IkarusJohn Posted February 23, 2011 Share #41 Posted February 23, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) The bokeh of these ASPH lenses hurt my eyes. IMHO they are intended for photographing brick walls. I guess it depends on what you're looking for. I'm not so much a fan of some older lenses with what I can only describe as vague focussing. The modern lenses tend to show sharp focus, which helps with isolating the subject (with composition). For some this crispness is unattractive. I disagree with this view, primarily because sharp focus can add drama to a well composed shot with a nicely isolated subject. The out of focus areas then become important. All this discussion about the quality of bokeh is somewhat bemusing. I don't look at the out of focus areas, and provided they give a pleasing background, I'm happy. If they're distracting, then I do notice them; and not in a nice way. If I spend my time looking at out of focus areas, I start to get a headache as well - it's simply not pleasant, no matter how well the lens deals with them. I'm sorry to utter the heretical statement here, but if I look at some of the offerings on this forum of examples of older lenses, often I find my eyes watering as the subject is not in focus - they are well composed, well timed and nicely exposed, but disappointing. It's the disappointment of seeing a nice picture, about the size of a postage stamp - you click on it, and it lacks sharpness. The subsequent artistic discussion about the drawing or rendering qualities of some discontinued lens leaves me somewhat unconvinced. I'm very happy with my Asph lenses, I'd have to say. Call me old fashioned. I was taught (1) compose, (2) set exposure, and (3) focus. If a picture wasn't sharp, it got binned. Poor composition, also binned. In this digital age, you can do something about exposure, but that's another story. I won't begin to defend the composition of the two pictures posted, but I don't see a problem with the focus, or the quality of the out of focus areas as they do not, of themselves distract from the subjects, or become a subject of attention of themselves. They are simply a backdrop. Sorry, rambled a bit there, and I may have missed your point completely. I see no reason for Leica to suffer for my modest skills. Cheers John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted February 23, 2011 Posted February 23, 2011 Hi IkarusJohn, Take a look here APO Summicron 75 boke and (no) focus shift examples. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
pico Posted February 23, 2011 Share #42 Posted February 23, 2011 [...]However even better is to maybe link to some comparable stuff (portraits, nature, whatever?) that you have shot to show what you think that the older lenses (Summilux 75?) do better for you? Summilux 75mm is older? Thanks for depicting me as an antique. Wait. I am an antique. So be it. I do plan to shoot some side-by-sides with the 75mm Lux on an M7 and M9. Somewhere in there we should find evidence of my preference. Right now I am surrounded by deep snow, so don't hold your breath. I wish I could compare my very favorite 50mm lens, the post-war Summitar with the round aperture, but I have no other 50mm. Each to his own, and you are right that being brought up with old lenses has shaped my preferences. It is not that I do not like modern - SOTA technology is my career - I just don't like painful and abrupt transitions in OOF. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoppyman Posted February 23, 2011 Author Share #43 Posted February 23, 2011 The Summilux 75 introduced in 1980 is an older design than the APO Summicron 75 ASPH of course. But I also meant in general the more traditional spherical designs in comparison to the newer ASPH. designs. I look forward to seeing your examples, thanks. Much more useful than words alone in these discussions. 'painful and abrupt' OoF transitions vs. focus shift/softness, lower contrast from excessive residual aberrations (under-correction) masking definition of objects away from the plane of sharpest focus I posted some 'painful and abrupt transitions in the OoF areas earlier:) Rebe gets the BW treatment photo - Geoff Hopkinson photos at pbase.com Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
01af Posted February 23, 2011 Share #44 Posted February 23, 2011 ... I just don't like painful and abrupt transitions in OOF. Then you will love the Summarit-M 50 mm 1:2.5. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted February 23, 2011 Share #45 Posted February 23, 2011 A sensor in general will show more pronounced transitions than film. You should take that out of the equation when comparing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoppyman Posted February 24, 2011 Author Share #46 Posted February 24, 2011 May we see some examples please? Then you will love the Summarit-M 50 mm 1:2.5. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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