[thePiRaTE!!]

Gary, thank-you for the kind words. With your shot, the way the bokeh falls away from the right side of the plant almost looks like its streaming smoke. Looks like a good bokeh lens as well.

Derius that is surprising, but a good shot nonetheless, well done. Agreed that there is a lot of inspiration in this thread - many thanks for sharing your bokeh secrets.

[thePiRaTE!!]

The T*25/2.8 has rarely come off my camera this past few weeks and I've learned a lot. Though this Distagon can focus very closely (1:2.3 life scale) I've found stepping back a little to include some context, one can create 'bokeh-scapes' at this focal length. Its a process I intend to explore more thoroughly as I vacation in a couple weeks, but here's the idea:



It also seems with the right handling this lens is decent at the simulated art look. Kinda looked like a felt painting to me a bit.

[OrenMc]

The T*25/2.8 has rarely come off my camera this past few weeks and I've learned a lot. Though this Distagon can focus very closely (1:2.3 life scale) I've found stepping back a little to include some context, one can create 'bokeh-scapes' at this focal length. Its a process I intend to explore more thoroughly as I vacation in a couple weeks, but here's the idea:



It also seems with the right handling this lens is decent at the simulated art look. Kinda looked like a felt painting to me a bit.

I like how you used the horizon, great composition.

I also wish you would keep your Voigtlander 125 on the shelf. Blows me away

[jsherman999]

I absolutely love that shot.

[UliBär]

I also like the "Bokina" (Tokina 90/2.5 macro) for the smoothness of its bokeh.

[roentarre]

The T*25/2.8



It also seems with the right handling this lens is decent at the simulated art look. Kinda looked like a felt painting to me a bit.

That is a beautiful shot, Kelly. The tilt in the horizen works beautifully and the centre of focus on the flower is like a stardom picture. The bokeh is soft and mellow. I am getting convinced on the bokeh rendering capability of this lens.

[suro]

P.S. Is not my photos, but I know how it made

[thePiRaTE!!]

Surely that Helios again with that swirly bokeh again? It sure is unique, if anything. I quite like for that. That last picture is just completely lens, I could only guess as to the background (trees over a clothes line?). I'm not one to pick one something being soft wide open, but those are really soft. Is that a bit of a trade-off when close focused wide open?

[suro]

Surely that Helios again with that swirly bokeh again? It sure is unique, if anything. I quite like for that. That last picture is just completely lens, I could only guess as to the background (trees over a clothes line?). I'm not one to pick one something being soft wide open, but those are really soft. Is that a bit of a trade-off when close focused wide open?

Those photos made by Helios 44-M4, the secret - wrong setup first glass into the lens (other side setup)

[Lance B]

I have a sneaky suspicion that most lenses are purposely designed (by Pentax and maybe some others) to provide the best bokeh at certain camera to subject distances, for what the lens was designed for like macro or portraiture, and at certain apertures.

If you take a macro lens for instance, the designers will more than likely opt to have the bokeh look good at the closer focus distances and maybe the smaller apertures like f8, f11 etc, and also the optimum sharpness etc.

It is also very important where the background OOF areas are compared to where the subject in focus is and also what the background is made up of. Highlights can play a detrimental role to some lens's bokeh yet not others.

If we take the FA77(a portrait lens), I find that it's best bokeh occurs at the middle camera to subject distances and the larger apertures like f4 and f5.6 etc.

The FA43 can have some beautiful bokeh at certain apertures and camera to subject distances, but at others it can be quite ordinary. The FA31 generally has good bokeh, but can be a little ordinary at some apertures and C to S distances.

I notice that with some lenses and in some shots, OOF areas behind but near the subject can have pleasing bokeh, but further behind can have poor bokeh and visa versa in some instances.

Some of the zooms can have excellent bokeh at some focal length/aperture/C to S distances and be very ordinary at others.

There are not too many lenses that are good at all camera to subject distances and all apertures. Some may, not all will. I also think that colour can play a part in how bokeh is perceived and how the lens resolves it. I find that in some cases, playing with the white balance can affect the bokeh to a small degree too.

DFA100mm f2.8 macro:





The FA*300 f4.5 sometimes has good bokeh and other times not so good depending on C to S distance, Aperture used and background highlights:

[mhertel]

Here one from the Vivitar Series 1 105mm

[Nick Siebers]

I have a Vivitar 85mm F/1.8 T mount that has some crazy bokeh. It does have a tendancy to double line wide-open, though.

[jpzk]

'evening Pirate.
I am new here and one of the reasons I joined is that I wanted to find out whether anyone here has a Zeiss T*Planar 85/1.4 ZK mounted on either the K10/K20D.
I am looking for sample shots to compare with the very few images I have taken with mine (the K20D is out at the repair shop for focusing problems); I am using the K10D as my "sole" camera for the moment. Mind you, I miss the K20D.
So ... you seem to be the Bokeh specialist here and you obviously have lots of Zeiss lenses.
Anything at all with the specs I just gave?
Any help would be appreciated.
Cheers,
JP

[melander]

Voigtlander 180/4

[jsherman999]

Ooof, you've just made me pine for my long sold-off VL 180 Lanthar...