Bokeh kit question

[shutterboxbella]

I caved and bought the Master's Bokeh kit the other day and received it today... I can't make my lens focus when the bokehinator and discs are on, despite following the instructions, adjusting it, etc. Once I remove it, the lens focuses fine (it's a Nikkor 50mm btw, set at f1.4). What am I doing wrong, if anything, or did I just waste $30?!

[Tito87]

Welcome to DPS. i wish I could be of more help, but I really don't know what a Master's Bokeh kit is. I clicked on your thread by mistake--I thought you were looking for information on apertures and DOF. Hopefully, someone else will be able to give you the advice you need. Enjoy your stay at school.

[zona5101]

hi and welcome...i do not know this kit but i assume it works on the same principle as cutting shapes in black cardboard and taping to the front of your lens... You need to stop down the lens significantly to get the bokeh shape to appear....like f8, f11, f22.
It won't show up when the lens is wide open...hope that helps...

[Nicole]

You didn't waste $30. It just takes a bit of trial and error to get it working. I'm using the Bokeh Masters Kit with the 50mm f/1.4D.

In this shot, I set my aperture to f/1.8:



What I can't remember is if I used manual focus or not (but odds are I didn't just because I'm terrible at it). But from my description on the Flickr page, I had one hell of a time getting it to focus right. The trick is that I tend to move myself around a bit in order to get it right. Depending on which of the cutouts you're using it can be more or less difficult. I do have to use manual focus if I'm using one of the more elaborate discs, but with the more plain discs like the star one, autofocus usually works ok.

A bit of trial and error is probably in order though.

Edit: Bruce, I've found that if you start stopping down that far with this kit you basically lose the shape. At least that's what I've found. I've had much better luck shooting close to wide open.

[shutterboxbella]

I had the lens as wide open as possible. I did only try one cutout, so maybe that was the problem. I'll keep messing with it I guess and see what happens. Thank you for your help and for sharing the shot. I was trying to get a shot of the cat we just adopted from the humane society, in front of theChristmas tree while using the paw cutout in order to enter it into their annual photo contest. Maybe my problem is that I just don't really enjoy taking shots of the cat!!!

Thanks again!
Terri

[shutterboxbella]

One other issue is that if I manually focus, then, at least with this particular cutout, the shape isn't right side up. I tried manually focusing, then putting the disc on and that was just a lesson in futility.

[Nicole]

Ah, yeah, that would make it difficult to try to put the disc on afterwards Where have you got the rubber band on your lens? If you make sure that the rubber band is on an area that doesn't rotate with the lens you'll have more luck. I keep my rubber band quite close to the body of the camera (see photo below) and then keep the plastic disc holder just far enough away that the front of the lens can move forward / back as it focuses and the disc doesn't rotate.



I should say that I don't know if where the lens rotates is the same on the D and G models (I have the D model and it only moves on that front rubber area).

[shutterboxbella]

Yeah, the band wasn't on anything rotating, but if I move it back anymore, it won't hold the holder in place. I ended up getting an alright shot... I'm not proud of it by any means as I don't think it shows any sort of skill that I know I have a bit of... but I got it. I ended up having to focus on her face, then put the holder up in front of the lens just before tripping the shutter. Again, it's not pretty, but it's something.

[Nicole]

Can't see the image

On Flickr, click on Share then Grab the HTML/BBCode and paste everything that's in that box.

[zona5101]

Originally Posted by Nicole

Edit: Bruce, I've found that if you start stopping down that far with this kit you basically lose the shape. At least that's what I've found. I've had much better luck shooting close to wide open.

right on - I had to go back to the thread I first saw this on and of course you are correct - thanks for the correction.

DIY cut-out bokeh:
Shaped Bokeh!