Better Bokeh - the 5 factors of background blur

[@vanashreegowda6330]

"If life gets blurry adjust your focus" good one...

[@wolfamri]

🤣👍👍

[@Andresdha]

Your channel is absolutely amazing, Wolf! Accurate, simple to digest content at an impressively high production value. Thanks, Wolf!

[@wolfamri]

Wow, thank you, Andrés. Much appreciated feedback!

[@amuk4612]

You are a fantastic teacher Wolf and your video production and editing is amazing. Thank you for your efforts.

[@wolfamri]

Thank you so much for such a good feedback. Much appreciated 🙏

[@alessandrasmota]

You are the best teacher!!! Keep bringing it!!

[@wolfamri]

Awwwww, thanks, Alessandra! 🙏

[@mrmeza78]

So glad I found this before making my first purchase.

[@wolfamri]

Great to hear it was helpful. Did you see my portrait lens comparison tool, it compares the background blur for various lenses 😉

[@TechieSewing]

A clear portrayal of blurry subject :)

[@wolfamri]

😂 thanks 😉

[@isaero9532]

Amazing explanation! You make it very easy to understand

[@wolfamri]

Glad it was helpful! Thank you for your feedback, Isa!

[@ycartyahoo]

Some people made the most of the pandemic and you, my friend, were one of them. Thanks for all your info!!!

[@wolfamri]

🤗🤗🤗

[@simoharjane7823]

You are an amazing teacher . Very easy to follow you and understand better

[@wolfamri]

Thank you 🤗🤗🤗

[@quick.easy.eat23]

Honestly your explanation is so clear! I love it!! Thank you so much!!!!! 👍🏻👍🏻

[@wolfamri]

Thanks for your support! Much appreciated 🙏🙏

[@opensourcedev22]

Even though this is merely a refresher for me, it's so useful that I believe most new camera owners should watch your videos

[@wolfamri]

Thanks so much, Arek! Means a lot 🙏🙏

[@gegenlaktose]

Really good video! Maybe it's just me, but I really prefer to see this comparisons side by side and not one after the other.

[@wolfamri]

Thank you for your feedback. With Bokeh the problem is: the smaller the image gets (e.g. on a smartphone side by side, or on the back of your camera) the less visible the difference is. I usually try to provide links to my website for side by side comparison. Maybe I should set one up and repeat the video 🤔😉

[@attiksystem]

Excellent example showing that "focal length beats distance to subject" in term of background blur. I'd be happy to understand why, since the DoF of a 200mm @ f4 & 20 meters distance is the same as the DoF of a 100mm @ f4 & 10 meters distance.

[@wolfamri]

Thank you! That's a good question. Without using the maths, but trying to think about a hermeneutic explanation, I would say it might have to do with you basically zooming in on the background when using a longer focal length, while the distance subject-background stays the same.

[@attiksystem]

@@wolfamri Thanks!

[@McDeslandes]

This is excellent information! Thank you so much!!

[@wolfamri]

Thank you, Tim 🙏🤗

[@andrewdewar8159]

I like your explanation. I knew about going close and zooming in, and wide aperture. I never thought of background distance , I sort of knew about sensor size but you have laid it out really clearly.

[@wolfamri]

Thanks, Andrew. Great to hear you liked it 🙏

[@kissu_io]

Wow, best explanation ever!

[@wolfamri]

Thank you, Konstantin 🙏🙏

[@saraalba290]

i just started following you! been watching your videos and learning soooooo much! thank you!

[@wolfamri]

Thank you so much, Sara! That means a lot! 🙏

[@ILaxative]

I’ve been binge watching you since yesterday lol. I love all of your content. Can you please tell me what camera and lens or lenses were used to do your talking shots outside in front of the greenery? The bokeh is just amazing and the shots are so crisp.. I know your are far from the trees outside but the lens is just amazing.

[@wolfamri]

Thanks for watching 🙏😉. I’m afraid I cannot really tell. Looking at the angle of view, I’d say the 55mm when the 85mm was in the shot, and 85mm when it wasn’t. I hope that makes sense 😉.

[@rezamahtabi482]

Perfect as usual, thanks a lot 🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹

[@wolfamri]

Thanks so much, Reza. I really appreciate your continued support 🙏🙏🙏

[@mariabedoyaph]

Amazing information, a lot of value in there. thank you!!!

