Panasonic GX 85 - Need Help creating a Bokeh Effect

[vikram404]

I have the Panasonic GX 85 with the Kit Lens (12-32 mm) and I am newbie to photography. I am finding it very hard to create a Bokeh effect while taking pictures. Can someone provide a tutorial that provides step by step instruction to get a bokeh effect with this combination?

Would it be easier to get a Bokeh effect if I switch to the other lens that I have which is the 45-175 mm Panasonic Lens?

 

[Sonyshine]

Shallow depth of field and a blurred background, maybe with sparkly light bokeh are created by shooting in A priority mode with the lens wide open ( lowest F No) and the background some distance from the subject....and lots of practice!

You will get more response if you post in the correct forum too:

"Welcome to the Panasonic Compact Camera Talk Forum, the place to discuss Panasonic digital cameras (Micro Four Thirds models should be discussed on the Micro Four Thirds Talk forum). Community moderator: Martin Ocando."

 

[Yannis1976]

I have the Panasonic GX 85 with the Kit Lens (12-32 mm) and I am newbie to photography. I am finding it very hard to create a Bokeh effect while taking pictures. Can someone provide a tutorial that provides step by step instruction to get a bokeh effect with this combination?

Would it be easier to get a Bokeh effect if I switch to the other lens that I have which is the 45-175 mm Panasonic Lens?

In order to create a nice blurry bokeh you need either a high zoom lens or a fast lens. The 12-32 is a great lens but neither long zoom nor fast. By using your other lens on its long end you will have a better bokeh.

 

[saudidave]

I have the Panasonic GX 85 with the Kit Lens (12-32 mm) and I am newbie to photography. I am finding it very hard to create a Bokeh effect while taking pictures. Can someone provide a tutorial that provides step by step instruction to get a bokeh effect with this combination?

Would it be easier to get a Bokeh effect if I switch to the other lens that I have which is the 45-175 mm Panasonic Lens?

In order to create a nice blurry bokeh you need either a high zoom lens or a fast lens. The 12-32 is a great lens but neither long zoom nor fast. By using your other lens on its long end you will have a better bokeh.

 

[fotomotovfr]

I am newbie to photography. I am finding it very hard to create a Bokeh effect

Photography is both an art and technical profession. I HIGHLY suggest you read up on the basics of photography in both aspects. Today, there are tons of resources (besides asking on a forum) to quickly get you up to speed along with the instant feedback of digital cameras to test things out.

Back in the day, I had to wait 2 or more weeks to get my slides back from the developer so by then I sometimes forgot what I had done in my experiments (poor note taking).

GOOD LUCK!

 

[vikram404]

If I were to go for an additional Prime Lens - which one would you recommend from the two below and what are the pros and cons of each:

1. Meike 35mm F1.7 Manual Focus Prime Lens for Micro Four Thirds MFT M4/3 Olympus and Panasonic Digital Mirrorless Cameras

Amazon.com : Meike 35mm F1.7 Manual Focus Prime Lens for Micro 4/3 MFT M4/3 Compatible with Olympus and Panasonic Mirrorless Cameras GH4 GH5 GH6 GH7 : Electronics

Amazon.com : Meike 35mm F1.7 Manual Focus Prime Lens for Micro 4/3 MFT M4/3 Compatible with Olympus and Panasonic Mirrorless Cameras GH4 GH5 GH6 GH7 : Electronics

www.amazon.com

2. Panasonic Lumix G Lens, 25MM, F1.7 ASPH

https://www.amazon.com/PANASONIC-LUMIX-MIRRORLESS-THIRDS-H-H025K/dp/B014RD6RC0/

Thanks in Advance!

 

[jacketpotato]

Would it be easier to get a Bokeh effect if I switch to the other lens that I have which is the 45-175 mm Panasonic Lens?

Hi there Vikram

I find old manual focus lenses from 135mm, 150mm, 180mm, 200mm with F3.5 or F4 .5 orF5.5 to give nice bokeh. They are fairly affordable with adapter for instance m42 to m43 adapter.

