Low depth of field and isolating subjects - Nikon's 135mm f/1.8 Plena lens

A mild telephoto, low f/number, and near focus facilitate out-of-focus backgrounds.

Depth of field is affected by quite a few variables, but the three that you have direct control over are focal length, aperture, and point of focus.  Sensor size plays a large roll in this as well with larger sensors producing less depth of field than smaller sensors at any given relative focal length.  The above photo was taken with a 135mm focal length prime lens at f/1.8 on a full-frame mirrorless camera.

You don't need a really expensive lens to do this, but there are a few qualities you may want to incorporate in any equipment you buy if you intend on getting a nicely out of focus background behind your subjects.  These include:

  • A prime lens versus a zoom lens
  • A lens with a low minimum aperture (f/2 or lower if possible)
  • A mild telephoto (85mm to 135mm relative preferred)
  • A subject that is not too far away (think portrait versus full-body photo)
  • A background that is a good distance away.
A prime 50mm f/1.8 lens is an excellent addition to a crop-sensor camera such as those with an APS-C sized sensor.  Its relative focal length is around 80mm and the low minimum aperture does a good job on defocusing backgrounds.  One of my favourite lenses is the 85mm f/1.4 prime on a full-frame camera which also performs wonderfully on cropped sensors. The f/1.8 version is considerably less expensive and does an equitable job.

I recently bought a 135mm f/1.8 lens and have found it to be superb, one of the best lenses I have ever owned.  You can see how effective it is on defocusing the background.  It's longer focal length means that you have to be farther away from your subjects, but there is value in that in certain situations.  I also own an 85mm f/1.4 and a 50mm f/1.8 so I can use those should the need arise.

The nice thing about a 50mm f/1.8 on a crop-sensor camera is that they go for under $300 new and can often be picked up used for around $150.  An excellent lens to have to augment whatever you happen to have in your gadget bag.

If you have some money to spend, you may want to consider looking at a 50mm or 85mm in the f/1.4 range.  You can buy f/1.2 50s but they are VERY expensive.  I have never owned one and probably never will.  

If nothing else, having such a lens will allow you to try some things you may not have had a lot of success with if you have only been using kit-zooms that have apertures around f/5.6 when at 85mm.  The difference is astonishing.

Thanks for reading.

Eric Svendsen     www.ericspix.com

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