[Leica] black tape, bokeh

["Edward Gosfield III, MD" <egosfield@nni.com>]

Dan wrote:

>Doc!
>If you get close, and see through this tape, does the image have 'Bokeh'?
><g>
>Dan'l
>dwpost@msn.com

now this is a most vexed area.  The German designers of Kontakt tape say
that their tape, like the 'Ur-Varta' is actually designed to maintain the
highest possible image quality when you get close to look through it.  The
have optimised the tape for maximum contrast and resolution, as opposed to
the supposed aesthetic qualities of views through it.  The Japanese who
promote this tape say that it has, on close inspection, bokeh similar to
famous European tapes of the past ("Anjin-tapu") which they find pleasing.
The fanciers of Wetzlar-tape, of course say that you can not see through
their tape, so the issue of bokeh there is moot, but they say further that
if you pull the Wetzlar-tape off quickly it glows.

Of course the best bokeh obtainable from the tape is in using the pinhole
defects as lenses.  since the pinhole is perfectly round it produces the
smoothest bokeh possible.  As a matter of fact, there is a subsidiary
market in the QC rejects of Kontakt tape with these especially prized
pinholes, and perhaps it was some mistakenly (or otherwise 'redirected')
defective tape which found its way into our colleague's hands.  Perhaps
there is a conspiracy to divert this defective pinholed tape to the US
market, but i would not be prepared to say so without further evidence.

ted gosfield




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