Just about Photography

This photo is taken at April 19th, 2008. Placed in 陽明山(Yang Ming Shan), 台灣(Tai Wan); especially located in 竹子湖(zhu zi hu). This photo is taken using EF 35mm/1.4L USM attached in my EOS kiss digital X. In Taiwan around the March to April there always the best time for calla lily to blossom. For foreigner like me, I think it’s very interesting to see it, not only that you also can buy some calla lily flowers and take to home. You also can relax in there and enjoying the beautiful calla lily field. This photo also can be seen in my flickr.

The detail about zhu zi hu area can be seen here (Chinese): http://www.5657.com.tw/fashia/p06.htm

The detail about calla lily can be seen here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zantedeschia_aethiopica

This lens is my new lens, just bought it on April 14th, 2008. This lens replaced my general zoom lens that I have before, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM. This lens has wider aperture compare to EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM so it will produce very well bokeh. Bokeh is a photographic term referring to the appearance of out-of-focus areas in an image produced by a camera lens, for the detail information about bokeh can be seen here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bokeh

EF 35mm f/1.4L USM also good for low light portrait because it has wide aperture that give faster shutter speed. I attached this lens with my Canon EOS Kiss Digital X (Japanese name of Canon EOS 400D). EOS Kiss Digital X has 1.6 crop factor, that makes the focal length equal to 56mm (use EF 35mm f/1.4L USM) in full frame camera. Compare with general zoom lens like EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM or EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM this lens is better for sharpness and color; It also has 1.4 aperture which produce nice bokeh. Compare with EF 35mm f/2 or EF 50mm f/1.4 USM; EF 35mm f/1.4L USM has better color, sharpness and contrast. If you use EF 35mm f/1.4L USM, you can use it at 1.4 aperture and you can still get the good result although the sharpness isn’t good as you use it at 2 aperture.

As a fixed lens flexibility maybe become a problem, especially for beginner photographer. It also not easy to use 1.4, you need to hit the focus exactly, otherwise you will miss the focus. The price should also be a problem, this lens is about the 39000 NTD (New Taiwan Dollar) or $1100, I think it’s quite expensive. If you want to try this lens but you couldn’t reach the price you can consider about EF 35mm f/2 or EF 50mm f/1.4 USM. Also you can consider a third party lens like Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM, but it can be attached only in 1.6x crop camera (not in full frame camera).

Technical Specification for Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L USM Wideangle lense:
Type: – Autofocus lens type with manual focusing mechanism
Focal Length: Fixed focal length 35mm
Focus Adjustment:- Autofocus; ring-type USM with rear focus design
Manual Focusing:- possible via AF/M switch and electronic full-time manual focusing possible during autofocusing
Zoom Adjustment:- Nil. Fixed Focal Length Lens
Closest Focusing Distance:- 0.3m (1.0ft)
Maximum Magnification:- 0.15X
Drive System:- USM with full-time manual focusing
Distance Scales: Provided via window on metres/feet.
Angle of View:- 54° 38° 63° (horizontal, vertical and diagonal)
Aperture range:- f/1.4 – f/22
Number of Diaphragm Blades: – 8 blades
Minimum Aperture: – f/22
Depth of Filed Scale: f/4.0, f/11, f/22
Filter rotation: No
Filter Attachment Size:- 72mm front mounting
Lens construction:- 11 Elements in 9 Groups with an Aspherical lens elements (at 9th element)

DOF data for Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L USM:

Other review can be seen here: http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-EF-35mm-f-1.4-L-USM-Lens-Review.aspx

This lens is the first fixed lens that I have. This lens is very cheap, only about 2800 NTD (New Taiwan Dollar) or $100. This lens doesn’t have USM (ultra sonic motor), so it produce a little bit noisy when you want to take a picture. Built quality is like plastic, looked like a ‘toy’, never allow it to be fallen or it will be broken. Image quality is better than EF 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM, it also has wider aperture until 1.8. Using wide aperture, you can make the background become blur. Not only that, it also help you to take a picture in low light conditions, because when you use wide aperture you can get faster shutter speed. For beginner photographer, I think this is the lens that everyone should have. Only for $100 I think it’s very reasonable, you’ve got what you paid.

More detail can be seen here: http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-EF-50mm-f-1.8-II-Lens-Review.aspx

The detail of Taipei 101 can be seen from here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taipei_101

I try to collect some shots of Taipei 101 in black and white version. These photos are taken from Elephant Mountain (象山) in 2007. The size of these photos are uncommon because I want to make something new that show how high Taipei 101. In Taipei 101 always has firework to celebrate new year, however year 2007 will be the last firework in Taipei 101 because Burj Dubai overtook the highest building in the world record.

This lens is my EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM (L stands for luxury, IS stands for image stabilization, USM stands for ultra sonic motor), actually I like this lens much because this is general zoom lens that make me easily to take photo in many conditions. Flexibility is important for general zoom lens, this lens has IS which can prevent hand shake. IS helped me in many conditions, for low light conditions I still can shot without tripod….. for me bring a “burden” tripod is only worthed if I want to take a landscape photo or group photo. As a general zoom lens, this lens also has long focal length range, I can capture use focal length equal 24mm to 105mm. Compare with EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM, this lens is lighter & cheaper; It also has longer focal length range and image stabilization, but maximal aperture only 4 (not 2.8).

As a zoom lens there is something that you can’t get. You can’t get sharpness as good as fixed lens, that’s the weakness of zoom lens. You can choose what is your priority: Flexibility or Sharpness; when I started learning photography I choose flexibility, but in the end I choose sharpness. That’s why in the end I change this lens with a fixed lens EF 35mm f/1.4L USM.

More detail can be seen here: http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-EF-24-105mm-f-4-L-IS-USM-Lens-Review.aspx