Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/03/14

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Subject: Re: [Leica] What is bad bokeh?
From: Jim Brick <jim@brick.org>
Date: Sat, 14 Mar 1998 23:05:16 -0800

At 10:36 PM 3/15/98 +0000, you wrote:
>
>LUGgers -
>
>I have a passing familiarity with what "bokeh" is, but am curious if there
>is a consensus on what good bokeh is (compared with, say, "bad" bokeh :)  ? 
>I just took some Kodachrome 64 slides with a Nikon 50/1.4 lens (I generally
>use Leicas).  The slides were very sharp, saturation was good, but the out
>of focus areas had a choppy look.  By "choppy" I mean that the out of focus
>images were not smooth.  It was like looking at 2 or 3 outlines of an image,
>rather than the 1 that was in front of the lens -- distracting.  Am I seeing
>bad bokeh here or do I just need glasses (help Dr. Clompus -- just kidding)?
>
>John McLeod
> 

After reading the Photo Techniques articles "A Primer on Bokeh", I've come
to the conclusion that it's a term that describes what we all knew existed,
but didn't know how to describe. Like art, it's a very personal thing. Some
people like French Country decor. Others like Danish Modern. Think of
"Leica Glow" when you think of Bokeh. A third version of the 35/2 M lens
has good Bokeh. A 100/2.8 APO R lens has bad Bokeh. From my point of view.
I have both lenses. The 35 at f/2 produces a glow. The 100 APO at any
aperture will jar your teeth loose!

Jim