[@wolfamri]

Thank you so much, Maria 🙏🤗

[@AnupamDas]

You are the Great Teacher! I found you lately... Subscribed.

[@wolfamri]

Thanks for your feedback and subscription. Much appreciated 🙏🙏

[@drdcjoshi]

Excellent presentation and clarified all the doubts regarding background blur

[@wolfamri]

Thank you, Dinesh!!! 🙏

[@IavorZayn]

Hello! Nice video! Can you please let me know with what camera & lens the video is made ? Specifically the first seconds. I really like how you stand out of the background

[@wolfamri]

Thanks! That part was shot with the Sony 85mm f/1.4 and the Sony a7III 😉

[@bthurmond]

Great lesson, Wolf. Thanks to Ester also.

[@wolfamri]

Thanks, Bob! Great to hear it was helpful!!!

[@nagashashank159]

Well explained 👏. Hope you bring weekly video ...

[@wolfamri]

Thank you!!! I'm working hard on it - I have already prepared quite a lot of stuff, so I hope I can keep up the weekly schedule!

[@bout9123]

Mr. Amri, would you please share what gimbal you were using in this video?

[@wolfamri]

Hi there. It was the DJI Ronin S. But nowadays there are even smaller and lighter gimbals on the market. I prefer small and light fur easy packing and fast use 😉

[@dipaksuthar3762]

Sir As usual best information 👍 Very simple and effective teaching

[@wolfamri]

Thank you, Dipak 🙏🤗🙏

[@mitchellpayton9800]

Wow . . . Great work, well explained, well thought-out, and incredibly clear and accurate. I'm only *sort of* regretting my Panasonic G85 purchase, but for budgetary reasons, I'm still happy with it (I got the camera, 2 lenses, and some other stuff like a camera bag, an SD card, some filters, etc etc for $700 -- still can't find a similar deal anywhere online). Now I'm just going to keep watching your videos to learn (more) how to maximize the capabilities of the camera I have (as well as *my* ability to use said camera . . . ) Thanks for all the great work!!!!

[@wolfamri]

Thanks for your feedback, Mitchell. Don’t forget that a cam with a smaller sensor also has some advantages 😉. Enjoy your camera and thanks for watching 🙏

[@vivian5361]

I will have to watch the videos many times to absorb all the information. It is still very difficult to make decisions. Very good content though.

[@wolfamri]

Thank you 🤗. It’s totally normal to not learn by watching a video once. That didn’t work back in school either (at least not for me 😁😉). Repeating is the key to learning. As adults we all seem to forget that.

[@dsa4931]

Does not low f number and lens sweet spot contradict each other ? Most lenses have sweet spot around 5.6 to 8 and in order to get more back ground blur we have to go below 2. That will decrease the imge quality in a picture ???

[@wolfamri]

In general yes. But there are a few factors that we have to take into account. The first is that really high-end lenses are almost as sharp wide open, as they are at their sweetspot. Second, the center is almost always pretty sharp, most of the quality loss happens in corners that are not really relevant for portraits (because they would contain only the background), and third there is an effect called perceived sharpness (sharpness contrast) - so if you blur the background to separate your subject, it appears sharper than it would if it had a sharper background.

[@Anonymous-ft7ut]

SOOO HONEST. SO GENUINE. SO INFORMATIVE. YOU ROCK SIR. THANK YOU. HOPE AMAZON AN BP REVIEW HAVE CORRECTED THEIR MISTAKES BY NOW. 😍😇🙏

[@wolfamri]

Thank you so much!!! 🤗

[@guyuwant]

YOU ARE THE BEST!!!! 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[@wolfamri]

Thank you so much, Sakthivel!!!

[@fransoavirtuality]

Very good explained. But I have a question. If i want to shoot a music video. if the performing band is in front of me and distributed in a area within 2 or 3 meter to each others. Then if I want to have all the band not blured, I will have to choose a wide angle lens (e.g. 16 mm), choose a high aperture and try to place my camera so close to them as I can. Correct?

[@wolfamri]

Thank you! Yes, a wider lens will create a bigger depth of focus. But very often the room is a more limiting factor. So you may have to choose a very wide lens anyway. Plus: the sensor size matters too ;)

[@loco46m]

Thank you for this thorough explanation! Basically, it's distance and light over gear every time. I've been having a hard time because i have a crop sensor, which confused me.

