF-50mm f/1.8 ll . . .

Well congrats.

You'll sure have fun with that lens.
If you use it at F/2 (rather than F/1.8), you should notice an difference in the sharpness. (improvement).

I see you’re already playing with the shallow DoF . . .
Look forward to seeing more.

WW

[Slabstick]

Thanks Bill.
I'll try and post another. Posting here is a little different than I'm used to but, ill figure it out.
This was taken at 5 sec. 50mm f/2.8 @200 ISO. Just trying to get a little creative.

[Dave Humphries]

I'll try and post another. Posting here is a little different than I'm used to but, ill figure it out.

This may help; have a read of the steps in Part 2 section - or use one of the other methods (but they all have a Part 2 step, to get the image, whereever it's hosted, into the post)

HELP THREAD: How can I post images here?

Cheers,

[davidedric]

But I am not sure LR has the neccessary tools to do things like this

Actually, and just for the record, it think it would be quite straightforward to do things this - it just doesn't use layers.

You would paint over the background using a soft edged adjustment brush and then manipulate the painted area.

[Slabstick]

Dave,
I have use the brush several times. Pretty cool, you can do quite a bit with this tool. I'm trying to hone in on the actual photography style of photo. I just purchased a 50mm f/1.8 II lens. It seems to do what I want it to.

[jcuknz]

Actually, and just for the record, it think it would be quite straightforward to do things this - it just doesn't use layers.

You would paint over the background using a soft edged adjustment brush and then manipulate the painted area.

Thanks Dave for reminding me that there are many ways to skin a cat, particularly with computer programmes, I will try to remember that my son is not as handicaped as I thought with his Lightroom he just purchased Silly old fuddie duddie