Choosing a lens you will LOVE

[@gregearl4466]

Ewen, I can relate to everything you say. I have moved into mirrorless bodies, and I'm enjoying the new world of f1.2 primes. My 85mm f1.2 and 135mm f1.2, as well as a 40mm f2, are my go-to lenses whenever possible. I find that my 85mm stopped down to f2 produces beautiful results with flowers that I have not experienced before.

[@EwenBell]

Great to see you Earl :) Would love to see what you're doing with the 135mm as well. I got very very excited about macro last year (kzbin.info/www/bejne/iKexpoGYn56tbqM) and love the way you get such lovely bokeh when you're up close at F2.8 on a 100mm lens. Lets have a proper catch up soon!

[@Democratiser]

Very interesting. Thank you Ewen for sharing your insights and expertise. When using MFT, how do you manage the preference for F2 DOF? Adapt your compositions? Get closer to foreground subjects etc? Also when using longer FL lenses do you loosen up the rule to f2.8 etc?

[@EwenBell]

Sorry I'm slow to reply this week. I'm usually shooting aperture priority, so I lock in F2 and let the camera do the rest. Auto ISO plus a minimum shutter speed. For MFT I push faster than F2. As fast as the lens with allow usually. And yeah you get really really really close to foreground in order to max out the bokeh. The only times in using a telephoto lens is for wildlife, so I shoot wide open for whatever lens I'm on, or for macro, which is 100mm F2.8. that macro is great and gives nice bokeh when shooting very very close in.

[@IronChefShellie]

Love shooting with primes, I can't remember the last time I even used a zoom!

[@EwenBell]

Probably that time you borrowed the 70-200mm and complained it was ridiculously heavy?

[@IronChefShellie]

@@EwenBell I think I have blocked that from my memory

[@NathanBrayshawPhotography]

OK, I just watched this twice, looking for the "but, what if?" and couldn't find one. You're just too good Ewen. My wife and I are one bag travellers these days (no checked luggage) and we're off to Central Kalimantan and Java again this May chasing Orangutans in the jungle and climbing volcanoes. Apart from my Fujifilm 100-400mm tele & 1.4x extender, I'm leaving the other zooms behind and only taking the 16mm 1.4 and 34mm 1.4 primes (24 & 50mm full-frame equivalents). Wish me luck.....

[@EwenBell]

True dedication to not only pack camera gear but avoid check-in luggage as well :) It's so easy to overcomplicate photography isn't it. Have a great journey and hope you enjoy the Fuji love out there.

[@mugendocs]

What are you recording on? It looks great! Very soft and nice rolloff

[@EwenBell]

That's probably the main thing! Most of my field work is with the Lumix S5II, although the studio section was on the ZV-E1. I use log-gamma for everything and overexpose to match the sensor, hence I get very full detail in shadow and highlights. Working at F2 is a good way to keep the rolloff soft however, much softer than F8 for example. If you look at my video on the Kimberley Coast, which was all shot on the S5II, you can see how it handles incredibly harsh light (day after day after day... Man that was a hot and sticky shoot!)

[@ZakariKha]

Another great video with some great knowledge shared! Those images though! Stellar!

[@EwenBell]

Thanks Zak! I'm mostly doing this KZbin thing to share some photos and get them off my hard drive :)

[@petershorephoto]

Thanks, have a great evening

[@EwenBell]

Thanks Peter and thanks for stopping by today :)