Bokeh is one of the most sought-after effects in photography. It refers to the smooth, pleasing blur in the background of an image that helps the subject stand out. Achieving good bokeh is not just about camera settings—choosing the right lens plays a major role. This article explains what to look for when purchasing a lens that produces beautiful bokeh.
- Understand What Creates Bokeh
Bokeh is influenced by how a lens renders out-of-focus areas, not just how blurry the background is. Good bokeh appears soft, creamy, and free of harsh edges or distracting shapes. Several lens characteristics affect this, including aperture size, focal length, and optical design.
- Choose a Lens with a Wide Aperture
One of the most important factors for good bokeh is a wide maximum aperture, indicated by a low f-number such as:
- f/1.2
- f/1.4
- f/1.8
- f/2.8
The wider the aperture, the shallower the depth of field, which means more background blur. Prime lenses (lenses with a fixed focal length) often have wider apertures than zoom lenses and are excellent for achieving bokeh.
- Consider Prime Lenses
Prime lenses are popular for bokeh because they are:
- Sharper at wide apertures
- Typically faster (wider f-stops)
- Designed with simpler optics that often produce smoother background blur
Popular choices include 50mm f/1.8, 85mm f/1.8, and 35mm f/1.4 lenses.
- Use Longer Focal Lengths
Longer focal lengths naturally compress the background and increase blur. Lenses such as:
- 50mm
- 85mm
- 105mm
- 135mm
are excellent for portraits and bokeh-rich images. Telephoto lenses create stronger subject separation compared to wide-angle lenses.
- Look at Aperture Blade Design
The number and shape of a lens’s aperture blades affect how bokeh looks. Lenses with:
- More aperture blades
- Rounded blades
produce smoother, more circular bokeh highlights. Cheaper lenses may have fewer blades, resulting in harsher or polygon-shaped blur.
- Match the Lens to Your Sensor Size
Camera sensor size also matters. Full-frame cameras generally produce stronger bokeh than crop-sensor cameras when using the same lens and settings. However, excellent bokeh is still achievable on crop-sensor cameras with fast lenses.
- Balance Budget and Quality
You don’t need the most expensive lens to get good bokeh. Affordable lenses like a 50mm f/1.8 are widely available and deliver excellent results. Higher-end lenses may offer smoother bokeh and better build quality, but beginners can achieve beautiful images with budget-friendly options.
- Test Before You Buy
If possible, try the lens in person or look at sample images online. Pay attention to how the background blur looks in real-world photos, not just the sharpness of the subject.
Conclusion
Purchasing the right lens for good bokeh involves understanding aperture, focal length, lens design, and your camera system. By choosing a fast lens with a wide aperture and an appropriate focal length, you can create stunning images with soft, pleasing background blur that draws attention to your subject.