[mike.hiran]

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.

thanks lance: some very useful nuggets in there!

[legacyb4]

Wow, easily one of the funner threads in the forum to go through; so many variations on a single style of photography!

While my A 50mm F1.4 yields some pretty nice bokeh, the longer reach of the FA* 85mm F1.4 makes it easier to isolate a subject and really give it the bokeh treatment. The only downside is the relatively long minimum focusing distance compared to some other lenses.

[Arjay Bee]

If I am in close focus range I really like the Vivitar 28mm Close Focus (K02)



At further distance the Super Takumar 200 does a nice job. Two examples



As Lance comments the Pentax lenses, even the teles seem to do a good job in certain situations. I have 200mm shots of grass and weeds that looks quite ugly/harsh.

[aLpi]

FA 50mm 1.4






SMC-M 75-150 f4

[Votesh]

My go to bokeh masters are the A* and FA* 85mm lenses. They're great. Even a usual snapshot type portrait can be made spectacular by the creamy bokeh and separation of the subject from the background. If I wasn't on my phone I'd post some photos taken with them.

[8540tomg]

Hi all,

Don't know if it qualifies as masterful but the Pentax K 200/2.5 has a certain something.







Cheers

Tom G

[yeatzee]

Gosh I love this lens

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Last edited by yeatzee; 06-16-2009 at 10:38 AM.

[stash]

Talking about bokeh:

Jupiter 85


Pentax 50-135 SDM




Takumar 50 1.4

What do you think??

[georgweb]

aLpi, excellent portraits, well done !

Stash,about the last shot with the Tak 50/1.4 (and I am assuming this is a full open shot), matter of taste obviously, but expressionist for sure.
That Tak has been bashed for its bokeh, as well as the following lens. Matter of taste maybe. Also, I am after what I call the "long bokeh".
That seems to be a different case and not comparable to near bokeh stuff. More test shots are mandatory :-)

CZ Planar 1.4/50 full open (not so bad and I'd bet you'd get even more CA from any other 1.4/50 lens at f/1.4)


One of the best imo, here at a real test for harsh bokeh, Mamiya Sekor SX 1.4/55 full open


Same lens, stopped down a little. Edit: Another goodie, K-mount Lomo Volna MC 1.8/50, stopped down a little


Said to be one of the real masters, CZJ Sonnar 180/2.8 Zebra on K100D, f/something (highlights look round though)


This is a good bokeh to me. Matter of taste obviously, I like it smooth and silent. CZJ Sonnar MC 3.5/135 full open


All pics from K100D. Best, Georg (the other)

[derius]

Here is one from FA 50/1.4 and PP



SMC M 50/1.4

[malakola]

smc PENTAX-F 50mm F1.4 @ f2 iso400

[Bart]

FA77 @ f3.2







FA77 @ f4

[melander]

Got some wonderfull strange bokeh the other day with my voigtlander 180/4

[pdxbmw]

How about this. 55mm 1.8 auto tak from the late 50's.

[IS050]

How about Takumar 105mm/f2.8.