Hi, Wayne,
Bokeh, various spelled boke, is rooted in a Japanese term used to describe
the qualities of how a lens renders out of focus objects. It can range from
'painterly' (or soft and indistinct, depending on the viewer) to harsh.
I like the bokeh of Canon FD lenses for soft yet still recognizable OOF
areas. Other lenses, including some Nikkors and the fixed lens on my
Canonet G-III QL17, have a rather harsh bokeh that looks rather crosseyed to
me. Rather than merging softly and indistinctly, objects like tree limbs,
etc., are doubled or tripled and overlayed. I also have a generic CPC
28/2.8 lens with that characteristic. This may be one reason why Nikkors
have long been popular with photojournalists - subjects outside the prime
focus area are still more distinct and recognizable than with other lenses.
From what I've seen so far (I don't own a Zuiko lens yet but have viewed
hundreds of images online and in magazines) Zuikos appear to have what I'd
call a painterly bokeh - gradually merging softly and indistinctly - while
retaining sharpness and contrast within the focused subject area. Very
attractive to my tastes.
According to what I've read this is by design, not accident. Lenses are
designed to achieve certain characteristics deemed desirable by the
manufacturer. So it appears to be fair and accurate to make generalizations
regarding how lenses render images.
Interestingly, in Japan the word carries more than one meaning, a common use
being to describe an absent-minded or foolish person. (That, courtesy of
some Japanese correspondents.) So I wonder if in flaunting the term so
casually we come across as 'wanna-be's' to the Japanese. ;-) I can only
hope so, considering how often we Americans poke fun at other cultures. It
gives me a perverse pleasure that I might be considered 'bokeh' myself for
using the term so ostentatiously. Hee-hee!
Regarding Spiratone, they're still hanging on in Pennsylvania, tho' I don't
know how. Instead of selling their own peculiarities - rather like Porter's
- they sell items like lighting equipment that's commonly available
elsewhere, but at among the highest prices found anywhere.
The one item they carry that interests me is a single element moderate
telephoto with a fixed f/4 aperture, a very primitive optical design which
is uniquely capable of capturing portraits that cannot be duplicated any
other way. I'm planning to build my own, using a 48mm threaded 10x Vivitar
close up diopter (intended for a video camera, I think), probably in
conjunction with a bellows for focusing. I've experimented with it using
cardboard tubes and the tests were promising. Sharp centers with lovely,
soft edges.
Lex
----Original Message Follows----
Am relatively new to the list, and recently back to my OMs (3 plus 10
lenses) after leaving them on the shelf for about fifteen years. They
still work great - its me who is a little rusty.
Saw "Spiratone" listed in a post. What ever happened to them? Did they
become another company or just fade away. Aside from a lot of low cost
"juncque" they had a few nifty tools and accessories for close up work.
And, please, what he heck is the specific definition and origin of
"bokeh" I have surmised the general meaning, but am still curious.
Thanks,
Wayne
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