topic Re: Bokeh looks like someone doodled over it with the liquify function in photoshop. R5 with rf 100- in EOS DSLR & Mirrorless Cameras

Bokeh looks like someone doodled over it with the liquify function in photoshop. R5 with rf 100-500

David-Epperly — Thu, 15 Apr 2021 20:10:35 GMT

So I got a new r5 and an rf 100-500 in anticipation of going to Africa later this year. I am a professional photographer that normally used 5d mk4s for my day-to-day workflow.

Long story short. Here is a picture I took this morning with the above r5 and rf 100-500 combo. Both have the latest firmware.

The background looks like someone used a smudge tool or the liquify/push tool to push and pull the texture of the background around. I opened this photo in dpp4 and in the latest lightroom. Both programs show the same effect.

I am attaching a small jpg that has only been slightly sharpened to show the effect, but the photo was taken as a cr3. image was taken at iso 800, 500mm, f9.0 1/1600 of a second. IBIS and lens stabilization are on.

Obviously, this is not a great photo, but if it was it would be ruined by the effect taking place. has anyone else had this issue. I could upload the raw file if anyone knows a server that will host such a large file. I assume this site will not.

Any ideas? As of now I am a bit disappointed with the camera lens combo for being such a high-end rig, I was selling my nature kit (nikon D810 and 150-600) to go all canon. I am unsure of that move now. There seem to be a few other issues with the camera that I'm not sure I can live with.

Anyway, let me know if you have any ideas on what is causing this.

Thanks

Dave

Re: Bokeh looks like someone doodled over it with the liquify function in photoshop. R5 with rf 100-

rs-eos — Thu, 15 Apr 2021 20:24:32 GMT

The only thing that immediately comes to mind is if you have dual pixel RAW enabled? I never used that feature myself, so don't know if it would ever lead to such output.

Re: Bokeh looks like someone doodled over it with the liquify function in photoshop. R5 with rf 100-

David-Epperly — Thu, 15 Apr 2021 20:46:36 GMT

Hi Ricky. Dual pixel raw is not enabled.

I never use it either.

Dave

Re: Bokeh looks like someone doodled over it with the liquify function in photoshop. R5 with rf 100-

kvbarkley — Thu, 15 Apr 2021 20:55:22 GMT

Are you a member of CPS?

https://www.usa.canon.com/internet/portal/us/home/support/canon-professional-services

You could take it up with them.

I don't see it in any of Ken Rockwell's images

https://www.kenrockwell.com/canon/eos-r/lenses/100-500mm.htm

Re: Bokeh looks like someone doodled over it with the liquify function in photoshop. R5 with rf 100-

kvbarkley — Thu, 15 Apr 2021 20:57:27 GMT

Is this with or without DLO?

Re: Bokeh looks like someone doodled over it with the liquify function in photoshop. R5 with rf 100-

Waddizzle — Thu, 15 Apr 2021 23:27:36 GMT

Looks like you're using a UV or CPL filter, to me. If so, switch to a B+W Nano Clear filter. But, take test shots with no filter to see if removing any filter you might have been using makes any difference.

[EDIT] I have also seen a similar pattern when I had IS turned with the camera rig on a tripod, or when holding it very still.

Re: Bokeh looks like someone doodled over it with the liquify function in photoshop. R5 with rf 100-

David-Epperly — Thu, 15 Apr 2021 23:47:15 GMT

@kvbarkley wrote:
Is this with or without DLO?

Dynamic Lighting Optimizer?

No, I never run it.

Dave

Re: Bokeh looks like someone doodled over it with the liquify function in photoshop. R5 with rf 100-

David-Epperly — Thu, 15 Apr 2021 23:46:47 GMT

@Waddizzle wrote:
Looks like you're using a UV or CPL filter, to me. If so, switch to a B+W Nano Clear filter. But, take test shots with no filter to see if removing any filter you might have been using makes any difference.

[EDIT] I have also seen a similar pattern when I had IS turned with the camera rig on a tripod, or when holding it very still.

Waddizzle.
I'm not using any filters and the camera is handheld
I was thinking it might be an IS problem but why would different areas look different, unless there was some software stabilization going on. That's not my understanding of how this setup works.

