The 7artisans 79mm Split Diopter Adds Blur Effects to Your Photos
7artisans has released a 79mm Handheld Split Diopter Filter that it says allows photographers to add a blur or bokeh effect to the edges of a photo to "enhance visual storytelling."
How to Blur the Background in iPhone Photos
Your iPhone can nicely blur the background to enhance a photograph or video. A similar effect works well with video chat software, eliminating distractions and putting the focus on the subject. Whether you want to blur the background during a FaceTime call, snap a beautiful portrait photograph with your iPhone, or edit the background blur in pictures you've already captured, we'll explain how it works to help you get the blur you want from your iPhone.
Leica Brings Back the 1961 Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4, the ‘King of Bokeh’
Leica is going all in on the revival of classics. In addition to restarting production of its M6 film rangefinder, the company is also bringing back the Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 originally released in 1961.
Bokeh: A Photographer’s Guide
As photographers, when we hear the word "bokeh", we probably already have a visual in our mind of its meaning. Since bokeh can be somewhat abstract and subjective, describing it can be difficult.
Nikon Z 40mm f/2 Review: Affordable and Surprisingly Useful
Despite a nearly two-year global supply chain shortage, Nikon has been making good on the company's promise to deliver a plethora of new lenses for the mirrorless Z system. Filling in most of the missing gaps from the F-mount lineup with greatly improved lenses, this time with a unique and affordable "in-between" focal length lens for everyday use, the $297 40mm f/2 Z.
Kolari EF to EOS R Drop-In Filter Adapter: Tons of Creative Options
A little over a year ago, Kolari Vision released its lineup of high-end and ultra-rugged drop-in filters for Canon's EF-to-RF mount adapter with a built-in filter slot, making the company the first to come to market for such a product. But does getting to market first make them any better than the competition? Is the price worth it?
Fujifilm Reveals the XF23mm f/1.4 R LM WR Lens
Fujifilm has announced the new XF23mm f/1.4 R LM WR lens to its lineup of interchangeable XF lenses designed for the X Series family of mirrorless digital cameras.
Testing Macro Diffraction and Bokeh of the Nikon Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S
Shortly after taking delivery of the new Nikon Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S lens, I made a series of photographs to test its diffraction and bokeh characteristics using the 45MP Nikon Z 7II camera in a real-world situation.
LuminarAI’s Latest Update Adds AI-Powered ‘Portrait Bokeh’ Tool
Today, Skylum has released the fourth free update to the LuminarAI photo editing software since its initial launch in late 2020. This new update adds a new Portrait BokehAI tool along with several other features.
Drop-In Filters for Canon RF Adapter Add Swirly Bokeh to Any EF Lens
Kolari Vision has developed a filter that works with Canon's EF to RF adapter with support for drop-in filters that can add a swirly bokeh effect to any EF lens. This would theoretically let those who enjoy the unique bokeh of lenses like the Petzval 80.5mm or 55mm achieve that effect with any EF lens.
Petzval 55mm f/1.7 Review: A Lovely Lens For Pro or Creative Use
The $449 Petzval 55mm f/1.7 Mark II Bokeh Control Art Lens from Lomography is the first Petzval lens designed specifically for full-frame mirrorless camera systems like the Nikon Z, Canon RF, and Sony E. It's also fantastic.
Photographer Recreates Large Format Film Look with a Digital Camera
Ukrainian photographer Olexiy Shportun has created an image capture device that combines a digital camera with a system that resembles a large format film camera to produce dreamy, bokeh-rich still-life photos and portraits.
Petzval 80.5mm f/1.9 MKII Review: A Stunning Vintage-Style Lens
Just over a year ago, Lomography launched the 180th Anniversary Edition of the Petzval 80.5mm f/1.9 MKII Bokeh Control Art Lens which promised a bevy of improvements over its 85mm predecessor. It looked as though it would put a historic lens back in the hands in creatives at an affordable $549 price. So does it?
This Classic Lens Was Used For Army of the Dead’s Bokeh-Rich Shots
Filmmaker Zack Snyder reveals that the combination of an old lens mixed with his modern equipment allowed him to create the "dreamlike" and shallow depth of field sequences for his latest film, Army of the Dead.
Laowa Argus 33mm f/0.95 CF APO Review: So. Much. Bokeh.
Venus Optics' Laowa lenses have been growing in both notoriety and popularity over the last few years thanks to their nearly constant stream of new and interesting optics for a wide variety of mounts. The company's latest is backed by the high-quality promise of its new Argus line: the Laowa Argus 33mm f/0.95 CF APO for APS-C systems.
