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Lots of photographers want better bokeh. But to get something truly unique, you sometimes need a special lens. What helps define bokeh are the lens coatings and the aperture blades. Generally speaking, the more aperture blades there are, the smoother the bokeh can be. Of course, there are exceptions to that rule. So if you’re looking for that dreamy look in your photos, know that these lenses have great bokeh!
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Sigma 35mm f1.2 DG DN Art: The Semi-Wide Lens With Great Bokeh
In our review, we said:
“One of the reasons why you’d buy the Sigma 35mm f1.2 Art DG DN is the bokeh. Of course, the photographer who really enjoys bokeh will go for this lens. But for most of us, there is very little practical reason to do it unless you plan on working with special lighting and delivering a unique look. Canon’s 50mm f1.2 RF provides an almost medium format look. But the Sigma doesn’t give me that vibe. Besides the bokeh, the argument for an f1.2 lens would be to use it in low light. But with ISO abilities at 12,800 being fairly decent, I’d make an argument that this is rubbish. So why go for f1.2? Honestly, it’s the bokeh. You really want that slim, sliver of the scene in focus. Again, couple this with off-camera lighting for an even more unique look.”
Sample Images
Buy Now: Around $1,424
Pro Tip: Autofocusing with super shallow depth of fields is very tough. To get the most of it, use Face Detection. More importantly, use it with Eye Detection. Further, turn of exposure preview mode. That’s the best way to get the most accurate autofocus.
Canon RF 50mm f1.2 L USM: The Fan Favorite with Great Bokeh
In our review, we said:
“…I’d argue that the Canon RF 50mm f1.2 L USM has just a bit more pop and beauty to it and then I’d highly rate Sony’s Alpha lens. The bokeh on all of them is nice; but what I’ve seen is that the Canon RF 50mm f1.2 L USM’s bokeh isn’t always perfectly round.”
Sample Images
Buy Now: $2,199
Fujifilm 56mm f1.2 R: The Lens Most Fuji Users Swear By
In our review, we said:
“If you’re looking for a gloriously bokehlicious lens for the X series, this is the best that you’re going to get your hands on. For starters, it renders a telephoto field of view and at an equivalent of f2 on a full frame camera when shot wide open. When you import than images into Lightroom, you’ll still realize that a lot will be in focus for an f1.2 lens–and that’s when it’ll hit you that you’re dealing with an APS-C sensor design.”
Sample Images
Pro Tip: To make a man look more elegant, it’s not only all about the attire, but it’s also about the specific pose. Have him shift his weight depending on which shoulder is the higher one. The lower shoulder should be bright forward more, and the head should be tilted slightly. Combine this with the effects of a shallow depth field to give you great bokeh. You’ll get a better portrait then, for sure. Our site has many posing guides, and there are lots of good ones on the web.
Buy Now: $999
Canon RF 85mm f1.2 L USM: Great Bokeh? You Probably Won’t Find Better.
In our review, we said:
“Look at that beautifully creamy bokeh! When shooting with the Canon RF 85mm f1.2 L USM, the transition between in-focus and out-of-focus areas is smooth and gradual. Portrait photographers who prefer to shoot wide open will love how this helps isolate their subjects from the environment.”
Sample Images
Buy Now: $2599
Fujifilm 50mm f1 R WR: Innovation and Great Bokeh!
In our preview, we said:
“Personally speaking, though, I’m super impressed. I like that it can acquire focus on a subject and give me super-sharp results. Then add in the APS-C sensor’s depth of field benefits. Oh, and that bokeh! Finally, don’t forget about those light-gathering abilities!”
Sample Images
Buy Now: $1,499.95