Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2002/01/02
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Hello, Sal and LUG.... "Sal DiMarco,Jr." wrote: > Luggers, > Ted is correct.... > Bokeh is utter nonsense. It is the photographic equivalent of "art > speak." In other words the babbling of uninformed people trying to sound > knowledgeable. Thank you, Sal. I've studied/worked at photography since I was 11....I'd like to add my .02: When "leicaphiles" talk about "bokeh", I think they're talking about OOF areas rendered by a many-bladed diaphragm (quality lens), perhaps with some additional flare/coma at the wider stops (where, by definition, "bokeh" occurs?)...The wide open Summarit, with scratchs, I used to use--comes to mind... While on the subject, it's like when they talk about "M-advantages"....these are ACTUALLY the advantages of a high-quality RF, interchangeable lens camera with an effective multi-focal finder...which until recently, only Leica made (since 1968 or so)....the recent, well thought out post by Jim about "mirror" bounce was significant--my experience with Nikon SLRS and LEica Ms has proven his points to me... ANY of the pro RFs (SP, Canon VIt/7etc, Prominent, Contax--even a working Retina) would have the same advantages as an M in low light (1/8-1/30 sec, focusing normal and shorter focal length fast lenses)--Unfortuntately, only the Bessa and its lenses (I'm waiting for the "M" version--???)... is a viable alternative to Leica today...I'm wondering/worried about it's longevity...anybody got any "hard use" experience yet? > This group includes the such people at Carl Mydans, Alfred Eisenstaedt, > Ralph Morse, Bill Eppridge, David Burnett, Chris Morris, Jim Nachwey, Neil > Leifer, Dave Duncan, a large number of the Magnumites, Oh, and since he is on the LUG, Bill Pierce. I enjoyed this list. My photo-heroes (when I was a teen) included Eisenstadt, Duncan, and Bill Pierce--I never missed his columns!!...One of my instructors, the late Peter Anderson, was one of their contemporaries...They all probably made good use of Leica Ms, or SOME equivalent camera!!!--- > Never, absolutely never, has anyone of these people ever mentioned > bokeh! Never! I seriously doubt some of them as ever hear the word. I never heard of it until the LUG, and I've worked with many (probably lesser) photographers for 25 years...no one EVER commented on the OOF areas, AT ALL!!! I don't know how many of them are on the LUG, I doubt if most sane folks would wade through 100 posts a day about UV filters and pictures of the kids, but I'd sure like to read more posts from non-"leicaphile" working photographers--whether they use Leica or not...I appreciate those of you (Sal, Ted, Tina, many others) who DO post, even though you may be busy...I enjoy living through your eyes/work while I'm cooped up here at the University (gosh, maybe I'm a photo-voyeur?-- maybe a new category for the APA?) Walt in Denton - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html