Is a soft-focus lens worth it, or is it better to add the effect in post?
Asked 5/3/2013
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I want a soft-focus look for portraits. If I already have a very sharp 135mm lens, is there any real advantage to buying a dedicated soft-focus lens, or can I get a similar result in Photoshop? I'm trying to follow the idea of getting things right in camera, but I also don't want to buy and carry another lens if post-processing can produce essentially the same look.
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
13y ago
2 Answers
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If you already own a different 135mm prime that is sharp I see virtually no reason to buy that lens. Canon doesn't make it anymore for a reason, it simply isn't necessary. Sure you can save a bit of time doing it during the shot instead of post, but you also have to weigh that with the cost of the additional lens to carry and buy.
As for how you can create this effect in Photoshop, it really isn't all that hard and once you learn the technique it is easy to reproduce when needed. We already have a great question/answer thread that addresses that so I won't go into much detail here. See: How can I approximate 'soft focus' digitally?
This review sums it up nicely: http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-EF-135mm-f-2.8-with-Softfocus-Lens-Review.aspx
Originally by user4892. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user4892
13y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
If you already have a sharp 135mm prime, a dedicated soft-focus lens is usually hard to justify. The main benefit of doing it in-camera is convenience at the time of shooting, but you give up flexibility and add the cost and bulk of another lens.
For most photographers, creating the effect in post is the better option. Soft-focus is a well-known effect that can be reproduced digitally without much difficulty, and once you learn a workflow it’s easy to apply consistently when needed. Using a sharp lens also lets you keep the original file and decide later how much softness you want.
So in practice: shoot with your sharp lens, then add soft focus in post if the image suits it. A dedicated soft-focus lens may have some character of its own, but based on the answers here, it doesn’t offer enough of an advantage to make it necessary for most people.
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