Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/02/24
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I have the Nikkor f/1.4 fifty From the Fifties. It may very well have Nissan bokeh (a.k.a. Dead Drunk Bokeh). I bought it years ago to replace a Leitz Summitar f/2, which had very smooth, pleasant BMW bokeh at f/2 even in the *in*-focus areas. Since I buy fast lenses in order to actually *use* them wide open, and since the Nikkor gave me a usable f/1.4, I was pretty happy with it. Now that I have been Initiated and have Obtained Enlightenment at the feet of the Zen Bokeh-San master, I realize that I should be ashamed of this lens. But shelling out over a grand USD for a 50 Summilux is not one with my Current Socio-Economic Millieu. I'm lucky I've got Leica stuff at all. So I guess I will have to forgo the MercedesBenzBokeh and settle for a Lesser State. Forgive me if I continue taking pictures anyway. Having seen examples, I do believe that bokeh is real. After seeing some shots with the Voiglander Nokton 1.5, there was no way I was going to toss my even my humble Nikkor in favor of itl However, I'm not sure anyone but view camera types can really control it. And I've got to agree with B.D. and Ted, that what counts is the in-focus part of the picture, and if you don't have that, all the bokeh in the world won't help you. Those who have the luxury of buying Summiluxes and Noctiluxes with abandon, more power to you. But it sure is interesting that Leica is now designing lenses that many agree have harsh bokeh, but are the sharpest things known to humankind in-focus. Uh-oh. Hey, B.D., what do you have to eat up there in your room...? - --Peter Klein Seattle, WA At 03:09 PM 02/24/2001 -0800, B.D., breaking his solemn vows, wrote: > > NO RIDICULE > >NO RIDICULE?!??!?!!! NO RIDICULE??!?!?!?! Don't give me no steeeeenkin' >NO RIDICULE!?!?@!?!... > >As BOW KA is simply the Japanese term for the appearance of the >out-of-focus portion of an image, there is no lens without BOW KA! Some >lenses have what, to some observers, is more pleasing BOW KA than other >lenses. Some for instance, and I believe the NYE KON 50 1.4 is a prime >example of this, have what might be termed DDB - Dead Drunk BOW KAH - in >which one sees double images in the out of focus areas. Some lenses, on >the other hand, produce delightful smears in the out of focus areas. >While others still produce - ohmigod! - out of focus images in the out >of focus area. > >However, when all is said and done, what counts is what is in the IN >FOCUS area...;-) > >B. D. >(heading back to his room)