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STF Lens? Real life difference from normal lenses


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Hi everyone, got another question. I did try googling around and I guess I got some idea of what an STF lens is, but I guess I'm still unsure when someone would want to use one? Or rather, let's say there is a (hypothetical) 100mm 1.4 and this 100mm 2.8 STF that is getting released. What would be the real difference between the two? If I'm trying to take a portrait, why would I want to use the STF over the (again, hypothetical) 100mm 1.4? 

 

Thanks. 

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Cuz too little DoF [at 1.4] is not the same as 

improved focus transition with sufficient DoF

[at 2.8]. Insufficient DoF is a plague that all

you all have bought into as a benefit, IOW a

scam to up-sell you on lens size.  

   

Should you find a magic lantern and a genie 

grants you a 100/1.4 lens, you'll just make a 

whole lotta dumbassed portraits that will lack  

effective backgrounds.  

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You have 2 characteristics in the shot:

1) Depth Of Field, which is how much of the image is REALLY in focus

2) Bokeh progression speed, which is how fast things off focus become totally blurred.

 

On usual lenses these two things are linked. If you want smooth bokeh you NEED to open aperture, which makes less and less things appear in focus.

STF lens gives you unusual boost on the second characteristic, so you shoot pictures with more things in focus AND a very smooth bokeh at the same time.

 

You cheat physics with STF lenses... That's why they are expensive.

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The best site about this approach is here: http://www.the135stf.net

 

I own that lens, initially made by Minolta (who developed quite a lot of cool stuff, like the 85mm Varisoft), later produced by Sony without any change and it's really something special. I always hoped that Sony would make something like this with AF and maybe a little shorter. So, I'm happy about that announcement of a 100mm, eve if I'm not happy about the price point. Unfortunately Sony is not telling us the T-stop (yet?) and I can just hope that this time they'll offer AF at open aperture when you want to stop down.

 

The only (manual) alternative for the E-mount would be the Laowa 105mm, which is not as good as the current one from Minolta/Sony.

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  • 1 month later...

Cuz too little DoF [at 1.4] is not the same as 

improved focus transition with sufficient DoF

[at 2.8]. Insufficient DoF is a plague that all

you all have bought into as a benefit, IOW a

scam to up-sell you on lens size.  

   

Should you find a magic lantern and a genie 

grants you a 100/1.4 lens, you'll just make a 

whole lotta dumbassed portraits that will lack  

effective backgrounds.  

This has to be the dumbest most narrow minded clueless post I have read in a while. IS that the quality of posters on this forum or just you?

The STF is not a benefit over thin DOF nor the opposite, is a stylistic choice in photography but judging by your lack of knowledge , I doubt you have an idea of what artistic choices are.Grow up cause the only "dumbass:" here is you with your ridiculous post.

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This has to be the dumbest most narrow minded clueless post I have read in a while. IS that the quality of posters on this forum or just you?

The STF is not a benefit over thin DOF nor the opposite, is a stylistic choice in photography but judging by your lack of knowledge , I doubt you have an idea of what artistic choices are.Grow up cause the only "dumbass:" here is you with your ridiculous post.

 

:lol:

 

Man, its not even Friday ... could have waited ... would have been perfect.

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This has to be the dumbest most narrow minded clueless post I have

read in a while. IS that the quality of posters on this forum or just you?

The STF is not a benefit over thin DOF nor the opposite, is a stylistic

choice in photography but judging by your lack of knowledge , I doubt

you have an idea of what artistic choices are.Grow up cause the only

"dumbass:" here is you with your ridiculous post.

      

*Yawwwwwwn*    

 

And oh yeah, welcome to the forum.

   

Friday IS coming. 

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  • 11 months later...

Cuz too little DoF [at 1.4] is not the same as 

improved focus transition with sufficient DoF

[at 2.8]. Insufficient DoF is a plague that all

you all have bought into as a benefit, IOW a

scam to up-sell you on lens size.  

   

Should you find a magic lantern and a genie 

grants you a 100/1.4 lens, you'll just make a 

whole lotta dumbassed portraits that will lack  

effective backgrounds.  

 

 

 

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1393485-REG/sigma_105mm_f_1_4_dg_hsm.html

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Guest Jaf-Photo

I think the visual difference is that a f1.4 lens tends to dissolve whole areas of the background, while an STF lens dissolves the edges of objects in the background.

 

With a f1.4 lens you can't make out the shapes of objects in the background, while you can with an STF lens. For that reason I think STF backgrounds are too busy and I prefer a wide aperture on a regular lens.

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The thing about the STF that isn't obvious is the T stop is about twice what the F stop is, in other words F 2.8 is close to 5.6 in light transmission.  

 

You can forget about shooting  when its dark with available light.

 

JCC

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  • 8 months later...

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