How to make your own custom made bokeh filter

Whatever is out of focus will be rendered with the bokeh shape that you applied to your lens.

Same shot as above (slightly different angle) but focused on the foreground instead.

From Wikipedia: In photography, bokeh is the blur, or the aesthetic quality of the blur, in out-of-focus areas of an image, or “the way the lens renders out-of-focus points of light”. Differences in  and  shape cause some lens designs to blur the image in a way that is pleasing to the eye, while others produce blurring that is unpleasant or distracting— “good” or “bad” bokeh, respectively. Bokeh occurs for parts of the scene that lie outside the depth of field. Photographers sometimes deliberately use a shallow focus technique to create images with prominent out-of-focus.

What lenses are best for a good bokeh? A large aperture lens with a fast or very fast aperture (smaller numbers=larger maximum aperture) would be necessary so a lens with a maximum aperture of 1.8 or 1.4 will be very good, I use most of times a Canon EF 85mm f1.2L II USM, which is indeed super fast and bright but again 1.4 or 1.8 is good already and  it won’t break your bank account!

Bokeh, bokeh shapes and boke filters:
Recently, photographers have found how to exploit the shape of the bokeh by creating a simple mask out of card with the shape that the photographer wishes the bokeh to be, and placing it over the lens. Common shapes are stars and hearts, but it is possible to create it with almost any shape imagined.

After owning that fast lens ( and  a camera..DUH!) you will need the following:

1. Spare Camera lens cap to fit the size of the lens you will be using to do bokeh shots with
2. Squeeze paper Punch (pictured here is a 3/4″ x 3/4″ square  puncher)
3. One thin sheet of black carboard
4. Knife
5. Candle
6. Tape or glue
7. Black Marker (if using a light color cardboard)

Punch the cardboard with your shape puncher. Here above I folded the carboard in half and included about 3/4 of the square cut shape in the puncher in order to get a rectangular shape, since I wanted a rectangular bokeh and not a squared one like in the puncher :) Then with a black marker cover both sides of the cardboard.

Light up a candle and after your knife is super HOT cut the rectangular shape in your lens cape roughfly in the middle of the cap. Don’t worry if it’s not super straight or super smooth, since the cardboard mask that you have previously made with the puncher is what is gonna give you the clean bokeh edges that you want. Do not try to cut the bokeh shape/mask with scissors or an exacto knife, otherwise your bokeh will look fuzzy and imperfect (basically like crap!). All you need to worry is that the cut in the cap will be fairly large and larger than your actual carboard mask with the bokeh shape. The puncher shown here has a hole of 3/4″ x 3/4″

Do keep in mind that the smaller the bokeh mask hole you ‘ll make, the less the light it’s going to get to your lens, forcing you to either:

1. Shoot with a higher ISO and therefore getting a grainier (more noise) picture
2. Use a tripod or even worse get a blurry shot instead

As you can see the cut is pretty rough on the lens cap, but it doesn't matter as long as the bokeh mask does have super clean edges and the cardboard is clean cut. That is the reason why is very important to use a hole puncher and don't cut the shape with scissors or a blade!

After you cut the lens cap sand it off and make smooth on the inside (the side facing the lens) so you can glue your bokeh mask in there, you really only have to worry about placing the bokeh mask cenetered, since you are gonna be able to rotate the lens cap and make it horizontal as you please, once your bokeh filter is on the camera.

There you have it! Your own cinematic custom bokeh filter for a few bucks!

Last but not least, do not forget that to get the most evident bokeh you’ll always need to keep these 3 very simple rules in mind and try to apply all of them when shooting for bokeh, and you will become a bokeh king like myself!

1. Use the brightest lens you have and use it wide open (with the smallest numer, set to that number) 2.0, or  1.8,  or even 1.4
2. Stay as close as possible to the subject, as close as your lens allows you to focus that is!
3. Try to keep your subject as far as possible from the highlights in the background that will become your bokeh, move the subject when you can the further for the background, or position yourself somewhere else so the background will be further from your object.

Please see some other bokeh shots of mine here at www.nolaPIC.com and click on the gallery named “Bokeh Addiction”.

Jan 20, 2010 | Photo Gear, Photo Tips | 9 Comments »

2009 Photo Gifts Guide

Finding photography related gifts for Christmas is fairly easy, if you are a photographer that is! I compiled a list of affordable and useful gifts for your special someone so all you have to do is go through the photo goodies and make the 2009 Christmas ho-ho-holiday shopping experience painless!

