Please critique this Letus35FE image at DVinfo.net

Gabriel Chiefetz · May 8th, 2007, 05:54 PM

I like this image, but I'd like some constructive criticism. Thoughts? How can I improve on this?

Shot with Letus35FE, 50mm Canon 1.4 prime, FX1, and a single soft light about 6 feet away. CC with Nattress Basic Warm. Most of the frames were way softer than this, since the DOF turned out to be much too shallow. Maybe next time I won't use a 50mm?

Please be cruel!

Jon Wolding · May 8th, 2007, 06:40 PM

* A touch too much contrast - parts of her face seem a little hot.
* Slight chromatic aberration (red outline).
* Bokeh isn't ideal - half-faded spheres.

Gabriel Chiefetz · May 8th, 2007, 09:43 PM

Wow, interesting. I had noticed that some of the highlights are blown out, but I hadn't caught the red outline. This is exactly the sort of thing I was looking for, thanks.

David Delaney · May 9th, 2007, 05:36 AM

I thought the image looks pretty good. It is nice and sharp and the Bokeh is decent. Good job. I couldn't really see the red fringing though...

Giovanni Speranza · May 9th, 2007, 05:59 AM

For such a close up, you don't need a Letus, just zoom in with your camera.

Gabriel Chiefetz · May 9th, 2007, 06:22 PM

David- thanks for the good review! I'm still trying to get the hang of this.
Giovanni- that's a good point. If I had just zoomed in, without the Letus, it would have been easier to keep the subject in focus. However, I do like the extremely shallow focal plane that you can achieve with the Letus. It's difficult to manage, though!

Thanks for the feedback.

Chris Knight · May 9th, 2007, 06:52 PM

I'm wondering if that is actually CA and not a silouhette produced by a backlight of some sort.

Benjamin Eckstein · May 9th, 2007, 07:55 PM

While you might be able to achieve a similar DOF without the Letus I think in a production you either use it or not. I like this shot. I have to look closely to see the red fringing and I promise that 99.9% of viewers will never see the chromatic abberations that we all obsess about. We are fortunate to be in the business of moving images which means that context is everything. While it is important to think of our craft photographically, there is so much context involved in the stories of our movies that really make what we do work.

I like the image you posted. I think its cool and contrasty and in the right context I am sure it is perfect. I am sure in another context it might be completely inappropriate.

Jon Wolding · May 10th, 2007, 04:04 PM

I'm with Ben on this. I think only gearheads would notice.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Knight

I'm wondering if that is actually CA and not a silouhette produced by a backlight of some sort.

It's definitely CA... look at the crease between the woman's left nostril and her cheek.

Gabriel Chiefetz · May 11th, 2007, 12:00 AM

Thanks everybody. Now I just have to figure out how to get more of my frames to be this sharp. The DOF for this shoot was ridiculously, almost impossibly shallow (I used a 50mm Canon prime). Any suggestions for getting a somewhat more manageable DOF? I guess I could just use a shorter lens with my Letus? What would you guys do?

Noah Yuan-Vogel · May 11th, 2007, 12:27 AM

I'm not convinced there is any noticeable CA in that image. That red outline appears just to be the falloff of a shadow and it is the same shade as her skin (which also appears quite reddish). Also, it seems unlikely considering it is at the center of the frame and there is no noticeable CA toward the edges...

if the scene allows for it you might want to stop down... 50mm@1.4 might be overkill. stopping down just a little could potentially give you better bokeh, less chromatic abberation (if there is any to begin with :P ) and/or a sharper image, not to mention help you keep more than just noses in focus.

the saturation might be a bit much, other than that seems like a nice shot.

Cole McDonald · May 11th, 2007, 06:43 AM

stopping down slightly will lengthen your DoF slightly too...making the focus more manageable :)

Ben Winter · May 11th, 2007, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cole McDonald

stopping down slightly will lengthen your DoF slightly too...making the focus more manageable :)

Looks like it's overexposed too...stopping down would help with that.

Cole McDonald · May 11th, 2007, 09:39 AM

I kinda like the overexposure on that pic :)

Dave Halliday · May 11th, 2007, 09:41 AM

If you've got a 50mm 1.4 or 1.8 lens, try stopping it down to 2.8. That will not only put it in the "sweet spot" optically, but also give you a more manageable DOF. I like your shot and I disagree that you can get a similar shot just by zooming in. The HV20 gives a, IMHO, really weird, someone mechanical looking bokeh. More like a prism than a nice soft focus.

