Re: I Just Now "Fully" Realized That I Do NOT Like...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Old-N-Feeble
Is there such a thing as razor sharp with pretty bokeh?
A Cooke Portrait Lens set to sharp is wonderful; razor-sharp, beautiful out-of-focus rendering, and a rich, rich tonal scale, (I wish I knew how they did that...). A Petzval not pushed past its limits (and into the swirlies) is lovely. The humble Rapid Rectilinear is very underappreciated. Process Dialytes like the Artar and Ronar have an attractive look to the out of focus areas, though at f/9 that aspect is somewhat restricted. And the older Tessars, like the Series II Velostigmats are very nice too.
Re: I Just Now "Fully" Realized That I Do NOT Like...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Old-N-Feeble
Is there such a thing as razor sharp with pretty bokeh?
That is why I mentioned the Kodak CE. I'm wondering if anyone would agree with me that it meets those two criteria.
Re: I Just Now "Fully" Realized That I Do NOT Like...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
BrianShaw
That is why I mentioned the Kodak CE. I'm wondering if anyone would agree with me that it meets those two criteria.
Yep. I regret selling mine.
When I can find another at a decent price, I intend to replace it. Prices have gone up, making this task harder to accomplish.
I'd even be happy with a barrel mount. No need for a shutter here!
Re: I Just Now "Fully" Realized That I Do NOT Like...
I opted for dialyte type lenses for everything above normal focal length... 203 Ektar and Fujinon-C's. But it seems that for normal and wide angle needs plasmats are better, for my purposes, than anything else... maybe a 135 WF Ektar which, I think, is a double gauss. I've yet to test my lenses but I'm going to experiment with using older shutters on modern lenses to see how the rounder apertures affects out-of-focus areas.
I'd really like to try a Cooke but it's just too pricey for my budget. I might try a couple of older Tessars, Rapid Rectilinears, Heliars and Velostigmats.
Re: I Just Now "Fully" Realized That I Do NOT Like...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Old-N-Feeble
Is there such a thing as razor sharp with pretty bokeh?
Goerz Dagor.
Re: I Just Now "Fully" Realized That I Do NOT Like...
I have no doubt that Commercial Ektars can accomplish this. Those of you who have experience with them; Do you think their nice out-of-focus rendering is due largely to their rounder apertures?
I don't think I can afford later model coated Dagors.
Re: I Just Now "Fully" Realized That I Do NOT Like...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
BrianShaw
That is why I mentioned the Kodak CE. I'm wondering if anyone would agree with me that it meets those two criteria.
It does. The CE series of lenses were as good as it ever got for the Tessar design.
But a good Dagor in the hands of someone who knows how to make it work has more coverage and a smoother character.
Re: I Just Now "Fully" Realized That I Do NOT Like...
the sharpest lens I have ever own was the first I got for LF:
Boyer "Saphir" 300 4,5.
And beautiful out of focus areas.
But just to be clear: as Mark said, the swirley and the Petzval is not a sure thing. For me it is actually easier to make Petzval shots without the swirleyness than with it... It matters how you use it.
and he is (also) right about the "underrated" RR's...
Re: I Just Now "Fully" Realized That I Do NOT Like...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Old-N-Feeble
I have no doubt that Commercial Ektars can accomplish this. Those of you who have experience with them; Do you think their nice out-of-focus rendering is due largely to their rounder apertures?
I don't think that's all it is, but it do think it plays a significant part. That's one reason I prefer barrel lenses over shutter mount. In most cases, barrels have more iris blades than the equivalent sized shutter option offers.
Re: I Just Now "Fully" Realized That I Do NOT Like...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Old-N-Feeble
Do you think their nice out-of-focus rendering is due largely to their rounder apertures?
I don't really know why but also don't really care too much for an explanation. I'm happy that it performs as such and just use it.