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Is this bokeh expected?

Started Aug 23, 2014 | Discussions
CityOfAngels Regular Member • Posts: 104
Is this bokeh expected?

I just picked up a Canon 6D with the 35mm f/2 lens today. I snapped these two pics at the local cafe and was wondering if the bokeh behind the guy sipping his coffee is as expected. It seems like there is some weird duplication going on, versus the bokeh behind the picture of the coffee, which is very pleasing to me.

rebel99 Veteran Member • Posts: 4,025
Re: Is this bokeh expected?

i wouldn't call either one a good bokeh.

cheerz.

Marcus Antonius Senior Member • Posts: 1,317
common issue with this lens.

CityOfAngels wrote:

I just picked up a Canon 6D with the 35mm f/2 lens today. I snapped these two pics at the local cafe and was wondering if the bokeh behind the guy sipping his coffee is as expected. It seems like there is some weird duplication going on, versus the bokeh behind the picture of the coffee, which is very pleasing to me.

This is why i decided against this lens when i had the chance to buy it. The lens does not produce pleasing results with busy backgrounds. If you really care about bokeh i would look further: http://www.slrlounge.com/school/canon-lenses-bokeh-showdown/

Cheers.

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Just another Canon shooter
Just another Canon shooter Veteran Member • Posts: 4,691
Re: Is this bokeh expected?
1

Yes.

First, the bokeh is more problematic in the "transition area" - loosely defined as right behind (or in front of) the DOF but not "too blurred". When you focus close, that area is small and you may not notice anything wrong there. Also, the blur characteristics of a lens change when you change the FL.

About the second shot - I found out, with several lenses, that the worse double line effect appears along radial lines - lines pointing from the center to the edges and to the corners. The effect worsens as you go away from the center. This is very clear in your case. On the other hand, lines or curves that are along concentric circles look well blurred. A perfect example is the lower right corner of your shot - the leg of the table looks well blurred but the edge of the round horizontal surface shows a double line.

All 35mm (and not only) lenses do this but to a different extent. I have seen this with my 35L, and I have seen quite disturbing examples with the Sigma 35. It is hard to say where the 35/2 IS stays but it seems that it has its share of bokeh problems as well.

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Canon EOS 5D Mark II Canon EF 15mm f/2.8 Fisheye Canon EF 35mm F1.4L USM Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM Canon EF 135mm F2L USM +4 more
Limburger
Limburger Veteran Member • Posts: 7,841
Re: Is this bokeh expected?

Google "bokeh fringing".

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Cheers Mike

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Fujifilm FinePix X100 Canon EOS 7D Sony a7 Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Canon EF 70-200mm F4L USM +3 more
Marcus Antonius Senior Member • Posts: 1,317
Re: Is this bokeh expected?

Limburger wrote:

Google "bokeh fringing".

Bokeh fringing or LoCa's is something completely different.

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Limburger
Limburger Veteran Member • Posts: 7,841
Re: Is this bokeh expected?

Marcus Antonius wrote:

Limburger wrote:

Google "bokeh fringing".

Bokeh fringing or LoCa's is something completely different.

Hi Marcus,

For the OP as my interest what is the matter?

Thought it is fringing, what makes you believe it is not?

Some links would help the OP and me learn a bit about this.

Thanks.

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Cheers Mike

 Limburger's gear list:Limburger's gear list
Fujifilm FinePix X100 Canon EOS 7D Sony a7 Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Canon EF 70-200mm F4L USM +3 more
Dan_168 Forum Pro • Posts: 11,062
Re: Is this bokeh expected? --- Yes, that's what I expected to see

CityOfAngels wrote:

I just picked up a Canon 6D with the 35mm f/2 lens today. I snapped these two pics at the local cafe and was wondering if the bokeh behind the guy sipping his coffee is as expected. It seems like there is some weird duplication going on, versus the bokeh behind the picture of the coffee, which is very pleasing to me.

The Bokeh in this two shots looks "normal" to me for a 35mm lens,  even with the more expensicve "pro grade " 35L I had before, Bokeh is not any better, in fact, I have not seen "great Bokeh" from any 35mm lens, of course it has a lot to do with the short focal length, I had a 35L and a 35G and a Zeiss 35 F2 ZF before and now a Sigma 35 Art and Zeiss 35 1.4 ZF2, again, nothing to brag about in terms of Bokeh, I am not going to say which one has the best bokeh but I would just say which one has the least ugly bokeh, LOL, when I am looking for better bokeh, I use my Sigma 50 HSM ( old version not the Art series), 85 1.2 II, 135 2, Zeiss 100, AI-S 105 2.5, AI-S 50 1.2.

Marcus Antonius Senior Member • Posts: 1,317
Re: Is this bokeh expected? --- Yes, that's what I expected to see
1

One thing to keep in mind that shallower DOF helps (if that is possible in your framing/composition) I use the sigma Art lenses (which indeed are not great for bokeh either) but wide open they help to prevent or better 'mask' this issue, besides these lenses deliver also great results in terms of sharpness wide open as opposed to canon alternatives.

Otherwise you have to go tele like the 85 1.2 or 135 2.0.

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