Is Bokeh an overated property of an image?

[rogerzilla]

I have three 50mm lenses, and I keep two of them just for the bokeh. The Summicron DR is a great lens but does get a bit double-imagey in the background.

 

[JayM]

I like to look at the differences and try to distinguish them and articulate the differences. Just like wine 🙂

However, I think it's worth mentioning that some of the best times of my life have involved friends, mason jars, and four dollar a bottle wine. For me, truly good times and truly good wine never seem to mix. Then again, I'm still pretty young...

 

[Moriturii]

There is no good or bad bokeh. Only photographers notice bad or good bokeh or have a sense of what good or bad bokeh is.

I don't take pictures to impress other photographers, my ego is just fine, I don't need to get pats on my back, they can **** off quite frankly 🙂 I take pictures for everybody else to enjoy and they won't ever in a million years notice anything about bokeh (unless it's swirly I'd imagine, like Summarit).

 

[TXForester]

I'd say mostly overrated with one exception. This is when an important part of the background needs to be recognizable because it is linked to the main subject. Together they make a better photo, and maybe a better story, than the main subject alone.

For example a glass of beer on a table could be a main subject. The patrons of the bar in the background are supposed to be recognizable as people, so they are not rendered too out of focus. Here is where I think the quality of the bokeh makes a difference. Not a huge difference, but still affects the photo's quality.

 

[StillKicking]

Yes.. but its fun to compare from time to time..

 

[LeicaFan]

Bokeh is important... to an extent.

Many people write-off lenses that do not have creamy bokeh, which is a shame. There are a lot of lenses that have "bad bokeh," but I call it character. It works well, depending on the shot.

The 40mm Nokton, for example, isn't known for having the smoothest bokeh, but I think the way that it renders images is interesting:

 

[Ronald M]

Only photogs worry about it. 99% of viewers haw how nice.

 

[thegman]

It's overrated for me, I can't think of a great photo (although I'm sure there is one) which features bokeh as an important part of the image, and would be a lesser photo without it.

For those who like HCB, I can't imagine he gave it much thought.

 

[menthel]

The OOF areas in a picture are important. They help frame the bits that are in focus and if they distract from the image or in some way change it so that it is not as intended it can be bad. However, as long as it doesn't distract or does as the photographer intended its fine. I don't tend to make it the centre piece though!

 

[Sam Kanga]

"Is Bokeh an overated property of an image?"

Yes

 

[jsrockit]

Overrated? Yes. Can it be used well? Yes. Do people on both sides of the fence take it too seriously? Yes.