The term "soft" in the context of RFF

[haempe]

This is more a linguistic problem for me.
I read often "wide open the lens is soft in the corners" or similar.
What means the term "soft" in the context of RFF?
Low contrast? Or not sharp? Or both in combination? Or something other?
In German there is a photographic term "weich" (soft) for flat gradation, is it the same in English?

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

It means not sharp

 

[haempe]

It means not sharp

Thanks, Chris.

 

[dave lackey]

Soft meaning less detail (as Chris says) and it is not necessarily a bad thing.😉

 

[noimmunity]

Soft

Soft

It is thought to refer to an all-too-tolerant attitude towards things like digital capture and Single Lens Reflex cameras.

Those hardliners have almost all been purged, or relegated to forum "preserves".

(Haempe, I hope you get the answer to your question for which you are looking).

 

[Roger Hicks]

'Weich' would normally be 'flat' (= low contrast). 'Soft' means, as Chris said, 'not sharp', but of course less contrast can look much the same as lower sharpness, because resolution and contrast are inextricably mixed.

Cheers,

R.

 

[isoterica]

Agreeing with Dave here that it isn't necessarily a bad thing. Definition wise, less sharp detail.. and Roger has a point with less contrast. That can make a sharp lens seem soft.