Strange effect using a 50mm f/1.8 lens with a Canon EOS 5D

[Scatterbrain]

Does anyone know why this has happened? I recently picked up a Canon 5d & although I have noticed some vignetting using my 50mm lens, I've never seen this sort of distortion before. It almost makes me feel woozy the way the background is warping. Is this just what happens with this lens on that camera? I am in the process of upgrading the the 85mm, but was planning to keep the 50mm too.



Camera: Canon EOS 5D
Exposure: 0.002 sec (1/640)
Aperture: f/1.8
Focal Length: 50 mm
ISO Speed: 400

[SusanH1970]

50mm is a bit wide on a full frame sensor. The 85mm should take care of the distortion issue.

Honestly, I don't really see a lot of distortion, certainly not enough that it bothers me, and probably wouldn't have noticed it if you hadn't mentioned it.

[inkista]

That isn't distortion, it's what is known as "busy bokeh" and is a good reason to learn not to shoot wide open all the time. It's basically just the way that lens renders stuff, and can be modified by aperture and subject/background distance (or of course, switching lenses). Certain lenses just do that at specific focus distances. The 50/1.4 has it, too (both the Nikon and Canon versions), according to Neil van Niekerk.

[Scatterbrain]

Thanks inkista, the link you posted makes a lot of sense. I don't know why I shot this wide open as I wouldn't normally dream of doing so, particularly with more than one person in the frame. This is a holiday snap & I had been trying to capture something entirely different before I noticed my partner holding our little one & took it without checking the settings.

The photo isn't a throw-away, though, as with a bit of creative cropping it works better.

It's good to know the lens is still useable, all be it with a bit more care in the future. Lesson learnt.

[LeeR]

There are some truly wonderful things happening in this image if you get past the "bushy bokeh" effect. I actaully think that part of the problem there is the fact that some of the out of focus areas are blown out and create a dsitraction, but, as you have mentioned, most of that could be cropped out. What I love about this image is the way the light on the subject is different from the light in the background thus creating a separation between the two and highlighting the sense of three dimensions. I love this kind of lighting situation and seek it out as often as I can.

[jdepould]

The on-axis flash might be contributing to the jarring visual effects too.