Lensbaby The Composer for Canon EF mount Digital SLR Cameras

All Lensbaby selective focus SLR camera lenses provide photographers with a new way to control depth of field by bringing one area of a photo into sharpest focus with that Sweet Spot surrounded by graduated blur. By bending the Lensbaby lens, the photographer moves the sharp area around the photo for customized creative effects. Read all the reviews and great ratings Lensbaby gets from people who bought it (scroll on the bottom of page once there on the Amazon page). Make sure that you get a Nikon mount Lensbaby if you are buying it for a Nikon DSLR user! Price: $ 269.95 + free shipping

Canon TC80N3 Timer Remote Control

This Canon TC80N3 timer remote controller for EOS is equipped with quick-lock remote control socket (Shutter release function is provided). It connects to the camera via 80 cm (2.6 ft) cord and the mode button sets the mode and the convenient Jog dial that allows entering values with a single thumb sets the time or number of exposures. With this remote you can set a self-timer, intervalometer or interval timer, long-release or long exposure timer (for Bulb exposure). The Canon TC80N3 timer can be set for any time from 1 sec. to 99 hrs, 59 min, 59 sec. The LCD panel can also be illuminated for easy reading.

• Ideal for time-lapse photography including blooming flowers and astrophotography
• Remote switch with a 2.6-foot cord
• Self-timer, interval timer, long-exposure timer and exposure-count setting features
• Easily enter the numeric settings with a single thumb
• LCD panel can also be illuminated

If buying for a Nikon user you can purchase the Nikon MC-36 Multi-Function Remote Cord instead. Price $136.61

See this killer time lapse video here below done with a timer remote …Time lapse photography has been hot for quite a while and I don’t see that interest slowing down anytime soon! Do not buy cheaper off brands alternatives anywhere since they don’t last at all and they are a waste of money! Price: $ 135.98

Canon EF 1.4X II Extender ( Telephoto Extender )

Multiply the focal length of your 135mm or longer lens by 1.4x without sacrificing image quality with the Canon EF 1.4x II extender. Optically superb, the lens fits all Canon 135mm fixed focal length lenses (except the 135mm f/2.8 Softfocus lens), along with the EF 70-200mm f/2.8L, 70-200mm f/2.8L, 70-200mm f/4.0L, 70-200mm f/4.0L IS USM, and 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS zoom lenses. In addition, the extender doesn’t sacrifice your autofocus on any EOS camera as long as it’s combined with a lens having an f/4 or faster maximum aperture (the extender reduces the effective aperture by one f-stop). Best of all, this version maintains the outstanding optics of the earlier incarnation, but adds a weather-resistant construction and improved anti-reflective surfaces in the barrel. The EF 1.4x II extender, which measures 2.9 inches in diameter and 1.1 inches long, weighs 7.8 ounces. I do have one, use it often and I strongly suggest to get this instead of the 2.0x extender. The 1.4X II quality is unreal and you only lose one stop of light! Price  $299.99

If buying for a Nikon user you should this consider this instead:
Nikon TC-17E II (1.7x) Teleconverter AF-S for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

Nikon TC-17E II is the first teleconverter to offer 1.7x performance. Designed exclusively for use with AF-S and AF-I lenses, the AF-S Teleconverter TC-17E II completes the Nikon lineup of 1.4x, 1.7x, and 2.0x compact teleconverters.With dimensions of just 66 x 31.5mm (2.6 x 1.2 in.) and a weight of only 250g (8.8oz.)(approx.), the Nikon AF-S Teleconverter TC-17E II allows focal length to be extended by a factor of 1.7 times while retaining a sense of overall comfort in the hand. Many such teleconverters can also have a detrimental effect on the speed of the lens, however the AF-S Teleconverter TC-17E II makes available f-stops only 1.5 stops slower.The AF-S Teleconverter TC-17E II also has the ability to communicate with the signals from most lenses. Furthermore, it supports the convenient Nikon Vibration Reduction (VR) function, has a design that is consistent with the current TC-14EII and TC-20EII, and Eco-Glass is also used.This product is designed for AF-I & AF-S Lenses only. Price $549.95

Here are some hourly updated lists of Amazon’s that you might find very useful for your HO-HO-HOLIDAY shopping and give you some extra ideas!

1. Bestsellers Point & Shoot Digital Cameras
2. Bestsellers Digital Cameras
3. Most Gifted in Digital SLRs
4. Bestsellers in Digital SLRs
5. Canon Lenses
6. Nikon Lenses
7. Camera Bags
8. Digital Frames
9. 2 TB External Hard drives
10. Compact Flash Memory Cards

Happy Ho-Ho-Holidays!!!

