32mm f/1.4 - Shallow DOF & Fast Glass is FUN! (PICS)
Dec 31, 2018
23
I've been having an incredible time with the EF-M 32mm f/1.4 STM lens since release. It's no different to other lenses with f/1.4 apertures so the results are generally bright and punchy. I find it incredibly lightweight compared to using my larger, heavier and more expensive EF lenses. The smaller size and lesser weight are what make it so appealing to me... and it parks in my drink holder in my car where I can grab it easily (although the lens hood I've selected may have a role to play in this fit). It's illegal to touch your cell phone while driving here so when I was almost run off the freeway by a drunk driver last week were could snap shots of the pursuit by other vehicles without touching our cellphones or taking our eyes off the road. I can walk around all day long with this camera+lens combo in one hand or I can clip it only my belt or pack strap when hiking. It's a treat to own this lens and until a different lens is required I suspect it will remain on my M6 indefinitely. The Closeups it is capable of are very usable. The detail in medium-distance objects whilst still offering shallow DOF is desirable. But the sharpness is impressive and so are the lowlight shots. You can capture the level of illumination that you can see with your eyes in any low-light scene... and that's why I like it.
.
EF-M 32mm f/1.4 STM lens on my EOS M6 camera
.
I haven't used my 22mm f/2 lens since it was released (which in a way is kind of sad). But its a fun lens to use.... much the same way that the original EOS M made photography fun again for so many of us. There's no lens lock to be concerned about. Just maintain a suitable shutter speed. That's the only rule with this lens. If you're walking about in the city or at a party you'll want 1/80 sec to eliminate any chance of motion blur from movement (*by the photographer). If you're sitting down or leaning against something you can shoot at 1/60, 1/50 or 1/40 sec. Add a tripod and you can expose for several seconds at f/1.4 although the lens is so bright that anything approaching 15 seconds tends to be washed out, even in a dark sky. The lens is just so incredibly bright. My EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM lens needs to be stopped down to around f/2 for astro work to eliminate coma and sharpen the image details... but not this one. The EF-M 32mm f/1.4 USM is both bright and sharp so I seldom bother to stop it down for Astro shots.
.
Christmas Candy
.
A photographer using this lens needs to show discretion with how to approach some closeup subjects - in relation to the selection of camera angle and distance from lens to subject. If you want to harvest the thin DOF but have a large subject (causing some of it to be out of focus), you can take two shots and overlay them very easily in Photoshop automatically. Then just reveal the elements you want to be in focus. Otherwise, careful framing of your subject and choosing a suitable angle is the way to go ... or you can use a smaller aperture like f/3.5 etc.
.
For video, go into your camera and engage the Manual Video option to access the aperture of your lens independently while filming. Modern DPAF EOS-M cameras can use this lens for video with the touch focus on the LCD screen to switch between different subjects - and nothing is as dramatic as causing the focus to breath with a wide aperture lens on the camera. I've been shooting my cats in candlelight and the f/1.4 aperture is what makes this possible.
.
Dipping Bread at Biviano's Italian Restaurant last night (two shots merged).
My wife Rena on our 17th Anniversary two nights ago.
My only request for Christmas mells like someone dropped a bottle of Old Spice on the floor of a Cuban tobacco warehouse.
Quorra washing herself with Rena in the background.
Icecream after dark during a Christmas Heatwave (North Americans will never understand)
Taken at the Nespresso gourmet coffee store.
Shot after midnight in the dark with a glass sphere from a Windchime (manual focus used)
Autofocus with fast glass in the dark as Santa drove past tossing candy at people.
Tiramisu with Vanilla Bean gelato
Our friend got a Marzipan birthday cake for herself.
Taken 20 minutes after the most devastating storm in 20 years. (two exposures).
Workers cutting down damaged trees from powerlines to restore power after 3 days.
Gyoza from the Japanese restaurant that opened nearby. VERY shallow DOF.
Christmas Tiki Torch. I stood in dog poop to take this picture in the dark.
My cat Mauii at 84 years (equivalent) this month. He came to us in 2002.
Our friend's Christmas tree
The Southern Cross (Crux) constellation & the Coalsack Nebula (NiSi Night filter used)
Zima in her beanbag chair. She's always judging.
Police were directing traffic when our power was cut for days by the storm (CPL used)
The green Comet 46P/Wirtanen - 8 shots manually stacked and slightly cropped.
Pelican on the beach earlier. DOF is still noticeable. (CPL used)
Bokeh Swirl in effect.
This is where Shutter Speed + Fast Glass beats Image Stabilizer every time. Bats headed for orchards.
Extremely shallow DOF - no flash but I used a handheld reflector - since the sun was behind me. CPL
That Marzipan cake up close.
Plants in my garden
My cat Quorra trying to understand what I was asking of her.
Extreme closeup of a Christmas light.
Candid of my wife on our Anniversary - presumably contemplating her life choices.
A small 17th Century Scottish Brooch in silver and hardstone.
The Ovation of the Seas is the world's largest cruise ship with 7 districts and 2,200 staff. (CPL used)
M6 with pop-up Flash (built in flash tilted up towards the ceiling)
Lamb Shoulder on Marsala tomato Jus, Mashed Potato & greens (two shots merged) - no flash.
