Evil Bokeh - Mirror Lens

A part of me gets weary of bokeh nazis. As a consequence, I can really enjoy the ring bokeh just because it's different.

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fdigital said:
I actually like the bokeh on that shot. It can get weird with mirror lenses though.
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Yeah, I agree, it can get weird. One effect I've often noticed is how the bokeh changes in appearance when you view the same image at a different resolution. Flickr gives you that option, and it can be really interesting to watch the effect change.
 
The unusual bokeh is caused by an out of focus image of central obstruction of the secondary mirror -- many have found it desirable. Bill you are a talented photographer, those are striking shots.
 
bmattock said:
One effect I've often noticed is how the bokeh changes in appearance when you view the same image at a different resolution. Flickr gives you that option, and it can be really interesting to watch the effect change.
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Sorry, but I'm just not seeing the effect you're talking about. 😕
 
I saw this picture posted here taken with a Summitar, it had swirly bokeh, it made me ill. The effect made me sea sick, the more I looked at the sicker I got, it was great, so I bought a similar lens 🙂
 
erikhaugsby said:
Sorry, but I'm just not seeing the effect you're talking about. 😕
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Interesting. Well, for example, just before typing this reply, I rolled backwards about six feet in my office chair, while looking the same photo as it is displayed on RFF right now. As I rolled back, the 'donut' looking bokeh effect of the grass turned into a more 'swirly' effect - like oatmeal, not like donuts - less circular and more wavy. Then it smoothed out entirely as I got about 10 feet back.

Perhaps it is just me?
 
David Murphy said:
The unusual bokeh is caused by an out of focus image of central obstruction of the secondary mirror -- many have found it desirable. Bill you are a talented photographer, those are striking shots.
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Thank you for the kind words. I was less than impressed with myself today, especially with those whitetail deer. But I take some solace - this was my first visit to this wildlife preserve and I really did not intend to take it too seriously - more of a scouting trip. But what I would have given for a longer/sharper lens when I saw those deer pop up and run off!

One can say 'gear does not matter' but trust me, you don't sneak up on white tail deer with an Olympus XA. You really need some nice long lenses and some patience - a hide helps too! I was just walking up a road in the preserve when they jumped out in front of me, lucky really.
 
bmattock said:
Taken today with a Soligor C/D 500mm f/8. Some people cannot stand the bokeh that a mirror lens can produce. I dunno. It takes some getting used to.
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It is "funky". I think it works with this shot; some people would find that horrid; it does give it almost a "Bob Ross" feel to the background, like the blur was done with a painting knife.

Some would say brushes are the only way. I say anything can be used to good effect in the right hands. So to speak.
 
Bill, some good shots on flickr. I have to say that the OOF areas make me feel a bit ill- it looks like the entire background is vibrating, and I have to look away. However, if one can get past that effect, mirror lenses are a lightwieght alternative to 4 lb. telephotos.
 
radiocemetery said:
Bill,

Nice pictures at the wildlife refuge. Were you using a tripod or did you handhold? Is the mirror lens large?

Steve
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I took a tripod and used it for a short period of time, but when the birds began to take flight, I went to hand-holding the camera. My tripod head is not really designed to pan and tilt smoothly while tracking moving objects.

The mirror lens is big but not huge or heavy - it's big around, but does not stick way out. However, it is effectively a 750mm on my dSLR, and tracking moving objects with the viewfinder is a bit sketchy, and focus (manual) is strictly hit-or-miss, with many more misses than hits. I also have added a split-center 'rangefinder' focus screen to my dSLR, like the old SLR cameras had. Works great for manual focus in most circumstances, but with the mirror lens and it's fixed f/8 setting, it went dark and was hard to see through or focus with.

All in all, a big-time learning experience. I loved the ability of the 500mm to reach out and bring the images in closer, but it was harder to use than I'd have imagined it would have been. And of course, funky bokeh.
 
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