I Just Now "Fully" Realized That I Do NOT Like...
... soft focus and "swirly" lenses. I've nothing against them but I do NOT like them.
I've been seeking nice... dare I say "bokeh"? Nahh... I'll say pretty (smooth) out-of-focus areas... and I've learned that bokeh and "sharpest" lens design are, more often than not, mutually exclusive. That doesn't mean I'll give up pretty out-of-focus areas for sharpness and I think there is SURELY A MIDDLE GROUND to be had. For instance, really well made so-called "soft-focus" lenses such as the Kodak Portrait lenses, Rodenstock Imagons, Fujinon-SF, etc. Those are intentionally designed with chromatic aberrations but, when stopped down, are pretty darned sharp... but still retain very nice out-of-focus quality... "IF" the aperture is very round.
Arguments listened to...
Re: I Just Now "Fully" Realized That I Do NOT Like...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Old-N-Feeble
... soft focus and "swirly" lenses. I've nothing against them but I do NOT like them.
I've been seeking nice... dare I say "bokeh"? Nahh... I'll say pretty (smooth) out-of-focus areas... and I've learned that bokeh and "sharpest" lens design are, more often than not, mutually exclusive. That doesn't mean I'll give up pretty out-of-focus areas for sharpness and I think there is SURELY A MIDDLE GROUND to be had. For instance, really well made so-called "soft-focus" lenses such as the Kodak Portrait lenses, Rodenstock Imagons, Fujinon-SF, etc. Those are intentionally designed with chromatic aberrations but, when stopped down, are pretty darned sharp... but still retain very nice out-of-focus quality... "IF" the aperture is very round.
Arguments listened to...
Why would anyone want to argue with what YOUR preference is? So get a medium sharp lens like a Heliar or Tessar and be happy.
Re: I Just Now "Fully" Realized That I Do NOT Like...
Tessars are really nice but I like center-to-corner sharpness. I'm interested in landscape lenses, not portrait. :)
And... as originally stated... all arguments are welcome. I'm about to stop posting tonight as I'm recognizing how tired I am and don't want to post stupidly. I'll just "listen". ;)
Re: I Just Now "Fully" Realized That I Do NOT Like...
It is always good to know what you like, and what you don't like... Isn't it.
Re: I Just Now "Fully" Realized That I Do NOT Like...
P.s. The smoothest lens I own and enjoy using is a Kodak Commercial Ektar.
Re: I Just Now "Fully" Realized That I Do NOT Like...
To hell with the lenses -- let the images sing to you and for you.
Re: I Just Now "Fully" Realized That I Do NOT Like...
I'm open to all opinions... and I'm listening. Per my original post... I'm not judging... not at all. I just "personally" don't like soft-focus swirly lenses. Please don't be offended. I'm just searching for photographic "nirvana".
Re: I Just Now "Fully" Realized That I Do NOT Like...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
BrianShaw
P.s. The smoothest lens I own and enjoy using is a Kodak Commercial Ektar.
I believe that. Kodak was/is damned good... from all I've read.
Re: I Just Now "Fully" Realized That I Do NOT Like...
A Heliar is very special, and might be what you're after. Sharper than the usual soft lenses, slightly less sharp than Tessars/Velostigmat (but in a pleasant way.)
Kent in SD
Re: I Just Now "Fully" Realized That I Do NOT Like...
Is there such a thing as razor sharp with pretty bokeh?