[@wolfamri]

Thank you, Manuel. Depending on what camera you have, you might want to try one of Sigmas excellent 1.4 art lenses for APS-C

[@waseelmufti5203]

Very nice video, I recently bought 50mm lens, but i did not getting the nice background blur. I hope it will help me with my new lens.

[@wolfamri]

Thanks, Waseel! I'm sure it will. Just try all the factors and you will see that they make a big difference.

[@edwardjoel2829]

Very much informative and practical. Thanks for sharing things in this way. We see lots of videos where the theory is prioritized only. But you have smoothly mixed the theory with practice. Hope to see more videos like this. Kindly make a video regarding the relationship between Aperture and focal distance.

[@wolfamri]

Glad to hear it was helpful, Edward. What do you mean with focal distance? The depth of focus or the distance from camera to the subject you are focussing on?

[@edwardjoel2829]

@@wolfamri Let me give you an example. If I take a shot at 18 mm, F/4 then will it focus more area than another shot at 35mm, F/4? If it does, how? why the wide angle lense does provide wider aperture like 2.8 if narrow aperture is needed for landscape? can I take a great landscape using 2.8 aperture?? This is kind of confusing to me.

[@karenazimi6977]

thanks for great video i have a question can a 18-55mm kit lens zoomed in all the way to the 55m act same as a 50mm prime lens with same aperture?

[@wolfamri]

Thanks, Karen! In regard to background blur, yes. But in regard to sharpness, the prime would perform better 😉

[@karenazimi6977]

@@wolfamri thank you man appreciate it

[@nimoulTV]

such a great video Wolf!

[@wolfamri]

Thanks a ton! 🙏

[@elainelochrie5747]

Great video Wolf as always, well done 👏

[@wolfamri]

Glad you enjoyed it, Elaine 🤗

[@albertshere219]

Amazing video, learning as much as I can before I buy a new camera. I only have a Cannon SX540HS and I do bird photography, it's a pain!

[@wolfamri]

Thanks, Albert. Much appreciated. Yes, compact cameras are a “challenge” for fast moving subjects 😬😂

[@mohdsibghatullahkhatib7658]

Very well explained, I am using Nikon D3200 camera Which is the economical lens for macro as well telescopic photography?

[@wolfamri]

That´s a difficult one, Sibghatullah! May I ask what you´d like to photograph and what your budget (in USD) would be?

[@mohdsibghatullahkhatib7658]

@@wolfamri I do dental photography . Budget upto 100 usd

[@wolfamri]

sibghatullah, I‘m afraid tgat is going to be difficult. I‘m preparing a macro solution comparison for the next few weeks, that should help you on the macro side of things. For the telephoto side. you need to search for a used 70-300mm or so.

[@mohdsibghatullahkhatib7658]

@@wolfamri thank you :-)

[@MrRoFella]

Great video! Can i ask why do u get more blur when you physically move back while zooming in compared to original? Eg. @3.18min :)

[@wolfamri]

Thank you 🙏🙏! Please have a look at 5:48 where I explained that.

[@MrRoFella]

thanks!@@wolfamri i was more wondering why tho? i understand that thats the case. like....weve manually increased the distance to subject by walking back....but then shortened focal lengtrh with the zoom.....so why it makes a difference? no probs 🙂

[@wolfamri]

@@MrRoFella It’s really just a question of physics. You can theoretically calculate the background blur. And in that equation, focal length plays a bigger role than subject distance. The answer is really just that boring 😬.

[@effdisish3828]

Thank you Pep Gurdiola😊😊😅

[@wolfamri]

🤣🤣

[@_pronounced_]

Amazing!

[@wolfamri]

Thank you, Hanna 🙏

[@sahityayadav9606]

Awesome video ..

[@wolfamri]

Thanks a lot! 🤗

[@keiniece9519]

You are amazing.

[@wolfamri]

Thank youuuuuuu!!!!

[@asmaafreen685]

Ur best ❤❤

[@wolfamri]

Thank you so much 🤗🙏

[@raktimbora880]

Yeah i need to buy a 50 mm prime lens; my kit lens not gave me the results i want nice video 👌

[@wolfamri]

The 50mm f1.8 will make a big difference, Raktim!