Thanks

Re: Bokeh looks like someone doodled over it with the liquify function in photoshop. R5 with rf 100-

David-Epperly — Thu, 15 Apr 2021 23:46:13 GMT

@kvbarkley wrote:
Are you a member of CPS?
https://www.usa.canon.com/internet/portal/us/home/support/canon-professional-services

You could take it up with them.

I don't see it in any of Ken Rockwell's images
https://www.kenrockwell.com/canon/eos-r/lenses/100-500mm.htm

No. I'm not a member. I have considered joining a few times. I might have to.

Re: Bokeh looks like someone doodled over it with the liquify function in photoshop. R5 with rf 100-

David-Epperly — Fri, 16 Apr 2021 00:06:31 GMT

You can see it up around the log in this one too. It has sharper areas and what sort of looks like motion-blurred areas and then some areas have a nice Bokeh. All of these areas are far behind the subject (feet) so it does not make any sense that there would be this inconsistency in the bokeh. I guess I will have to take this to canon because I don't find it acceptable. I've also noticed what seems like motion blur in slower-moving objects at 1/1600 of a second. Like some of the images have a double exposure look around the fish's eye, etc. Things that if taken with my other cameras would have been slightly out of focus but not streeked or motion blurred.

Re: Bokeh looks like someone doodled over it with the liquify function in photoshop. R5 with rf 100-

kvbarkley — Fri, 16 Apr 2021 13:31:13 GMT

Digital Lighting Optimiser, it is Canon's lens correction. You should be able to tun it on and off in DPP.

Re: Bokeh looks like someone doodled over it with the liquify function in photoshop. R5 with rf 100-

Wojdarm — Fri, 10 Dec 2021 16:01:52 GMT

I know this is a bit of an old thread but I have had a similar issue with this lens and combination. Do you think there is a problem in the lens or is this just how it is? Take a look at the branches and Bokeh in these two shots:

Re: Bokeh looks like someone doodled over it with the liquify function in photoshop. R5 with rf 100-

kvbarkley — Fri, 10 Dec 2021 16:32:59 GMT

How are you post processing?

Re: Bokeh looks like someone doodled over it with the liquify function in photoshop. R5 with rf 100-

Wojdarm — Fri, 10 Dec 2021 16:43:03 GMT

This is a grab from Davinci resolve. No processing done. Looking over the images it really appears to be only occurring with the 100-500 lens. Thanks for looking.

Re: Bokeh looks like someone doodled over it with the liquify function in photoshop. R5 with rf 100-

kvbarkley — Fri, 10 Dec 2021 17:37:42 GMT

In other words, have you tried DPP?

Re: Bokeh looks like someone doodled over it with the liquify function in photoshop. R5 with rf 100-

Wojdarm — Fri, 10 Dec 2021 18:03:11 GMT

I haven't but not sure exactly how that would fix it? And you mean Canon's software right? Thanks.

Re: Bokeh looks like someone doodled over it with the liquify function in photoshop. R5 with rf 100-

kvbarkley — Fri, 10 Dec 2021 18:29:52 GMT

I don't know, as you see there were never any real resolution to this topic. But Canon should be the best at developing the RAW file.

Re: Bokeh looks like someone doodled over it with the liquify function in photoshop. R5 with rf 100-

brianbaiamonte — Sun, 19 Apr 2026 12:06:56 GMT

Did you ever figure this out? I am definitely having the same issue.

Re: Bokeh looks like someone doodled over it with the liquify function in photoshop. R5 with rf 100-

Peter — Sun, 19 Apr 2026 19:47:59 GMT

Take a look on Dpreview and the thread "Weird squiggles in bokeh with R5 & RF 100-500".

Re: Bokeh looks like someone doodled over it with the liquify function in photoshop. R5 with rf 100-

March411 — Sun, 19 Apr 2026 21:03:06 GMT

It appears to be Nisen bokeh (double-line bokeh) which occurs with many lenses, mostly reported with telephotos across most manufacturers. Google it and you can find more information.

It is believed two of the root causes are a result of correction in the spherical aberration as well as environmental components (busy background/foreground with small, bright highlights as well as high contrast). You may also want to Google Resolving Nisen bokeh for some tips and environments that result in Nisen bokeh. I recently had a similar experience photographing in the jungle with high bright skies and wooded backgrounds.