Why I Rarely Shoot Wide Open: How to Separate Subject from Background
There was a time when I would always shoot wide open, and it hurt my progress. The kit lens that came with my camera had a slow aperture, so getting blurry or creamy background was quite unusual unless the subject was close.
Photographer 3D Prints Wet Plate Photos to Create ‘Touchable Bokeh’
Photographer Markus Hofstätter had been designing parts for his cameras and 3D printing them at home when the idea to try something new struck him: 3D printing photographs. After a lot of trial and error, he successfully found a way to translate wet plate photos into 3D printed pieces.
How Bokeh Evolved and How Digital Photography Elevated it to Art
Bokeh is one of the most subjective aspects of photo or video. As Simon's Utak says in this 20-minute discussion on its history and how it is elevating digital photography into art, we as photographers can't even agree how to properly say the word.
Great Reads in Photography: December 27, 2020
Every Sunday, we bring together a collection of easy reading articles from analytical to how-to to photo-features in no particular order that did not make our regular daily coverage. Enjoy!
When Bokeh Isn’t Best: Appreciating a Deeper Depth of Field
Recently, the more I study my photographs, the more I feel that bokeh is cheating me out of a more substantial image. I really like photographs with a lot of visual complexity -- well presented, not chaotic, but a clear arrangement of multiple elements.
Five Lies New Portrait Photographers Believe That Hurt Professional Growth
In this 11-minute video, portrait photographer Miguel Quiles discusses five lies new portrait photographers believe that could hurt them professionally and curtail their growth as an artist.
The Lensbaby Spark 2.0 is a Bendy, Hose-Like Manual Focus Lens
Lensbaby is known for making unconventional lenses that create unusual defocused areas, and the Spark is no exception. The Spark 2.0 adds support for eight mounts, both DSLR and mirrorless, as well as 15 optics introduced since 2008.
Fujifilm Unveils XF 50mm f/1.0 Lens: The Fastest Fuji Lens Ever Made
After months of teasers and weeks of leaks and rumors, it's finally here. Fujifilm has unveiled the Fujinon XF 50mm f/1.0 WR—the fastest lens Fuji has ever made and the world's first f/1.0 autofocus lens for mirrorless cameras.
Shooting Video with an f/0.95 Lens: ‘Bokeh Madness’
Photographer Mathieu Stern recently had a chance to spend a week with the TTArtisan 50mm f/0.95 lens, and he decided to stick it on his Sony a7 III to see what shooting video at f/0.95 is like.
Concert Photographer Shoots Striking Bokeh Panoramas
In Summer of 2019, while working with Elbow in Manchester, concert photographer Peter Neill had an idea. He decided to try and stitch an epic panorama... with a twist. Instead of using a wide-angle, he would use an 85mm f/1.4 and capture a pano of the stage and the crowd, but with a shallow depth of field and bokeh.
Testing an Insanely Fast 100mm f/0.73 Lens In Real Life
The folks over at YouTube channel Media Division recently put together an incredibly comprehensive test of the fastest camera lenses on the market. In this video, they cover everything from the legendary Zeiss R-Biotar 100mm f/0.73 X-Ray lens, to some of the more "practical" options with maximum apertures under f/1.
Adding Foreground Flare to Portraits
There are a million-and-one ways to add creative flares and effects to your shots in post-production after you’ve taken the image, but nothing beats the look and feel of an image that has used in-camera flares and bokeh effects.
Canon 85mm vs 85mm DS: Is Canon’s ‘Defocus Smoothing’ Worth the Price?
Portrait photographer and YouTuber Alex Barrera recently went out and shot a full side-by-side comparison of the Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L and the RF 85mm f/1.2L DS lenses. His sample photos can help you decide if Canon's "Defocus Smoothing" is worth the loss of light and the extra $300 it'll cost you.
Cosina Unveils Voigtlander 60mm f/0.95 Lens for Micro Four Thirds
It's been an exciting day for Micro Four Thirds shooters. Not only have budget brands Yongnuo and Venus Optics officially joined the standard, but Cosina Japan has unveiled the Micro Four Thirds mount Voigtlander Nokton 60mm f/0.95.
Defocus Smoothing on Canon’s 85mm Costs You 1.5 Stops of Light at f/1.2
Does that photo of the new Canon 85mm f/1.2L DS IS lens look a bit dark to you? Well, that's because the new Defocus Smoothing coating Canon applied to its latest prime lens isn't without its tradeoffs. Though the Defocus Smoothing that helps improve the look of bokeh in photos, it's going to cost you a stop and a half of light wide open.