LF lenses with cat's eye bokeh?
I know it's not the most popular look, but it's a look "eye" love (ha ha). Are there any large format lenses known for this look?
Sample of the look, from fstoppers:
Attachment 241499
Reference shot for the catty bokeh of one of my favorite lenses, Minolta's MC Rokkor 50/1.4, from Phillip Reeve:
Attachment 241500
Probably not everyone's cup of tea, but I do like the look! Less the outlined look, mainly the almost halo-like effect of the warping bokeh.
Also, you might find it interesting that the effect is called optical vignetting, the bokeh is physically clipped (from photographylife.com):
Attachment 241501
If I'm being honest, I would very much like to find a catty 300mm or so, with enough coverage for some movement on 5x7, with a pronounced cat eye sorta look. I do know that 50mm translates to 250mm, not 300mm, on 5x7, but I would like a bit more reach. I recently found out about the Tele Dynar 32cm f/6.3, which apparently covers 8x10, seems nice. Also, I already have a nice Fujinar 25cm f/4.7 which I haven't really tested the bokeh of. I should do that. I would hope a singlecoated tessar might have nice bokeh. Hmm... Pardon my liberal use of the B word...
Re: LF lenses with cat's eye bokeh?
Re: LF lenses with cat's eye bokeh?
Cats-eye bokeh IS vignetting.
A big Tessar at full aperture or near full-aperture should work for you. How it's coated won't make any difference.
Re: LF lenses with cat's eye bokeh?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
StrangleMeRandy
If I'm being honest, I would very much like to find a catty 300mm or so, with enough coverage for some movement on 5x7, with a pronounced cat eye sorta look. I do know that 50mm translates to 250mm, not 300mm, on 5x7, but I would like a bit more reach. I recently found out about the Tele Dynar 32cm f/6.3, which apparently covers 8x10, seems nice. Also, I already have a nice Fujinar 25cm f/4.7 which I haven't really tested the bokeh of..
Going to longer focal lengths will not help you to get the cat-eye look ; because the vignetting is most noticeable as you get towards the lens's full coverage angle. The Fujinar however sounds like a good bet - see how that works out.
Re: LF lenses with cat's eye bokeh?
Maybe find a tele lens designed for 4x5 since they should have less coverage and vignette on 5x7.
Re: LF lenses with cat's eye bokeh?
1 Attachment(s)
Re: LF lenses with cat's eye bokeh?
Re: LF lenses with cat's eye bokeh?
What about the 1970s to 1980s look of mirror lenses in 35mm film format? All out of focus highlights make a little circle.
Has anyone ever mounted a 4x5 to a large-idsh folded optic telescope? A Celestron or other astro telescope with a
TravelWide or WillTravel on the back could do that. Have to use eyepiece projection techniques to get the coverage.
Re: LF lenses with cat's eye bokeh?
Maybe a barrel lens with a cats eye shaped Waterhouse stop would also give the look.
Re: LF lenses with cat's eye bokeh?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Larry Gebhardt
Maybe a barrel lens with a cats eye shaped Waterhouse stop would also give the look.
The Fujinar SC lenses -- like the one pictured above -- were also sold as barrel lenses, and simply labeled Fujinar, without the "SC", which is an abbreviation for "SHUTTER COPAL".
http://www.subclub.org/fujinon/byseries.htm
A "cat's eye" aperture could easily be made on any of the lenses -- even one that is variable. Just two concave, opaque sheets.