[Leica] Bokeh yes

[amr3 at uwm.edu (Alan Magayne-Roshak)]

On Mon, 19 Jan 2009 Douglas Nygren <dnygr@cshore.com>wrote:

>Bokeh has caught my fancy of late.
>I'm sure this has been discussed and that there is a diversity of 
>opinion.

>I'd be interested in learnng which lenses you all feel have the best 
>bokeh and why, of course.

>Best--Doug
=============================================================================
Coincidentally, I received my Olympus to Canon lens adapter last week, and 
with my 30D, did some 
comparisons between the Canon AF 50mm f/1.8, an old Nikkor 50mm f/1.4, and a 
Zuiko 50mm f/1.8:  

<http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Alan+Magayne-Roshak/LensFun/Canon_50mm_at_f2AF.jpg.html>
<http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Alan+Magayne-Roshak/LensFun/Nikkor_50mm_at_f2.jpg.html>
<http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Alan+Magayne-Roshak/LensFun/Zuiko_50mm_at_f1_8.jpg.html>

In these shots there are slight variations in the out of focus highlights, 
and even DoF (look at the Pony 
camera on the left - it looks sharper in the Nikkor shot).  The first two 
lenses have a setting for f/2, but 
the Zuiko doesn't, so that one is at f/1.8.

Here is that Zuiko 50 and my favorite Olympus lens, the 100mm f/2.8 (both at 
closest focus).  I've always 
liked the oof rendering of this lens at f/2.8:

<http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Alan+Magayne-Roshak/LensFun/Z_50mm_at_f1_8.jpg.html>
<http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Alan+Magayne-Roshak/LensFun/Z_100mm_at_f2_8.jpg.html>
<http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Alan+Magayne-Roshak/LensFun/Z_100mm_f2_8WideOpen_.jpg.html>

Bokeh rendering of some misc. lenses:

50mm Summitar at f/2:
<http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Alan+Magayne-Roshak/BigBird_AMR.jpg.html>

Nikkor 85mm f/2 LTM at f/2.8.  I love the bokeh of this lens:
<http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Alan+Magayne-Roshak/Fowl_AMR.jpg.html>

My custom 135mm Elmar:
<http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Alan+Magayne-Roshak/Color/BerriesLeaves_AMR.jpg.html>
<http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Alan+Magayne-Roshak/Color/ThreeBlooms_AMR.jpg.html>

Last, look at the tunnel-like look to this Victorian era Darlot when used 
wide open at f/4.8:
<http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Alan+Magayne-Roshak/Portraits/Kathryn1_AMR.jpg.html>
Stopped down, this effect is minimized.

Alan

Alan Magayne-Roshak, Senior Photographer
UPAA POY 1978
University Information Technology Services
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Alan+Magayne-Roshak/