The ultimate Bokeh thread; pics please

[ferider]

Don't blame it on me, blame it on John, this thread was his idea 🙂

Quality of bokeh is clearly subjective - heck, even my perception has changed.
I used to search for "donuts" and "footballs" in the background of a shallow
DOF picture.

These days, I care less about that, and look at the 3d rendering that I feel
a lens provides.

So, please post example pictures, of what you think is good and bad bokeh,
which lens at which aperture you used, and why you like/dislike the lens'
OOF performance.

I'll start (the pic that triggered this):

Summicron-C 40/2 wide open at min. distance. This is the Wayfarer's
chappel in LA, architected by F.L. Wright Jr. Even though there are
slight donuts and double lines in the background, I like what I feel is
a superb 3D quality to the way the lens rendered this picture.

In my experience the 35/2 and 40/1.4 behave similarly. Or do they ? 🙂

More please. Thanks,

Roland.

 

[foto_fool]

Roland - Now that you put it that way (dimensional rendering) I agree. The bokeh in the chapel shot is distracting, but the candle does really jump out of the frame.

I'll see you and raise you the 35mm Konica 35/2 UC-Hexanon (on R-D1):

(posted before).

The low angle lighting from the right of your frame contributes to the dimensionality of your shot. The coffeecup was lit from the right and from behind me. For me the geometric regularity of the OOF in my shot decreases my negative perception of the double lines - which in any case are relatively soft.

- John

 

[ferider]

John, thanks. What your picture also shows in my mind is that the type
of background and cropping is very important. I've seen double
lines created with the UC hex, and created them with my Hexar AF myself ....

Roland.

 

[foto_fool]

Cute couple but I completely agree about the footballs. Here's a series of shots with the ZM Sonnar C shot wide open (R-D1 again):

OOF on the ceiling (no highlights) is pleasing to me. OOF on the trees outside the window is not bad - because of distance?

The higlights behind the subjects are interesting - how do you describe this effect? In this shot it adds an element of humor for me.

Same venue as the prior shot - same lights. Completely different look. Pleasing - not distracting.

- John

 

[Todd.Hanz]

...in the mean time...

good bokeh:

Nikkor 105/2.5 MF on D200

VC 75/2.5

Leica 50/1.4 Summilux (E-46 version)

bokeh not so good:

Nikkor 50/1.2

Todd

 

[Uwe_Nds]

Non-RF

Non-RF

Good bokeh:
Pentax 77/1.8

Not so nice bokeh:
Pentax 50/1.7 A

 

[Mr_Flibble]

Posted this pic somewhere before......

Elmar 90/4 on my Leica IIIa

 

[steverett]

Both with a Canon 7:

Canon 85/2 on Velvia

Canon 50/1.8 on FP4+

 

[brachal]

I like this bokeh. Bessa R, Jupiter 8 @f/2

 

[Bryce]

Can't remember if I posted this here before or not... If so it would've been a long time back.
Anyway, I did an experiment. What do you all think?
I'll come clean with the details in awhile.

 

[Pakmanpdx]

Bokeh!

Bokeh!

Here's the Hektor 73mm on my IIIa. As Homer would say....mmm...Donuts! This was probably at f 2.2 although it was summertime in open shade. the background is a large bush with sunlight falling on it about 10 feet behind my daughter.

 

[dlove5]

135 Elmarit @ f8 - I think. Mounted on IIIg + Viso II and extension ring

 

[lapinot]

Minolta Rokkors should not be missing in a bokeh thread ;-)

Minolta Rokkors should not be missing in a bokeh thread ;-)

Me too, me too: Minolta MC Rokkor 85/1.7 @ 1.7, Minolta X-500, Agfa APX 100
I really like the buttery-smooth bokeh of this lens

 

[Abbazz]

My favorite of the moment (Porst/Tomioka 55/1.2):

Cheers,

Abbazz

 

[kmack]

A little Beer with a Jupiter 8 on a Kiev II

 

[hofrench@mac.co]

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1115/528089727_3f8771b4a2_b.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/205/495373749_484bd6aa8d_b.jpg

M8 with MM-Hexanon 50.http://farm1.static.flickr.com/205/495373749_484bd6aa8d_b.jpg

 

[delft]

If all is well (i don't see it in the preview...), attached is a bokeh-ish image with the CV 40mm SC wide open. The highlights at the bottom are from parked bicycles.

Dirk

 

[keithwms]

Can MF/LF shooters play along?

A few shots from a cambo, a horseman VH, and an rb67.

What do these three have in common? They were all shot at f/8 😉

 

[titrisol]

Good Bouquet?

Super-Takumar 50/1.4 at 1.4

 

[ltketch]

Heres some from me, dust from the scanner included!

Minolta MC 50/1.4 wide open, XD-7, Reala.

Got the lens the same day in the mail, just wanted to see what would hapen when wide open! Not the easiest shot as there was a breeze and everything was moving! not overly pleased with the more obvious donuts to the upper right!

Minolta MD 50/1.7, XD-7, FP4, unknown aperture but it was during the middle of the day so probably not wide open, but more dust 😱 First proper B&W film in over 20 years so wasn't trying for any effects, just wanted to test the XD-7 which had then recently come into my possesion!