Dec 13, 2009 | Nikon Gear, Photo Gear, Photo Tips, Photography | Leave A Comment »

Canon EF 85mm f1.2L II USM Autofocus Speed Test

Click Image to animate

Since I were once worried myself about the Canon EF 85mm f1.2L II USM AF speed and I hate reading charts and numbers, (they do not really tell me how a lens performs in the real world) I have finally found the time to do a quick and empirical autofocus speed test, using the lens coupled with a Canon EOS 5D Mark II body. This quick animated gif may help people making up their minds and fork out the hard earned $ once and for all.
The Canon EF 85mm f1.2L II USM AF speed is indeed slower than “regular” Canon L Ultrasonic lenses, but fast enough for the average user and even faster than I actually thought… really! Considering that the autofocus on the Canon EOS 5D Mark II it’s quite old and slow ( the camera shoots at only 3.9 frames per second) the quick test showed and confirmed that you can be assured you can achieve decent AF results, I would be very interested in seeing a similar test done with a Canon body with a much faster autofocus and fps like the 1DM3 or even with the new Canon 7D since its newly re-designed autofocus . The images were shots wide open at 1.2 by the way, so you know they have been shot at the shallowest DOF possibile. The SUV is approximately moving at 45 MPH and I used the center AF which is its only cross point. The animated Gif is slowed down a bit so you can see the focus is dead on.

If you are shooting portraits with the Canon EOS 5D Mark II and the Canon EF 85mm f1.2L II USM
or with the Canon EF 50mm f/1.2 L USM I would strongly suggest you order and install the Canon Eg-S super precision focusing screen which only takes 2 minutes to install!

Please see my other post about it here, with details from Chuck Westfall.

Oct 03, 2009 | Photo Gear, Photo Tips | Leave A Comment »

Testing with Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM

Click Image

The Canon Eg-S Focusing Screen helps a lot too and I’ d suggest you get it if you have a Canon 5DmII too. It’s only $45.00 from Amazon but keep in mind that the Super Precision Matte screen improves the ease of focusing when doing manual focus, but it’s not recommended for use with lenses slower than f/2.8. With these slower lenses, the viewfinder will actually look darker then with the standard Eg-A screen.

If you do install the Canon Eg-S precision matte screen, do not forget to change the  C.Fn IV -5 setting to match the focusing screen type. This is to obtain correct exposure.

The full  frame sensor of the 5Dm2 and its depth is a dream come true! Picture taken @ 1/2000 sec.  f 1.2 ISO 400. Click thumbnail to see a larger image.

Jun 11, 2009 | Photo Gear, Photo Tips, Photography | Leave A Comment »

Testing Canon 5DMII

Click Image

PS: I just installed the Canon Eg-S Focusing Screen and it does help with manual focusing…BIG time!

I finally got in the Canon EOS 5D Mark II with 2 mega fast prime lenses, Smudge is the first model to pose for it. The bokeh on this fast prime lens wide open (Canon 24mm 1.4) it’s unreal…click the thumbnail to see a larger image. Stay tuned for a lot more shots with Canon 24mm 1.2 and Canon 85mm 1.2.
I still have to install the Canon precision screen EG-S which should help a lot to focus with lenses 2.8 and brighter. I can’t wait to do some aerial photography with the Canon 5D Mark II, the files are a whopping 60+MB and have lots of details! I got me the Sandisk 32GB Extreme III which will let me shoot about 1200 shots!

“Chuck Westfall:
That said, it is true that most standard focusing screens for modern SLRs such as the EOS 5D are designed to provide a reasonable balance between viewfinder brightness and manual focusing capability. The Ee-A standard focusing screen for the EOS 5D is bright enough (and accurate enough) for manual focusing under most lighting conditions with virtually any EF lens regardless of maximum aperture. However, because of the design of the microlenses on the surface of the Ee-A, the depth of field shown through the viewfinder never appears be shallower than approximately f/2.8. Therefore, when using a lens faster than f/2.8, the depth of field in the resulting photograph may be shallower than what’s shown in the viewfinder if a working aperture larger than f/2.8 is selected. This effect can be readily seen when comparing the viewfinder image to the LCD screen during replay, if you take time to look for it.”

“If this is an issue for you, Canon offers an optional focusing screen called the Ee-S Super ( Eg-S for Canon 5DMII ) Precision Matte Screen. This focusing screen uses more powerful microlenses than the standard Ee-A screen, with the result that out-of-focus areas in the viewfinder are more accurate to the actual depth of field in the resulting image. This has the effect of making it easier to determine the exact point of focus during manual focusing, especially with high-speed lenses like the EF50mm f/1.4 USM or EF50mm f/1.2L USM. However, it also has the effect of making the Ee-S focusing screen noticeably darker than the Ee-A screen when using lenses with maximum apertures smaller than f/2.8. (No free lunch!) “

Jun 07, 2009 | Photo Gear, Photo Tips | Leave A Comment »