topic Re: Am I looking for the impossible Canon EF lens? in EF & RF Lenses

Am I looking for the impossible Canon EF lens?

dincha2 — Fri, 08 Nov 2024 08:43:21 GMT

Hello. Thank you very much for reading my request, which might be difficult to resolve. I am looking for an EF lens with autofocus and a focal length between 35mm and 50mm that has characteristics similar to the Zeiss 35mm f2 Distagon or the Zeiss 50mm f2 Makro-Planar. The characteristics I'm looking for include the ease of achieving an image where depth and distance between objects in the photo are perceived despite being in two dimensions. I have attached some images showing how the focused subject has a sense of volume and realism, almost as if we could pull it out of the image with our hands. I would like the size to be compact if possible. My size limit would be the Sigma 50mm f1.4 EX (not Art) or the Canon 50mm f1.2L. I am not looking for maximum sharpness by any means, but rather that three-dimensional feeling. I have tried other EF lenses that are very sharp, like the Sigma Art 35mm f1.4, but the result is very flat. Very sharp, but a generic image without anything special. I also use the Leica M system, and with Leica and Voigtlander lenses, I can easily achieve this effect, but I cannot adapt those lenses to my Canon DSLR. Additionally, I am looking for lenses with autofocus. Sorry if this is a difficult question, but if there is anyone who has used a lens I might have overlooked, I am all ears. Some examples:

Re: Am I looking for the impossible Canon EF lens?

shadowsports — Fri, 08 Nov 2024 14:04:46 GMT

Greetings,

What camera are you shooting with?

Re: Am I looking for the impossible Canon EF lens?

ebiggs1 — Fri, 08 Nov 2024 15:36:37 GMT

"What camera are you shooting with?"

I suspect Rick has asked the overlying question. This is most likely a camera 'feature' more than a lens. The characteristics of any 50mm lens is basically the same unless it has some sorta additional internal corrector lenses which I do not see in any 50mm lens mentioned.

Re: Am I looking for the impossible Canon EF lens?

ebiggs1 — Fri, 08 Nov 2024 15:38:58 GMT

If the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Lens doesn't do it for you I can not imagine any 50mm lens that would or best it.

Re: Am I looking for the impossible Canon EF lens?

zakslm — Fri, 08 Nov 2024 18:35:14 GMT

dincha2,

I'm going to recommend you look at the Canon EF 50mm f1.8 II "Nifty-Fifty" lens. It's a relatively inexpensive plastic mount lens that punches well above its weight in terms of image qualtiy and in my opinion, produces results ivocative of classic film camera lenses like the type of lenses you mentioned.

Hope this helps.

Re: Am I looking for the impossible Canon EF lens?

kvbarkley — Fri, 08 Nov 2024 19:17:21 GMT

I think so.

Subject/background separation is one of those intangibles usually attributed to Leica and Zeiss lenses. Canon has never been complemented on this as far as I am aware. With the advent of computer designed lenses, I doubt that this characteristic can even be designed for, so it takes a distant back seat to sharpness and lack of distortion.

Re: Am I looking for the impossible Canon EF lens?

kvbarkley — Fri, 08 Nov 2024 19:53:55 GMT

I think the term you are looking for is "micro-contrast"

https://lenspire.zeiss.com/photo/en/article/micro-contrast-and-the-zeiss-pop-by-lloyd-chambers

Re: Am I looking for the impossible Canon EF lens?

stevet1 — Sat, 09 Nov 2024 02:07:57 GMT

dincha2,

If you are not able to find a lens that meets your needs right now, could I suggest a technique you could try in the short term?

You could apply the Creative Filter called Miniature. You can do this ahead of time by choosing that in your Mode dial, or after--the-fact during playback. I just happened to upload a sample of that technique in the Gallery-Share Your Photos section called Standout.

Steve Thomas

Re: Am I looking for the impossible Canon EF lens?

ebiggs1 — Sat, 09 Nov 2024 16:28:52 GMT

"... you are looking for is "micro-contrast" or a simple slider in Photoshop and/or Lightroom. I think a lot of that comes from the advertizining department.

Re: Am I looking for the impossible Canon EF lens?

normadel — Sat, 09 Nov 2024 19:45:04 GMT

Dincha2:

ALL EF and EF-S lenses are autofocus (or manual focus). That's what the EF stands for.

The rest depends on spacing between subjects in the photo. I believe s wide-angle lens will give more separation between objects at different distances than a longer lens, depending on the distances. I don't know why two lenses of the same focal length would be any different in this regard

Re: Am I looking for the impossible Canon EF lens?

Waddizzle — Sat, 09 Nov 2024 20:02:36 GMT

“ I have tried other EF lenses that are very sharp, like the Sigma Art 35mm f1.4, but the result is very flat. Very sharp, but a generic image without anything special. “

That sounds like something that could be corrected in post.

What sensor sizes are we looking at?

Re: Am I looking for the impossible Canon EF lens?

Ron888 — Sun, 10 Nov 2024 07:33:07 GMT

Very interesting.I've seen a lot of lenses that give spectacular results but not *exactly* what you are looking for.Can you let us know if you find any? All the best with your search

Re: Am I looking for the impossible Canon EF lens?

stevet1 — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 01:57:35 GMT

dincha2,

You might look at the lensbaby Burnside 35mm special affects lens.

https://digital-photography-school.com/review-lensbaby-burnside-35-special-effects-lens/

Steve Thomas

Re: Am I looking for the impossible Canon EF lens?

ebiggs1 — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 15:26:14 GMT

"That sounds like something that could be corrected in post. "

Bingo! 😁