Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/08/27

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Subject: Re: [Leica] BOKEH of 35mm lenses (prev.Reply to visitors of my website / Leica M comments)
From: "Dan Post" <dwpost@email.msn.com>
Date: Fri, 27 Aug 1999 11:58:23 -0400

Other Dan-
Funny! You find the Summaron's bokeh better than the Summicron- not funny,
funny, but similar to my experience. I had commented to Marc Small, right
after I got a Summaron 35/3,5 LTM, that the bokeh looked unusual- I had
taken a shot of my father, who was recuperating at our house last year,
while he was sitting on the front porch. In the prints, I noticed that the
highlights coming from a holly shrub in the background, they were out of
focus, and were almost circular donut shapes, similar to the ones you get
from catadioptric lenses! They were not as pronounced, but unusual enough
that I noticed them. (There was considerable discussion on bokeh then, and I
was more prone to look at the out of focus portions of my photos than the in
focus parts!!)
I have since had the lens cleaned by Sherry, but I hope that the results
with the cleaned lens will still have that soft round bokeh, as it was
pleasing. The only thing is you have to shoot wide open, and get close
because of the inherent depth of field!
I also agree with you that the newer lenses are nothing short of amazing,
and they are wonderful- for some stuff! I, like you, also like the
'impressionistic' and painterly quality of some of the older lenses, and for
certain types of expression, they are absolutely necessary.
I guess Leica glass is like a fine wine! When new, there is a tantalizing
hint of future joy; they age well, and are well made. And, if you happen on
a certain vintage, the mellowness and character will make you close your
eyes and see visions dancing in your mind! Indeed Leica offers something for
so many- Probably why we can't really reach a consensus on anything, be it
Scots whisky, underwear or lenses!
Dan ( The Round one....)
- ----- Original Message -----
From: D Khong <dkhong@pacific.net.sg>
To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
Sent: Friday, August 27, 1999 1:58 PM
Subject: Re: [Leica] BOKEH of 35mm lenses (prev.Reply to visitors of my
website / Leica M comments)


> Milos Kocman wrote:
> >Anyone else been comparing bokeh of Leica 35mm lenses?
>
> I have only used 4.  Here are my views:
>
> Best Bokeh - 35 Summilux (non-ASPH)
> 2nd best - 35 Summaron f3.5 in screwmount
> 3rd best - 35 Summicron
> 4th best - 35 summicron asph
>
> I have never used the 35 summilux asph so no comments.  I am of the
> impression that the quality of bokeh is closely linked to the degree of
> spherical aberration, coma, etc.  The ASPH is the purists' dream but might
> well be an artist's heartache.
>
> I am basically an artist at heart.
>
> Dan K.
>
>
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
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>        Money is like fertilizer.  It is useless until it leaves your hand.
>
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