[@DanyBaron]

Cool video

[@wolfamri]

Thanks, Dany!!!

[@najamsofficial]

/Very Informative

[@wolfamri]

Glad you think so!

[@jimbeam992]

Brilliant.

[@wolfamri]

Thanks so much, Jim 🙏🙏

[@joronjo305]

I would like a tee-shirt but I can't find your link for it. Please make it easy enough for all of us to get too in case we have any money burning a hole in our pockets... You could also do a tee shirt with a crocodile (at least the head of the crocodile) and use the same saying as the snake, Smile, I may snap. Or "Smile, I have an intendancy to snap." I have to agree with Sakthivel, " You're the best!!

[@wolfamri]

Thank you so much, Jo. You can find the link in the description, but here it is: shop.spreadshirt.com/photographyShirts/ I hope you find something to stop the fire in your pockets 🤣

[@thats_mr_b_]

Here for the algorithm and information

[@wolfamri]

Thanks, Cody 🙏🤣

[@adeptgamezone8457]

So which bokeh is better lower aperture or higher focal length what should I get for bokeh f1.4 lens or 200mm lens which can give better bokeh

[@wolfamri]

I’m afraid that’s not easy to answer 😉 That depends on the focal length of the f/1.4 lens and the min aperture of the 200mm. Did you have a look at my comparison tool/video?

[@adeptgamezone8457]

@@wolfamri yes I did 200mm bokeh looks better than f1.4 if the subject is close and half for full size f1.4 bokeh looks better and 200mm doesn't seems better as it was in half potrait so it's hard to conclude which is best

[@wolfamri]

Exactly. It’s really hard. Personally I use my 85mm f/1.4 a lot because it shows more of the surroundings while still blurring the background.

[@adeptgamezone8457]

@@wolfamri so higher aperture with higher focal length provides the best bokeh

[@sanjaykumarsarangi8417]

Namaste sir 🙏

[@wolfamri]

Namaste, Sanjay. Much appreciated 🙏

[@avinashgarg500]

BTW, you are looking good as a model! 😅 7:48

[@wolfamri]

😂 thank you, but that rather proofs that I should stay behind the camera.

[@leonardoiglesias2394]

And the portrait modus of the Iphone?

[@wolfamri]

and photoshop 😁

[@Barxola_2023]

❤❤❤

[@wolfamri]

I really appreciate your continued support 🙏🤗

[@sooryadevk9797]

❤

[@wolfamri]

🤗🙏🤗

[@irgccg]

What about portrait mode on the i-phone 11? It gives pretty good bokeh (even if it is computer generated)

[@wolfamri]

I do expect that to become better and better, but it's still rather random and not there yet. But then again it's all personal preference. Anything that satisfies you is easily good enough. You don't have to listen to anyone else but your own feelings.

[@irgccg]

@@wolfamri Don't get me wrong I agree with you 100%. It's just getting harder and harder to justify the cost of lenses to the wife;)

[@wolfamri]

😂😂😂

[@irgccg]

@@wolfamri Question: I am currently using an a6300 but want to upgrade to a full frame camera. I'm thinking of getting an A7rii (42mp)since when paired with an apsc lens I can still get (20mp) pictures. That way I don't have to immediately replace all my lenses with FF lenses. I realize I will still have the apsc crop but this will allow me to buy FF lenses at my convenience. Thoughts?

[@wolfamri]

You'll get 17,8mp from the a7rII. The question is what you need. I own the a7rII and a7III. I mostly shoot with the a7III because I need the faster focus and the faster frame rate more than the high resolution.

[@davidcurtis6507]

What about the toneh?

[@wolfamri]

Let me give you my opinion 😉: people talking about toneh don't like to follow trends and don't like to be told what to do. So they rather tell others what to do. It's a bit of a paradox 😉. I personally like what I like and accept that others have a different opinion. It's the same in many other fields of photography, like brand fights or the crazy fight for BBF Vs half pressing the shutter. There is no right or wrong 😉.

[@randomTake48]

i am learning here from bangladesh

[@wolfamri]

Enjoy the ride. And let me know if you have questions 😉

[@HGQjazz]

I'd disagree on the sensor size being a factor. The reason the blur is less on the smaller sensor is because you backed up (distance to subject is increased). The cell phone can't be compared here because it's digitally converted to 52mm. In reality the cell phone lens is 7mm. Sensor size has no effect on bokeh.

