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Conclusions
Used as a creative tool, a wide aperture can make compelling images, revealing the flaw in the “sharpness is everything” approach. Perception and a pleasing image are much more complicated than sharpness.
Over time, I plan to update this guide will be updated with further examples and insights from other lenses.
Lens choices
Note that an 85mm f/1.2 lens has about the same amount of blur as a 50mm f/0.95 lens, though perspective will change. In other words, you do not need a Leica M9 and a 50mm f/0.95 lens to see similar effects.
Most everyone can afford an f/1.4 lens, which is a good place to start; a 50mm f/1.4 is readily available at modest cost, and on the used market, it’s even cheaper.
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Diglloyd DAP is DSLR-oriented, but also contains workflow and other topics. Much of the focus is on Canon and Nikon but also Pentax and Pentax medium format.
Special emphasis is placed on lens evaluation, focusing on Canon and Nikon and Sigma lenses, but with a few others like Rokinon/Samyang.
- Make better images by learning how to get the best results right away.
- Save money by choosing the right lens for your needs the first time, particularly some of the new Sigma Art lenses vs Nikon and Canon.
- Workflow discusses image organization, raw conversion and post processing. Many examples show processing parameters for direct insight into how the image was converted.
- Jaw-dropping image quality found nowhere else utilizing Retina-grade images up to full camera resolution, plus large crops [past 2 years or so].
- Real world examples with insights found nowhere else. Make sharper images just by understanding lens behavior you won’t read about elsewhere.
- Aperture series from wide open through stopped down, showing the full range of lens performance and bokeh.
- Optical quality analysis of field curvature, focus shift, sharpness, flare, distortion, and performance in the field.
Want a preview? Click on any page below to see an excerpt as well as extensive blog coverage, for example on Nikon or on Canon or on Pentax.