How thin a DOF?

[ScottyNV]

This is precisely one of the reasons I keep my Sigma 600/8 Mirror-Tele. The telephoto compression due to long FL and relatively shallow DOF (even at f/8!) make it a useful tool in the bag. (For those who care not for the potential downsides of Mirror lenses, give it a rest and simply ignore my comment - you know who you are).

The quality of the background blur with that lens depends on the detail and specular highlights in the frame.. I can think of a shot of a belted kingfisher taken with my 350/XT, 600/8M, 1/250, 35 feet range... the background is a pleasing, creamy blur - but I planned the shot that way, with the pond water close and little detail in the trees and flowers way off in behind.

another shot has a more distracting background, and exhibits the traits of the lens type. SCCA racing at Portland international raceway, in 2007. back straight, at braking/dowshifting, my subject car is dead clear (focus is 6" in front of the base of the windscreen) and the two cars chasing are almost recognizable, but have a painterly quality.

I do not post photos here (but can email to interested individuals).

cheers,
S.
--
beam me up captain, there's no intelligent life down here!

 

[maiaibing]

ScottyNV wrote:

(For those who care not for the potential downsides of Mirror lenses, give it a rest and simply ignore my comment - you know who you are).

Minolta actually used to highlight the "special" lens blur as a feature of their 500mm mirror lenses. I personally do not agree, but that's subjective bokeh if anything!.

 

[5DamienMkII]

This video was shot using a $300 OM Zuiko 55m f1.2.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4v4Kzx_z_8E&hd=1

The DOF of 55mm f1.2 is only beaten by the 85mm f1.2, but it was thick enough so capture the face. I didnt change focus while filming and even though she occasionally bobs in and out the the focal plane, i think the benefit of more background blur more than makes up for the softer features. It is a portrait after all, and sometimes a little dreamyness is a good thing.