Cool Starbust Flare Comparison: Oly 45mm, Panny 20mm, and Oly 4/3 14-54mm mkII

jambaj0e · #1 December 16th, 2011, 04:53 AM

So while I was playing around with lighting setups for a day of product shooting w/ perfume bottles, I happen to come up with this idea of having a starburst effect with our main strobe by shooting light unto the camera at the lens's smallest aperture.

What is interested is the shapes and flares that comes around from the three lenses I used on my Panasonic GH2

These photos are unedited

Olympus m.Zuiko 45mm f1.8 closed down to f22

Panasonic 20mm f1.7 closed down to f16

Olympus 4/3 Zuiko 15-54mm mkII f2.8-3.5 lens at 14mm focal length and closed down to f22

There really is a difference in an Olympus 4/3 High Grade Glass compared to the micro 4/3 glass when it comes to flare control, starburst shape, etc. All of them has 7 circular diaphragm blades. Going back and forth in the focal length and looking at the two primes, I noticed that the wider end (14mm or 20mm) has the best flare look, while the tele end (45mm or 54mm) minimizes the starburst flare .

FastCorner · #2 December 16th, 2011, 05:36 AM

I'm really amazed at how well the 20mm performs here, actually.

jambaj0e · #3 December 16th, 2011, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FastCorner

I'm really amazed at how well the 20mm performs here, actually.

Well, when you close the aperture all the way, you're suppose to get that starburst effect. The 4/3 14mm-54mm lens definitely has the best looking starburst out of the three. Beautiful shape and almost no blueish tint

pxpaulx · #4 December 16th, 2011, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FastCorner

I'm really amazed at how well the 20mm performs here, actually.

Agreed with Joe on this one - the starburst is an effect of the aperture being closed down, so good starburst would be considered even long streaks coming out from the light source, like the last photo; in this regard the 20mm is actually the dud of the bunch! the off colors around the light source in the 20mm shot to me are indicators of poor flare control as well.

Joe - I wish I had some posted online, but for flare resistance and the most spectacular starbursts ever seen you've got to check out some samples from the pentax 15mm F4 limited - by far my favorite lens, and a magnificent performer staring straight at the sun :)

RobWatson · #5 December 16th, 2011, 12:11 PM

If you want to manufacture starbursts you can. Add a pattern of thread or string over the aperture. Play with a cross or three threads (for a 6 pointed star). This is a trick used by astronomers to create diffraction spikes as a focussing aid.

jambaj0e · #6 December 16th, 2011, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pxpaulx

For flare resistance and the most spectacular starbursts ever seen you've got to check out some samples from the pentax 15mm F4 limited - by far my favorite lens, and a magnificent performer staring straight at the sun :)

Just saw some examples of the Pentax 15mm F4 Limited. Unbelievable starburst, so beautiful it looks like it was created in Photoshop =)

RobWatson · #7 December 16th, 2011, 12:16 PM

Gotta yank out that tube! Very distracting.

jambaj0e · #8 December 16th, 2011, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobWatson

Gotta yank out that tube! Very distracting.

Huh? Are you talking about in the perfume bottles? We were going to return them, so we didn't want to mess with it. But I did digitally remove them in post.

I'm gonna put up the rest when I get through more photos, but here is an example of a bottle with its tube digitally removed:

RobWatson · #9 December 16th, 2011, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jambaj0e

Huh? Are you talking about in the perfume bottles? We were going to return them, so we didn't want to mess with it. But I did digitally remove them in post.

I'm gonna put up the rest when I get through more photos, but here is an example of it:

I can't recall ever seeing an ad in which that tube thing was visible so it jumped right out!

No comp on the bottles! Cheap bastards.

jambaj0e · #10 December 16th, 2011, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobWatson

I can't recall ever seeing an ad in which that tube thing was visible so it jumped right out!

No comp on the bottles! Cheap bastards.

Haha, it was a personal test shoot, to learn how to light it and to put into my portfolio. Best to practice in your own shoot, not on a client's shoot, lol