RE: [Leica] Bokeh controversy

[Simon Stevens <simon@camera-craftsman.com>]

This is a little OT, but there was some discussion of the bokeh 150mm f4
Sonnar for the Hasselblad. I've always been a little puzzled by the
critisism of this lens, and although I'm not a bokeh expert, the shots I
have taken with this wide open look fine to me. Then it occurs to me
that in fact all of the shots I'm thinking of also had a Zeiss Softar 1
on it (they were portraits after all). I haven't tested the effect but
it stands to reason that a softar-type filter has to have a pretty
pronounced effect on out of focus highlights. Maybe this goes part of
the way to explaining why so many portrait photographers are happy with
such a "bad" lens. I know I am.

Simon Stevens