Originally posted by Nico Hi Mike, good work. I think you analyzed the results of the test correctly. I wonder if your choices would be the same if you repeat the test with a live model.
(hint hint, if you ever get some time to spare)
I used to own a 1hr lab up to the end of the film era. To me only filter that looked right with portraits was the Nikon soft 1. I have not seen any Nikon soft 1 portraits from a digital. It was a surprise to me that you did not have one in your bag with the other filters.
I like the look of the Pentax soft filter. I was searching for a similar looking soft filter so that I can post process in RAW. You were a big help. Thanks.
Nico, glad you're enjoying the thread.
I probably used almost every other soft filter out there, but I never got around to buying a Nikon soft 1, a filter about which I too had heard good things.
Anyway, here are two more shots. Actually it's only one shot I took with my Lensbaby, and then copied with the in-camera digital soft filter.
Lensbaby 3G @ f4.0 @ 1/4 sec.
Same shot with the K100D's in-camera soft filter #1.
Once you get used to this lens, it will give you predictable results. I like how the first two red stripes are sharp, but the bottom one is starting to turn to mush, and by the time you look down the flagpole to the mount, it is mush.
Also, the red stripes seem to have shifted to an almost orange-red in the digitally filtered shot.
Does anyone else notice this?
I guess this color shift can work for or against you depending upon what result you're after.
I must continue testing.
Mike