Specular Highlight Blooming?

[dwbell]

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Hi all,

 

New to Leica about three or so more years ago. Started with the M9, also have an M9P and waiting for the M. 35 cron ASPH, 50 Lux and 75 cron. All wonderful lenses, especially the lux, but....,

 

I want a lens that demonstrates a soft specular blooming. It doesn't have to be modern sharp in the range, nor clinical contrasty. Can be any of my three lengths.

 

You can get Tiffen filters that kinda get there, just thought I'd ask the experts if it already exists?

 

Help a guy out?

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[jaapv]

Thambar 90 2.2 Not a cheap lens, though.

[dwbell]

Thanks Jaap.

 

It's certainly a unique looking drawing of the image. I bit too much for my goals. Anything that's one or two notches down.

[jaapv]

We used to smear some Vaseline on an old clear filter. Or put a bit of pantyhose on front of the lens.

[dwbell]

Thanks. Yes, I've done that too. But that tends to affect the mid range too. Also, Vaseline I find unrepeatable between shoots.

 

I really want to restrict the bloom to specular level highlights if possible. I've seen it in cinematography. I can get close in post, but that looks .... post processed!

[Aviator]

You mean something like this?

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/2387545-post1267.html

 

This is typical for old uncoated lenses like the Summar 2,0 50mm,

which was used here.

[farnz]

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Is this the sort of thing you're looking for in 'soft specular blooming'?

 

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I took this with a coated 1947 Carl Zeiss Jena 85 f/2 Sonnar on my M9-P. In my experience the 35 f/1.4 Summilux v2 (pre-asph) offers a similar rendering with specular highlights.

 

Pete.

[dwbell]

Guys thanks. The images aren't showing up for some reason (travelling) but will get back to you tonight. Thanks for chiming in, appreciate it.

[lct]

Summilux 35/1.4 pre-asph at full aperture.

http://tinyurl.com/bqxoyzf

[jaapv]

Is this the sort of thing you're looking for in 'soft specular blooming'?

 

[ATTACH]374987[/ATTACH]

 

I took this with a coated 1947 Carl Zeiss Jena 85 f/2 Sonnar on my M9-P. In my experience the 35 f/1.4 Summilux v2 (pre-asph) offers a similar rendering with specular highlights.

 

Pete.

As does the Summarit 1.5 5 cm wide open. I think many vintage lenses can be teased into this kind of flare.

[dwbell]

Aviator - Thanks and yes, very close indeed. A little too much into the mid high perhaps but getting very close.

 

Peter, that's a very compelling image! Yes, contrast in the high mid downwards seems 'intact' if I'm reading it correctly?

 

lct - yes too. Good example where the bottom highest specular displays what I'm after and it trails off even to the top of the lamp.

 

To all, how does aperture affect this function? Is it a wide open only type deal? What would you do to 'tease' a non coated lens Jaap?

[lct]

Yes f/1.4 essentially (35/1.4 pre-asph).

[01af]

Is this the sort of thing you're looking for in 'soft specular blooming'?

That's spherical aberration. It's typical for older fast lenses at or near full aperture.

[Guest Duane Pandorf]

Looks like I'm on the right track with my decision to purchase the 35mm Lux v2.

[farnz]

That's spherical aberration. It's typical for older fast lenses at or near full aperture.

Would I be right in thinking that spherical aberration is the cause and specular blooming is the effect so they're two sides of the same coin?

 

Pete.

[250swb]

The Canadian made 35mm Summilux pre-asph has the 'glow' as does the CV 40mm f1.4 Using film instead of digital can also get you closer in the way the film responds to over exposure.

 

If you are on a budget the complete Nik Suite provides Color Efex Pro with a user adjustable filter called 'Glamour Glow' (not as bad as it sounds, but it shifts the tones in the same way, in fact a by product being that it can make digital look more like film when used subtlely).

 

Steve

[lct]

The Canadian made 35mm Summilux pre-asph has the 'glow'...

Same for the German made one.

[dwbell]

The Canadian made 35mm Summilux pre-asph has the 'glow' as does the CV 40mm f1.4 Using film instead of digital can also get you closer in the way the film responds to over exposure.

 

If you are on a budget the complete Nik Suite provides Color Efex Pro with a user adjustable filter called 'Glamour Glow' (not as bad as it sounds, but it shifts the tones in the same way, in fact a by product being that it can make digital look more like film when used subtlely).

 

Steve

 

Thanks Steve.

 

Yes, I have a process in PS and NCEP which can reproduce it somewhat. The problem comes when the glow is on a background object(s) which is partially obscured by foreground objects of interest. The glow when done in post bleeds forward in a flattening kind of way - joining fore and rear elements. When seen in cinematography the behaviour of the glow that is 'clipped' or 'masked' by these foreground elements actually adds depth, rather than removing it.

 

Of course I can mask and overlay etc. But without really understanding WHAT it does or looks like when done in camera I'm just fudging something. Fudging in post I'm fine with so long as it realises my vision, but in this case it doesn't.

 

As an example of the kind of thing I'm wanting;

http://chrisarchitect.tumblr.com/image/36136652382

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[01af]

Would I be right in thinking that spherical aberration is the cause and specular blooming is the effect ...?

Yes, sure ... one of the effects.

[250swb]

Just is case you haven't discovered it in Color Efex the control points marked '- ' or '+' act as masks over single or multiple areas. The adjustable 'circle of influence' makes a big difference if done carefully between the glow bleeding into surrounding areas. It is possible to position a control point in many areas of the picture to moderate the overall effect.

 

Steve