[@wolfamri]

I‘m afraid that’s a fact, in practical use Haywood. Try it and you will see.

[@HGQjazz]

@@wolfamri Sure, in practical use the bokeh is less on the apsc, but not because the sensor is smaller, rather because you backed up.

[@wolfamri]

It is what is. Similar composition, different sensor, less bokeh on the crop in real photography. That’s what counts for the photographer, rather than maths 🤷‍♂️.

[@Leptospirosi]

Actually sensor size has little to no influence on Blurry background. It's not related to the camera, but to the lens, so, if you shoot an 85mm lens on a Full Frame or on a Micro 43 sensor the blurryness of the frame is the same. which is obvious: the same lens has the same bokeh. What changes is the framing, and that's because you need, for example, a 42mm on a M43 sensor to get the same framing of a Full frame 80mm and you also get a less blurry background, as you are shooting on a lens that has half the focal length.

[@wolfamri]

Maybe it helps to think in systems rather than sensor sizes/focal length only because theoretically if you get the 42mm with a much wider aperture, than the full frame lens, you can still get the same blur. But these are not available on M43, so it kinda has to do with camera/sensor again.

[@najamsofficial]

make more sir

[@wolfamri]

Thanks, I will!

[@najamsofficial]

@@wolfamri Sir can i got your whats app contact please

[@wolfamri]

@@najamsofficial I'm afraid I don't give out my whatsapp number. I won't be able to work anymore if I did ;)

[@Walkinginthewoods]

Wolf your model is too good looking. I could not concentrate on the background.

[@wolfamri]

😂 She's gorgeous, isn't she?

[@Lucy-dk5cz]

Sensor size is irrelevant. You should have taken an APSC and compared it to a FF imaged that had been cropped in post. They are the same.

[@wolfamri]

Lucy, theoretically you are right, but I’m afraid practically not. Photography is about composition than maths and when you compare the roughly same composition, sensor size is relevant. Just take a look at smartphones 😉.

[@gokuthealien808]

your voice is similar to Gru from Despicable Me Movie.

[@wolfamri]

🤣 that's my dayjob 😉

[@leonardoiglesias2394]

Explain the ucranian crisis. The world needs you.

[@wolfamri]

Oh well, there’s lots of things that would need to be explained. IMO “Me first” (America first, Britain first, Austria first,…) is the reason to almost every crisis on this planet. Togetherness and caring for others and our planet would solve it all.

[@skakdosmer]

1:55 "Let me compare F1.8 which is an aperture you will only find in so-called prime lenses..." Uh ... I own two F1.8 zoom lenses. The Sigma 18-35 and 50-100.

[@wolfamri]

Congrats on your lenses. You are right, but I’m not sure if they were even available at the time I created this video 😉

[@skakdosmer]

@@wolfamri the 18-35 came about 8 years ago, and the 50-100 approximately 6 years ago. This video seems to be about 2 years old.

[@wolfamri]

shame on me 😉

[@vladibarraza]

Those two Sigma lenses are from the DC line, which means that they are made for aps-c cameras. So, you have to apply the crop factor to the f number in order to have the same amount of light as in a full frame camera. Your f/1.8 zoom would be equivalent to a f/2.7 prime lens in a 35mm camera. As far as I know there is no zoom below f/2.

[@Havetsvarg]

I definitely like your videos and I understand, that presenting this subject the way you do is easy for beginners. Unfortunately, there's too many misconceptions in this specific videos about depth of field, how it actually works and which factors DIRECTLY influence the depth of field and the out of focus look. I highly recommend you watch this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z5PdeaFomLCqgqs

[@wolfamri]

Thank you for your feedback. It's tough to find a balance between scientifically perfectly correct explanation, things that are actually happening during practical photography and packing it in a way that beginners will really understand and be able to use it. I do have a heart for science and maths, for example if you look at my aperture numbers explained video. But in my experience that is confusing people more than it helps. Maybe once I have finished my new photography course, I will start a new channel "the science behind photography".

[@pranjallkumar2374]

how tall are you?... you looked like a giant... or was she really tiny?

[@wolfamri]

🤣 I´m not that tall 183cm 😉