Is this the normal bokeh for an L series lens

Status
Not open for further replies.
eddiemrg said:
Probably becouse the surface reflect an "oval" beam of light!
I don't think so. Some googling led me to this (very interesting) page, which says:
Sometimes what would be a circular out of focus highlight in the center of the image has a lemon shape outside of center, gradually more near borders and edges. This is caused by mechanical vignetting because the optical path in the lens is too narrow. Resulting shape is often a intersection of two non-concentric circles, often described as "lemon shape" or "cat eye".
But that immediately raises the question why even a classy lens like the 135L (which was used for this shot, according to the exif data) shows such 'defects'. I'm assuming this is a consequence of shooting wide open (tho I'm not sure), is it something to do with the ratio between distance and aperture? Anyone?
 
Upvote 0
Yes, it's normal! And yes the 35 has a CA issue. You're going to use it for portraits? Well... You really need to understand optics, the sooner you learn how crappy all lenses are, the better pictures you take ::) the 35 L is one of the absolutely greatest, I love it for the focal and that awesome AF, very sharp wide open. What makes me get the mk2 is primarily weather sealing, better corners and less ca.
 
Upvote 0
Viggo-thanks. I realize that no lens is perfect and expected some CA as my 85mm also has this. I am going to try some more shots in different situations but right now it looks like the bokeh would really bother me. The central target appearance in the center of the OOF light looks like eyes staring at me or a thousand nipples pointing at me :P
 
Upvote 0
yes totally normal when shot wide open with a lot of contrast. I find the need to look at bokeh at 100% pretty funny, only because no normal person does this, just the gear head. Just about every lens will show these "onion rings" in various situations due to modern design including several elements of different sizes and shapes. Essentially all you are seeing is the reflection of one piece of glass against the other. That being said if you are unhappy with it return it and get another one. I don't think that will totally solve the issue, but if it gives you more peace of mind so be it.
 
Upvote 0
EOBeav said:
sanj said:
If this is normal, I am not impressed. Especially with the fringing..

You've got pretty high standards, then. I can just imagine the scenario: "Hey Mabel, will you come look at this? You can actually see the layers in the bokeh in our portraits! What was that photographer thinking when he bought that lens, anyway? Come here, look through this microscope, you can see it for yourself..."

Don't let this stuff get in the way of taking good photographs.

Naaaa. I won't. I promise!
 
Upvote 0
RobbyMack-I do get your point about looking for bokeh at 100% but many times I print some of my images. They're not works of art per se but I find I enjoy them more hanging on my wall for a few months at a time. Sometimes I even print pretty large. I also don't want to keep sending lenses back with unrealistic expectations. Unfortunately where I live their is not a camera shop for 250 miles so I can't go try different copies or compare the new sigma.
 
Upvote 0
This is one of my fav shots...
Any comments?

@RAT: I have a "lemon effect" too!!

(the subject went out of the frame... her joke->good pic at all!)

Andalucia%202012%20-%20%282638%29.jpg
 
Upvote 0
.
Coincidentally, I noticed exactly this phenom using the ef24mm f/1.4L ii last weekend. The room was decorated for Christmas with those icicle lights hanging from the ceiling.

After reading this thread, I wonder if it is not the lens at all, but a different issue of light. When you look directly at any light bulb, it has some light source element inside and an outer casing (glass or plastic). Light passing directly from the source to your eye (or lens) passes through a minimal amount of the casing. Light at the sides or border is passing through substantially more casing material and is greatly diffused.

Anyway, just a thought; could be completely looney. But if there is some "fault" in optics, I want to lean toward the maker of the cheap light bulb rather than a team of optics engineers who designed and built a very expensive camera lens.
 
Upvote 0
Krob97-my photo with the onion effect was not adjusted in photoshop or lightroom either. I don't mind the lemon effect as my 85mm has some of this as well. It is more that central target in the middle of the onion that I will have to decide if I can accept or not. My onion effect looks much more prominent than the other pictures I have seen. Other than this the lens looks great with only some mild softness at the edges till close to 2.8. Since I will be using it wide open much of the time that does not bother me.
 
Upvote 0
jeffabbyben said:
Krob97-my photo with the onion effect was not adjusted in photoshop or lightroom either. I don't mind the lemon effect as my 85mm has some of this as well. It is more that central target in the middle of the onion that I will have to decide if I can accept or not. My onion effect looks much more prominent than the other pictures I have seen. Other than this the lens looks great with only some mild softness at the edges till close to 2.8. Since I will be using it wide open much of the time that does not bother me.
Gotcha! I don't mind the lemon effect either... all in all, there's nothing terrible here. Most folks looking at our images never seem to notice any of the slight defects that we the photogs seem to pick up instantaneously..

Seems like we can fret and fret over little abnormalities and oddities in our images and they can walk up behind you and say; "oh that's awesome!", "I love that shot". It's kind of crazy! My customers often seem to most like the photos that I like the least! :o
 
Upvote 0
Status
Not open for further replies.