Canon EOS lens with shallow DOF

I need a suggestion for a good yet semi-cheap lens that has a shallow DOF. I know there are some very good photographers on these forums so i think i have come to the right place

Canon EF 50mm 1.8 It's a great lens and retails under $100!! It's also great for shooting in low light conditions due to its wide aperature!

Nice shallow DOf at low cost

I have to agree that you can't find a better low-light and shallow DOF EOS lens that the "nifty fifty" 50mm/f1.8

The only better ones in the Canon line are the 50mm/f1.4 at 4~5 times the price, or the f1.0 for way too many $$$$

FredMiranda reviews - Canon prime lenses: page 2 and page 3.

Oh and here's more reviews you can trust too. The Digital Picture Canon Lens Reviews, Bob Atkins Photography reviews Canon EF 50/1.8 (I and II) and Photozone's Photo Equipment Tests, Reviews & Articles.

shroogis said:

Canon EF 50mm 1.8 It's a great lens and retails under $100!! It's also great for shooting in low light conditions due to its wide aperature!

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Yeah I have to second that. I don't use it that much anymore but when I do it always surprise me how good it is. With 1.8 up close real shallow.

shroogis said:

Canon EF 50mm 1.8 It's a great lens and retails under $100!! It's also great for shooting in low light conditions due to its wide aperature!

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I think every Canon SLR owner should purchase this lens no matter what their primary shooting style is

renegade said:

I have to agree that you can't find a better low-light and shallow DOF EOS lens that the "nifty fifty" 50mm/f1.8

The only better ones in the Canon line are the 50mm/f1.4 at 4~5 times the price, or the f1.0 for way too many $$$$

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I just don't think the benefits are worth all the extra money compared to the bargain 1.8

MacHeadCase said:

FredMiranda reviews - Canon prime lenses: page 2 and page 3.

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Fred Miranda is a fantastic site and always the first place I recommend for people to read up on equipment

Thank you guys for all the information!

The reason I asked is I just purchased a red rock M2 35mm adapter with a Canon EOS lens mount for my XL2. I can't wait to start shooting with it, I got some lenses including some of what you guys recommended.

FWIW, I would opt for the 50/1.4 if you can afford it. While the /1.8 is certainly a good lens I don't think the quality is the same. The 50/1.4 is the only non-L lens I have. Half a step can make a difference under low light shooting conditions (including the fact that you can step the /1.4 to 1.8 and get a crisper-than-wide-open shot) but I doubt the difference in DOF is noticeable. See eg:

50/1.4 at 1.4



50/1.4 at 1.8


Unless something has changed, I thought the L 50mm prime was 1.2, not 1.0?

as of right now I only have $100 so I can not afford any more lenses at the moment. My next investment is a steadicam for my next project. If we win that particular film festival (48 hour film festival new york) then I am going to buy new lenses before we go on to bigger and better projects.

I would look for used, keh.com has a huge supply of used lenses.

Hey ToddG, you should at least post an image with something in focus

:blind:

Easiest way to demonstrate differences in DOF is to take a picture of many similar objects close to one another and close to the camera (DOF is narrower the closer you are to the subject).

Typical examples people use are a box of crayons or a bowl of marbles. It lets you see how the focus degrades as you move away from the focal point. Since I don't have any crayons or marbles, I used what I had at hand.

DOF is related to the f-stop. The larger the number the greater the DOF, the smaller the number is the DOF range is smaller.
The two f-stops you are comparing 1.2 and 1.4 is more looking at low light levels than DOF. The 1.2 would be considered a faster lens, because it lets more light in.

rman said:

DOF is related to the f-stop. The larger the number the greater the DOF, the smaller the number is the DOF range is smaller.
The two f-stops you are comparing 1.2 and 1.4 is more looking at low light levels than DOF. The 1.2 would be considered a faster lens, because it lets more light in.

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Indeed, although being exceptionally and perhaps unneccessarily precise, it is the ratio of apeture and focal length. The DOF becomes more limited with the same aperture as you lengthen the lens (i.e. an f/1.8 with a 50mm lens will have a greater DOF than an f/1.8 200mm lens).

Not only that, but the frame size also impacts the DOF. So a "50mm" (i.e. 35mm equivalent) lens for a RebelXP or Canon 300D will have a greater DOF than a "50mm" (i.e. 35mm equivalent) lens for a 5D or 1D, because the CCD is smaller on the former. Full frame cameras are faster and have a more limited DOF than their quarter frame digital equivalents.

So, for most limited DOF, you should combine a fast apeture with a long focal length on a full frame camera.

Ok so now i am confused.. which has a shallower dof a 3.5 or a 1.2?

PowerBookG4 said:

Ok so now i am confused.. which has a shallower dof a 3.5 or a 1.2?

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The f/1.2.

I hope I didn't confuse you, but you should just know you don't need an f/1.2 or even f/1.8 lens to get a narrow DOF, if the focal length is quite long. In fact a 200mm f/1.8 lens is probably going to cost more than a Mac Pro.

There is a lot more to the DOF than the Aperture. BTW, I agree that the 50mm prime for $100 is probably a great buy. I personally think any photographer should have a 50mm lens, it's a perfect lens to walk and shoot with.

So to be EXCEPTIONALLY precise, Zoolook, the DOF doesn't change with sensor size. So the DOF at 100ft with a 70mm lens is the same regardless of sensor size. However, a smaller sensor might make that 70mm lens give you a view angle more like a 105mm lens. Even though you're seeing through a 105mm lens (sort of), you still get the 70mm lens DOF.



Basic rules of thumb:

* For any given focal length, closer distance and larger aperture (smaller "f-stop number") gives narrower DOF.

* For any given distance, longer focal length and larger aperture gives narrower DOF.

* For any given aperture, longer focal length and closer distance gives narrower DOF.

Easiest way to remember is that as the aperture increases, the focal length increases, or the distance to the subject decreases, your DOF narrows.

ToddG said:

So to be EXCEPTIONALLY precise, Zoolook, the DOF doesn't change with sensor size. So the DOF at 100ft with a 70mm lens is the same regardless of sensor size. However, a smaller sensor might make that 70mm lens give you a view angle more like a 105mm lens. Even though you're seeing through a 105mm lens (sort of), you still get the 70mm lens DOF.

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LOL - Yes that's right. Most focal lengths are given as 35mm equivalents, but what you just said is exactly right - the lens is responsible for the DOF, not the sensor.

It took me about two hours to explain it all to my wife after the "beginner photography" class we took together got her completely confused.