Is bokeh designed?

[jonmanjiro]

Is bokeh designed?

Absolutely, unequivocally, yes!

Here's an excerpt from the Nikon website here regarding the F-mount 105mm f2.5 lens that is renowned for its smooth bokeh.

The lens also has characteristics of spherical aberration and coma. Basically close-range aberration variation is small, but at portrait distances the correction for aberration seems to be slightly insufficient. The insufficiency as far as spherical aberration in particular is what makes defocus background appeared beautiful. The aberration balance has been calculated carefully for use in portraits. When the aperture is open contrast is good, and delineation is soft.

 

[kbb]

In some photos the bokeh can be momentarily interesting to look at, but in general it's better to have zero bokeh...that is, everything in focus. The elevation of defects and aberrations to aesthetic consideration is evidence of postmodernism(code word for cultural dissipation and social decline.) Just kidding,...but not completely. Oh, and yes,...nowadays they can design it right into the lens. In the old days, it was more the designers' methodical intuition... and trial and error.

 

[sqjaw]

Heree is a lady slipper shot wide open with a Canon 50mm F-1.4 see the boken in the background