Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/12/31

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Subject: RE: [Leica] two sample images of great bokeh
From: "Dan Honemann" <ddh@home.com>
Date: Sun, 31 Dec 2000 18:37:57 -0500

> Show me a similar photograph as in the Russian model, but with bad bokeh.
> To my eyes it just looks like a (nice) photograph taken at a large
> aperture.  The background looks like any typical out of focus background,
> IMHO.

I can't supply a photo with a Russian model, but consider this one:

http://www.pinkheadedbug.com/humantraffic/portfolio_14/pages/005.html

Take the same background here and put it behind the Russian model and I
submit you have a less pleasing photograph.

Now _please_ don't get me wrong: this is not a big deal.  In fact, the photo
above was taken--I'm reasonably sure--with the 35 asph summilux, and if I
were all that concerned about its bokeh I wouldn't have just ordered one.

Nevertheless, I see a difference in the background between these photos.  I
won't go so far as to say the lens is what makes the difference--there may
be many factors.

Consider this image as another example of (clearly) distracting bokeh--due
in this case (I imagine) to no fault of the lense:

http://www.dmakos.com/gallery/graffiti/bluenote.html

...or this one, which seems to be due to the lens...

http://people.oven.com/jbm/temp-displays/bokeh/c3990719-28a%5bwhitpit%5d1410
.jpeg

All shot with the 35 asph summilux (and apologies to those who took these
shots: there are many fine images on these sites!).

Now compare the bokeh rendered by the noctilux to that of the 35 asph
summilux here:

http://content.communities.msn.com/isapi/fetch.dll?action=get_album&ID_Commu
nity=Leicausers&ID_Topic=81

In particular, "Young Monks" really shows off the bokeh of the noctilux,
while the one titled "Rubber band dipping" demonstrates a different quality
of the background areas as rendered by the 35 asph.

Conclusions: there IS a difference in bokeh that is clearly distinguishable,
at least to my eyes.  Whether it matters to you or not is another matter.  I
agree with Doug: we don't pay attention to bokeh when we aren't distracted
by it.  When we are, it detracts from the overall effect of the image.

Dan

Replies: Reply from Mark Rabiner <mark@rabiner.cncoffice.com> (Re: [Leica] two sample images of great bokeh)