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Zeiss 50mm f 1.5 bokeh shots


Torgian

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A few days ago I was photographing my friend. While editing the photos, I noticed these two pictures and the difference in the bokeh.

 

The first is shot at F 1.5, and the second at F 4. This is the first time I noticed this, but at F4 the lights have the star pattern. Personally I dislike this, but I found the comparison interesting enough to post about it.

 

I don't know if other lenses produce similar results at F4. I'm looking through photos that I have taken int he past with my 35mm zeiss, but haven't found anything similar yet.

 

Anyone else with this lens have a similar experience? What about with other lenses?

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I wrote an article for Theme on the C-Sonnar, put forward my explanation for the star-shaped aperture,

 

The aperture of the C-Sonnar is shaped to offset focus shift produced by spherical aberration. The aperture mechanism of the original Sonnars stops down in a traditional circular pattern. The 1950s Carl Zeiss Sonnar stops down using a star-like pattern.

This “counter-intuitive” shape lessens the effects of stopping down on focus shift: light from the inner and outer portion of the star-like shape contribute to the image, extending the depth of field and reducing focus shift.

The modern C-Sonnar uses the star-like pattern of the 1950s Sonnar. In actual practice, the circular aperture produces smoother bokeh but does produce a more dramatic shift in focus and contrast when stopping down from F1.5 to F4.

 

I believe the Original 5cm F1.5 Xenon, the Summar, and some Summitars used a hexagonal shaped aperture for the same reason. A circular aperture is the worst possible shape for focus-shift, and the best possible shape for pleasing Bokeh. Conservation of Inconvenience, one of the basic laws of life.

 

I end up using the classic 1930s Sonnars, with the circular aperture blades. The later "T" lenses come very close to the performance of the C-Sonnar, even wide-open.

 

http://www.the.me/unique-blend-of-compactness-super-speed-and-perfect-imperfections-1930s-sonnar-lenses-on-the-leica-m9-and-m-monochrom/

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Once you back off a bit, F4 calms down quickly.

 

14426089511_65032ac0bf_o.jpgPilot's Day 2014, Udvar Hazy

 

C-Sonnar ar F4, Orange filter.

 

This is with a Sonnar/J-3 Hybrid, made from 6 parts lenses- picked through a lot of front elements for this look. It has round aperture, fixture from a 1937 Sonnar.

 

 

F1.5,

14018969376_fd1860f289_o.jpgHybrid J-3/Sonnar

 

F4:

 

14018969326_277a23802e_o.jpgHybrid J-3/Sonnar

 

Big change in focus, contrast, and even color rendition. But smooth Bokeh at F4.

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