May 8th, 2007, 05:54 PM	#1
Gabriel Chiefetz Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 73	Please critique this Letus35FE image I like this image, but I'd like some constructive criticism. Thoughts? How can I improve on this? Shot with Letus35FE, 50mm Canon 1.4 prime, FX1, and a single soft light about 6 feet away. CC with Nattress Basic Warm. Most of the frames were way softer than this, since the DOF turned out to be much too shallow. Maybe next time I won't use a 50mm? Please be cruel! Attached Thumbnails

May 9th, 2007, 06:52 PM	#7
Chris Knight Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Hyde Park, New York Posts: 53	I'm wondering if that is actually CA and not a silouhette produced by a backlight of some sort. __________________ Chris Knight Frame of Mind Productions http://www.fmpfilms.com

May 11th, 2007, 06:43 AM	#12
Cole McDonald Trustee Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Sauk Rapids, MN, USA Posts: 1,675	stopping down slightly will lengthen your DoF slightly too...making the focus more manageable :) __________________ Web Youtube Facebook

May 11th, 2007, 09:39 AM	#14
Cole McDonald Trustee Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Sauk Rapids, MN, USA Posts: 1,675	I kinda like the overexposure on that pic :) __________________ Web Youtube Facebook

May 8th, 2007, 06:40 PM	#2
Jon Wolding Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 195	* A touch too much contrast - parts of her face seem a little hot. * Slight chromatic aberration (red outline). * Bokeh isn't ideal - half-faded spheres.

May 8th, 2007, 09:43 PM	#3
Gabriel Chiefetz Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 73	Wow, interesting. I had noticed that some of the highlights are blown out, but I hadn't caught the red outline. This is exactly the sort of thing I was looking for, thanks.

May 9th, 2007, 05:36 AM	#4
David Delaney Trustee Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Niagara Ontario Canada Posts: 1,121	I thought the image looks pretty good. It is nice and sharp and the Bokeh is decent. Good job. I couldn't really see the red fringing though...

May 9th, 2007, 05:59 AM	#5
Giovanni Speranza Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Lugano, Switzerland Posts: 149	For such a close up, you don't need a Letus, just zoom in with your camera.

May 9th, 2007, 06:22 PM	#6
Gabriel Chiefetz Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 73	David- thanks for the good review! I'm still trying to get the hang of this. Giovanni- that's a good point. If I had just zoomed in, without the Letus, it would have been easier to keep the subject in focus. However, I do like the extremely shallow focal plane that you can achieve with the Letus. It's difficult to manage, though! Thanks for the feedback.

May 9th, 2007, 07:55 PM	#8
Benjamin Eckstein Major Player Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Boston, Massachusetts Posts: 380 Images: 1	While you might be able to achieve a similar DOF without the Letus I think in a production you either use it or not. I like this shot. I have to look closely to see the red fringing and I promise that 99.9% of viewers will never see the chromatic abberations that we all obsess about. We are fortunate to be in the business of moving images which means that context is everything. While it is important to think of our craft photographically, there is so much context involved in the stories of our movies that really make what we do work. I like the image you posted. I think its cool and contrasty and in the right context I am sure it is perfect. I am sure in another context it might be completely inappropriate.

May 11th, 2007, 12:00 AM	#10
Gabriel Chiefetz Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 73	Thanks everybody. Now I just have to figure out how to get more of my frames to be this sharp. The DOF for this shoot was ridiculously, almost impossibly shallow (I used a 50mm Canon prime). Any suggestions for getting a somewhat more manageable DOF? I guess I could just use a shorter lens with my Letus? What would you guys do?

May 11th, 2007, 12:27 AM	#11
Noah Yuan-Vogel Major Player Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: New York City Posts: 613	I'm not convinced there is any noticeable CA in that image. That red outline appears just to be the falloff of a shadow and it is the same shade as her skin (which also appears quite reddish). Also, it seems unlikely considering it is at the center of the frame and there is no noticeable CA toward the edges... if the scene allows for it you might want to stop down... 50mm@1.4 might be overkill. stopping down just a little could potentially give you better bokeh, less chromatic abberation (if there is any to begin with :P ) and/or a sharper image, not to mention help you keep more than just noses in focus. the saturation might be a bit much, other than that seems like a nice shot.

May 11th, 2007, 09:41 AM	#15
Dave Halliday Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Washington DC Posts: 116	If you've got a 50mm 1.4 or 1.8 lens, try stopping it down to 2.8. That will not only put it in the "sweet spot" optically, but also give you a more manageable DOF. I like your shot and I disagree that you can get a similar shot just by zooming in. The HV20 gives a, IMHO, really weird, someone mechanical looking bokeh. More like a prism than a nice soft focus.