Bingley
Veteran
Although I’m not primarily a portrait photographer, I completely agree with Bruce on this point. I rarely shoot fast lenses wide open, even when I do make portraits, because I want just a bit more depth of field and sharpness that comes from stopping down a bit. Although I don’t have the Skyllaney Bertele Sonnar (ahem… yet), the thought applies to other Sonnar-formula lenses, like the Canon 50/1.5:
These two photos were made at f4.0:
C&E by Steve Macfarlane, on Flickr
G. by Steve Macfarlane, on Flickr
boojum
Ignoble Miscreant
This is all I can do for you on a "people" shot, so far. M9 at f/4.0. All artificial light across from the merry-go-round. AWB, Auto ISO.
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brusby
Well-known
Thanks Steve and boojum. Very nice photos.
I like to have the background far enough behind the subject so that it appears pleasingly soft even when stopping down a bit. And I think the Sonar type lenses don't need to be closed down much to clean them up quite a bit, sometimes just half a stop to one stop. Hard to convey with words so here's a 135mm f2 Sonnar stopped down just over one stop to f3.2. If the background were closer I probably would have stopped down less to maintain the feeling of separation between the subject and background.
Kinda hard to see how out of focus the background is here cause it's almost blown out by the sun, but this is the only example I had handy.
_MG_2177 by Brusby, on Flickr
I like to have the background far enough behind the subject so that it appears pleasingly soft even when stopping down a bit. And I think the Sonar type lenses don't need to be closed down much to clean them up quite a bit, sometimes just half a stop to one stop. Hard to convey with words so here's a 135mm f2 Sonnar stopped down just over one stop to f3.2. If the background were closer I probably would have stopped down less to maintain the feeling of separation between the subject and background.
Kinda hard to see how out of focus the background is here cause it's almost blown out by the sun, but this is the only example I had handy.
_MG_2177 by Brusby, on Flickr
boojum
Ignoble Miscreant
I understand your point. But all I can offer is what I now have. To quote and old school motto from the Latin, "Having been chastened we will strive to do better. The Latin is succinct. In English it is just "A swift kick."
brusby
Well-known
Hmmm, no criticism whatsoever intended. 'Actually just trying to offer some thoughts on the subject that I imagined might be helpful or useful in formulating future images. It was meant not as a critique of your or anyone else's work, but as an explanation of my thought process when selecting an aperture for portraits, particularly with Sonnar type lenses that have unique characteristics when used at larger apertures.
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I'll pack up the M9 with the Bertele, and a converted 5cm F2 Sonnar "T". Daughter finishes her final exam for the term today, two CS courses in a compressed term. Florida- here we come.
I've also packed the Df with the 50/1.4 AF-Nikkor, 20/2.8 AF-Nikkor-S, 28~105 Zoom AF-D, and 300/4.5 Ais. I am so 21st century.
I've also packed the Df with the 50/1.4 AF-Nikkor, 20/2.8 AF-Nikkor-S, 28~105 Zoom AF-D, and 300/4.5 Ais. I am so 21st century.
wlewisiii
Just another hotel clerk
My Nikon bag has doesn't have that long a tele but all three of the rest are in it
I "make do" with my Nikkor-Q 135/3.5 instead. The 240 bag is, as always, my 28, my 90 and whichever 50 has my eye that day - Nikkor 50/2 at the moment.
raid
Dad Photographer
This is good to hear, Brian. Hope to see you!
brusby
Well-known
That'd make for a very interesting comparison. Hope you post your results.
Batteries charged, camera and lenses in the bag. Last year I missed the trip to Florida because of a tree hitting our house in Virginia- and staying behind to coordinate repairs.
And we'll be linking up with Raid and his family. We've been doing that for almost 20 years now. Hard to believe, especially when seeing the girls all grown up.
And we'll be linking up with Raid and his family. We've been doing that for almost 20 years now. Hard to believe, especially when seeing the girls all grown up.
boojum
Ignoble Miscreant
Safe trip and Happy Trails. Sounds like it will be a "Daughters Conference" among other things.
f.hayek
Well-known
Thanks Steve and boojum. Very nice photos.
I like to have the background far enough behind the subject so that it appears pleasingly soft even when stopping down a bit. And I think the Sonar type lenses don't need to be closed down much to clean them up quite a bit, sometimes just half a stop to one stop. Hard to convey with words so here's a 135mm f2 Sonnar stopped down just over one stop to f3.2. If the background were closer I probably would have stopped down less to maintain the feeling of separation between the subject and background.
Kinda hard to see how out of focus the background is here cause it's almost blown out by the sun, but this is the only example I had handy.
Your photography subjects, without fail, are exceptional. Life is good in Brusbyland.
brusby
Well-known
That's really kind of you to say. Thank you!!!
boojum
Ignoble Miscreant
No, no, no. That was meant as lighthearted jest on my part. I didn't pay much attention to that motto when I was at the school, either. ;o) You're cool. I am busy this sunny day but will get out to do some more with that lens. Laissez les bontemps roulez. OK?
boojum
Ignoble Miscreant
OK, I have had bad luck with the Bertele on the Pixii. Of course this could just be cockpit error. I will test further. But the Bertele Sonnar has a FOV which covers the entire X2D sensor. Oh happy day. Yes, it is the same with Jupiter 8's and the CZJ f/1.5. I can do XPan with it, of course, as XPan is just an in-camera crop in this case. But as this is the first time I have been able to see what the Bertele sees in real time I have also seen, or finally noticed, focus breathing. And while I can see how it would be a nosebleed in cinematography it is just interesting in still photography. I have not been out with the X2D - Bertele combo yet but will soon. The X2D was good with the Amotal so I am eager to see how it handles the Skyllaney Bertele. The CZJ, too.
raid
Dad Photographer
We finally met again today! Brian had with him the M9 and the Bertele Zeiss 50/2. The lens looks great.
wlewisiii
Just another hotel clerk
I can only imagine being so lucky as to spending even an afternoon with both of you gentlemen and your lovely families. I can only hope you had a wonderful day.
boojum
Ignoble Miscreant
What did you talk about? LOL Cameras? Have fun.