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Another shot that is more of an equipment test than anything else.
I have recently purchased an EF 50 f/1.8 in like-new condition from KEH. It set me back all of $75 and has thus far proven to be a massive bang for the buck!
This lens at f/1.8 is decently sharp in the center but quite terrible in the corners. At f/2.8 it greatly improves and by f/5.6 is razor sharp across the entire frame. This shot was taken at f/2.8 handheld with IBIS on and in AF servo mode tracking her left (right in the frame) eye. At this distance of about three feet, the DOF remains pretty shallow but sure is sharp.
Maddie is now 10 years old, and her grey (white) hair is creating some interesting patterns in her face. Maddie was a rescue from N. Carolina and is of the very popular Heinz 57 breed. We actually have no idea what breed mix she is but based on her disposition we suspect there’s some terrier in there.
Feedback Requests
General feedback is appreciated, but the greying pattern on her face and the sharpness of the image I find quite pleasing. Thanks for taking a look!
Pertinent Technical Details
EOS R6II handheld (IBIS on)
EF 50 f/1.8 on EF-to-R adapter
f/2.8 @ 1/60, auto ISO 1000
Minimally processed in LRC
Jim - those EYES!!! Unconditional Love, total dedication and trust, and thankfulness for a wonderful rescued life - it’s all there in those eyes. The shallow depth of field here is perfect.
Sounds like you got a great deal on a nice lens.
Excellent portrait!
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Not sure which looks sweeter — the puppy or the lens. I’ll go with both. No nits but an idea – portraits like this can be very cool with a touch of a dark vignette added.
Isn’t it great to be able to use legacy lenses on the new mirrorless cameras!
I love the small depth of field you used in this one, Jim. The foreshortened view from this angle and your closeness to the subject is really cool. And, of course, your subject is sweet.
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It is! In fact, if it wasn’t for the EF- EOS R adapter I would have gone with a 5D MkIV as my new camera purchase last month. So far I only own EF lenses, but have a few RF lens purchases in mind for this year.
<tech nerd alert>
The lens I purchased, the EF 50mm f/1.8 STM, is the third iteration of the “Nifty Fifty” and can still be purchased new. It offers some mechanical improvements over the two earlier (now discontinued) versions but is optically identical other than improved coatings.
Canon now offers a version for the RF mount. It’s a new optical design that offers a tiny, almost imperceptible optical improvement. But since I already had the adapter, I rolled with the less expension second-hand EF version.
</tech nerd alert>
We have another rescue mutt from NC, her name is Gracie Rose. She is 11 years old now (we adopted them both as puppies) but is definitely a hound mix . She’s a bit camera shy but I need to get an updated portrait of her as well.
Oh do get us a portrait!! Camera shy is a difficult problem to overcome.
Our older daughter and hubby have two gorgeous cats (both adopted) and the younger is super people-shy – a total fraidy cat. (At Thanksgiving I had to crawl under the couch to try to get a picture of him.) Just after they brought him home I was down there and they cautioned me to pretend I didn’t see him until he got used to me. After a few days he would gingerly come into a room where I was. I would “ignore” him but play with him under the dining table with my napkin or toes. (That worked!) But a few days later my husband joined us and I cautioned him to steer clear and completely ignore Pedro. But when he walked into the room, Pedro was sacked out on the cat tree and Ted exclaimed, “What a gorgeous cat!!” (He is.) And he walked right up and started petting him! Nobody else ever managed that.
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Maddie Lou shortly after we brought her home. I believe she was about 20 weeks old in this photo, taken with a 50D and a 135/2 L lens;
Maddie came from the litter of an unneutered pet in NC. Happily, the owners called the local humane society who collaberated with a NH rescue organization to bring them there. Having worked with that organization for years on their BoD, the rescued dogs are usually adopted before they even arrive. Along with having adopted two of these dogs (Gracie Rose
and Maddie Lou), Donna and I found it a very rewarding experience and learned a lot about the process of dog rescue (more complicated than meets the eye) and the sad fate of most stray dogs.
What a sweet look she has! It is so wonderful to be able to share your lives with pets who wouldn’t have a home otherwise! We have had three adopted cats who enriched our lives almost as much as our children did, and ruled the house in the unique way that only a cat can.
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Thank-you for the EP! Maddie was pleased too, especially after she was given a cookie for her modeling efforts. 
That look is very familiar, though we do cats instead of dogs. “Don’t I get a treat for this?”
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Nice EP, Jim!
Congrats…
