shallowdepthoffield

While there are physical limitations to lens apertures, through the use of adapters, photographers can seemingly bypass the laws of physics and make very, very fast glass.

Given how much more it costs to buy an f/1.4 prime compared to an f/1.8, beginners in particular often ask if the upgrade is worth it. Build quality and optical quality being equal, is the difference in light gathering capability and depth of field noticeable? Can you really tell?

By carefully applying blur to a portrait, you can make it look like it was shot with a shallow depth-of-field using a fast (and expensive) lens. Here's a 12-minute tutorial by PiXimperfect that teaches the key to creating this faux blur in a realistic way.

Instagram just released a new camera format called "Focus" that brings the magic of iPhone Portrait Mode-style portraits to single-camera smartphones.

Brazilian photographer Charles Oliveira recently put the Mitakon Speedmaster 85mm f/1.2 lens through its paces using his Nikon D600. Announced back in 2015, this is a Chinese lens that offers 85mm f/1.2 at a relatively affordable price of $799.

When you focus your camera, the area around the focal distance will also be in focus. But this can fall off to blur quickly or slowly. The acceptable amount of in-focus area around what's you are focusing on is called depth of field.