However this does depend on how close to subject we are as shown by these photos i took


50mm F1.8 @ 1.8 APSC X-Pro1 : trees 30feet behind plant; plant 7feet from lens


50mm F1.8 @ 1.8 APSC : trees 30feet behind plant; plant 3feet from lens : see difference above plant 7feet from lens.


180mm F5.5 @ 5.5 APSC : trees 30feet behind plant; plant 7feet from lens


180mmn F5.5 @ 5.5 APSC : trees 30feet behind plant; plant 12 feet from lens : : see difference above plant 7feet from lens.


135mm F3.5 @ 3.5 APSC : trees 30feet behind plant; plant 7feet from lens


135mm F3.5 @ 3.5 APSC : trees 30feet behind plant; plant 12 feet from lens : see difference above plant 7feet from lens.

 

[CactusJuice]

If I were to go for an additional Prime Lens - which one would you recommend from the two below and what are the pros and cons of each:

1. Meike 35mm F1.7 Manual Focus Prime Lens for Micro Four Thirds MFT M4/3 Olympus and Panasonic Digital Mirrorless Cameras
https://www.amazon.com/Olympus-Panasonic-Digital-Mirrorless-Cameras/dp/B01DJ4BCF0/

2. Panasonic Lumix G Lens, 25MM, F1.7 ASPH

https://www.amazon.com/PANASONIC-LUMIX-MIRRORLESS-THIRDS-H-H025K/dp/B014RD6RC0/

Thanks in Advance!

Hang on there sparky! hahah You don't need another lens. Spending more money on equipment is not going to make your photos better. The only money you might want to consider spending this year is to take a photography class at your local community college.

Learn how to use the equipment already own. If you started playing guitar today, would you go out and buy an acoustic, and electric, plus a full Marshall stack and tons of effects? Of course not. The camera and lenses you *already own* are capable of producing amazing images. You are the wildcard. What can you do behind the camera to make interesting photos? Go find out. Go out and practice practice practice.

And regarding blurry backgrounds (aka "bokeh" or whatever), that's only one *optional* ingredient of a well composed image. What are some of the others? Go find out. Go out and practice practice practice.

 

[M_digicapt]

If I were to go for an additional Prime Lens - which one would you recommend from the two below and what are the pros and cons of each:

1. Meike 35mm F1.7 Manual Focus Prime Lens for Micro Four Thirds MFT M4/3 Olympus and Panasonic Digital Mirrorless Cameras
https://www.amazon.com/Olympus-Panasonic-Digital-Mirrorless-Cameras/dp/B01DJ4BCF0/

2. Panasonic Lumix G Lens, 25MM, F1.7 ASPH

https://www.amazon.com/PANASONIC-LUMIX-MIRRORLESS-THIRDS-H-H025K/dp/B014RD6RC0/

Thanks in Advance!

Post this question on the micro four thirds forum. You'll get tons of helpful info.

My suggestion is you first read a few articles about depth of field, bokeh and compression before you get the lens. It all depends on what you are going to use it for. Yes you can probably get nice bokeh with the Pany lens at the long end, but is it the type of photo you have in mind? Is easy to get blurred background with a Tele lens, is the quality of the bokeh what people some people value...

Same thing with the Pany 25mm... Nice lens but will if fit your needs?

The wider the lens the closer you need to be to subject...

The type of photography you are after will tell you whether you need 14mm, 25mm, 50mm or a lens like the Oly 30mm or 60mm macros...

Also when you read up on the subject keep in mind that if the article talks about a full frame lens the depth of field won't be the same on the on the M43 sensor, because the later is a 2x crop sensor.

https://mmcalc.com/

http://www.dofmaster.com/dofjs.html

https://dofsimulator.net/en/

The Meiki, 7artisans and similar don't have autofocus. If you are ok with that then ask about vintage manual lenses on the adapted forum. You can get a nice old lens for the same amount of money.

Good luck

 

[vikram404]

Thanks! Will practice more before deciding...

 

[M_digicapt]

Thanks! Will practice more before deciding...

Bokeh on a budget - kit lens demo"