Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/07/15
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Ethel Red wrote: > > >From: Mark Rabiner > > > > > I'm not so sure that the following image: > > > > > > http://members.aol.com/zeissleica/private/Bluebells.jpg > > > > >I believe we are looking at Bokeh in motion... > >undulating highlights... > >This adds another parameter to the mix... > > I don't think so. The highlights are all of similar shape. But they are all > oriented to the center of the image. It's quite interesting. > > Compare the highlights in the upper left corner to the highlights in the > upper right corner. They are exactly the same shape, but rotated 90 degrees > to each other. > > What you're seeing is a sort of oval shape with a bright line around the > outer edge. That line is always furthest from the center of the image. The > pattern is consistent all throughout the image. The short dimension of the > oval is always radial to the center of the image. > The oval (or comet) shaped highlights effect is called 'coma'. It's a familial trait with Leica 50s - the Summarit (of course, it's the same lens), Summilux and Noctilux all have it (to lesser degrees in the latter lenses). I don't know about the Summicron but I would guess so. It gives a charming, wrap-around look to the bokeh. The asph lenses don't do it. The Xenon picture looks very similar to a Summarit, but the highlights are maybe a bit more hard-edged giving a fine textured appearance (I love the look). - -- Stephen Holloway http://www.deepturtle.com/steve/photos