Bokeh is dead - Long live SOFA!

Bokeh is dead - Long live SOFA!

  • Bokeh Forevah!

    Votes: 389 57.5%

  • SOFA, coz i'm a modern guy/gal

    Votes: 67 9.9%

  • Who cares, it's the in-focus area what matters! (Don't you dare to choose this option!)

    Votes: 221 32.6%
  • Total voters
    677
I voted "ichi". If the Japanse came up with the concept , or at least first tried to describe it, they should get to name it. And us Western cultural imperialists should settle back into the sofa and enjoy the images produced....!

All meant of course with a friendly ;) and no intent to insult anyone!
 
Sofa, so good...

Genie Andersen says of her comments on bokeh in B+W that it's not something she's very sensitive too (I'm not either) but it was probably just about worth mentioning.

You'll find it's also mentioned in Frances Schultz's test of the 75/2 Summicron in the same magazine in a couple of months' time. We (Frances is my wife) are sending the article out in a few days...

Cheers,

Roger (www.rogerandfrances.com)
 
This reminds me of a children's book called "Frindle". I like the idea of trying to influence the photographic community by introducing a new word. If it takes hold, we, and especially Ruben, can take credit for it.
 
I think it has to be sofa. That way we can all tell people to sit on it whether we believe in it or not. You can't really do that with bokeh...

Pherdinand said:
A few days ago i tried to check the SOFA of my own eye. No joke. It was in the evening after an intensive lubrication of my throat with focusing fluid so that could have been the trigger, but you know in the evening the pupil is wide open and it's easy to focus in front of the object and then you can just check. I have to say my eyelenses' SOFA is not very pleasant, but i can't describe what's the problem with it. Might also be a personal thing.
Click to expand...

I hope you performed this experiment with one eye only, otherwise it's hard to avoid double-line bokeh that makes the wiriest zoom look like a well worn leather three seater :)

Tom
 
I don't get it.. what's wrong with 'bokeh'? it's an easily identifiable word and upon seeing it, the reader knows instantly what it refers to.. either that, or s/he instantly knows that s/he doesn't know what it is, but can look it up very quickly and get an answer

imagine being someone new to photography and wondering why everyone is referring to furniture.. and then trying to google "SOFA".. you'd get about 18 million responses.. 12 of which would have something to do with lenses

and I agree with Stu.. bokeh sounds technical, which it is.. SOFA sounds... girly
 
This forum has already made significant contribution to photographic lexicon: the notorious "GAS"; which can be used as a noun or a verb - very cool.

Now, can someone please come up with a snappy term for "paralyzed by the decision over which camera gear to pack for a trip"?

Thank you.
 
Personally, I like "Bokeh", its a nice word which sounds ot of focus, and given the fact that it originated in Japan, I think its a bit arrogant to reject it since its Japanese. After all, we do expect the rest of the world to learn english (or at least American).

Lets embrace other cultures yeh? Or shall we find a new name for Lasagne too? Like MCNP, "meat cheese 'N' pasta".
 
Sorry for coming in late.

I prefer the use of the word "bokeh" as it describes something that existing words in the english language cannot
articulate successfully. Sure, it means the characteristics of out-of-focus blur, and it also includes the characteristics of how the imaging quality transitions from being in focus to out of focus.

The Japanese had developed a whole vocabulary to describe bokeh characteristics; I cannot see how "soft off-focus areas" or "silky off-focus areas" can encompass it.
 
I picked "Bokeh" because I like how people get all riled up when you use the word.

"It doesn't exist!"
"It does exist!"
"It doesn't matter!"
"It matters most!"

Always good for a laugh! :D
 
How about combining the two? BOSO, BOKFA, SOKEH, SOFEH, BOKEHSOFA? How about we call it the "softareasurroundingthefocusarea." How about BREAST? They're also soft and comfortable to look at. HAHA...just kidding.
 
I like SOFA, but never sit on mine. Can I still use BOKEH?

Now... I like too what I said in one of Taffer's comments: the OOF zone.

Has a nicer ring to it. Like hit-in-the-stomach ring...

Will vote when I make my mind. That is later. Meanwhile, this thread is getting to be too much fun!
 
bokeh! bokeh!! bokeh!!!

bokeh! bokeh!! bokeh!!!

bokeh!

why? coz that's what it started with; sofa is an attempt not an alternative...

btw, would u call a 'rangefinder' an 'overlapper' just coz it goes better to explain its unique characteristic for general public ?! :bang:
nooooo!...
so, there u go! :D...



PP

p.s.: btw, if u wanna know the turth, my mom cares for none! ;)
 
Last edited:
jlw said:
So, if we adopt the new acronym, lenses with particularly excellent out-of-focus rendition might become known as SOFA kings? As in, "I'd really like to buy that new Summilux, but it's SOFA king expensive"...?
Click to expand...

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA this really takes the cake!
 
Yes "Bokeh" is Japanese, but, if you were to take a survey in Japan, I would imagine that less than 25% of people would associate the word/term with Photography letalone a quality to discribe/value Lenses.
The word/term "Bokeh" is most often used as a derogatory/negative comment about a person who is forgetful/negligent. ( sort of like the "dumb blond" :eek: kind of saying)
Although not solely intended for women :D .
ie: Hey Bokeh, or He's/She's is a Bokeh.
FWIW, "Bokehtelu" is when someone is acting in that manner, but you suspect that it is done on purpose. But could also be used to discribe a Photograph that is out of focus. (Not to discribe OOF areas)

Mike.
 
Since its been repeatedly stated that everyone in Japan knows about Leica, Im sure they'd all know about Bokeh eh? :)
 
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