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Out of focus rendering question


Csacwp

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I used to only shoot Kodachrome and miss it dearly.  I'm trying to get by with digital and am currently shooting an SL with my M lenses.  I use RNI presets for Capture One... I find that the Kodachrome presets are useful for getting somewhat near to the colors of the film itself, although they are nowhere near perfect.  I've started to take more abstract photos, many of whichi feature out of focus or slightly out of focus subjects or elements.  Is there any reason why such images would render more pleasingly on film?  Technically speaking, an out of focus object is equally out of focus on film and digital, correct?  So if I add in some simulated film grain using RNI, the out of focus subject should look nearly identical to how it would on film?

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Well, of course, the film evangelists will respond that everything "renders more pleasingly on film." ;)

 

Others will say that simulated grain may or may not "look identical" to actual film grain - it just depends on how well the simulation algorithm is written. I've never been persuaded, myself. And simulating relatively grainless Kodachrome, it is more a question of contrast and tone curves and saturation levels and color biases than grain, anyway. The Kodachrome "looks" are easily recognizable long before grain is visible. These are different K200 simulations:

 

https://i2.wp.com/www.lifeafterphotoshop.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Kodachrome-200.jpg

 

And which Kodachrome? It was a schizophrenic emulsion - very saturated if underexposed a bit, and very pastel if exposed normally or a bit over. And K, KII, K25, K64 and K200 were all a bit (or a lot) different from each other.

 

One Kodachrome - and another Kodachrome - and yet another Kodachrome (K200):

 

http://www.codex99.com/photography/images/kodachrome/kodachrome_1964_lg.jpg

 

https://i1.wp.com/www.pavelkosenko.com/lj/048/37.jpg

 

http://www.barnum-review.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/aaaMACYS-PARADE-65th-1991-copia-2.jpg

 

But as to the question of OOF rendering, mostly you are correct. However, film (especially multi-layer color film) has a "thickness" into which the lens image falls and gets slightly diffused, whereas digital has an infinitely thin "surface".

 

What hits the film or sensor from the lens is identically OOF - but the final image recorded may be slightly softer or harder-edged. May or may not be enough to notice. You'll just have to experiment.

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  • 2 months later...

Well, of course, the film evangelists will respond that everything "renders more pleasingly on film." ;)

 

Others will say that simulated grain may or may not "look identical" to actual film grain - it just depends on how well the simulation algorithm is written. I've never been persuaded, myself. And simulating relatively grainless Kodachrome, it is more a question of contrast and tone curves and saturation levels and color biases than grain, anyway. The Kodachrome "looks" are easily recognizable long before grain is visible. These are different K200 simulations:

 

https://i2.wp.com/www.lifeafterphotoshop.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Kodachrome-200.jpg

 

And which Kodachrome? It was a schizophrenic emulsion - very saturated if underexposed a bit, and very pastel if exposed normally or a bit over. And K, KII, K25, K64 and K200 were all a bit (or a lot) different from each other.

 

One Kodachrome - and another Kodachrome - and yet another Kodachrome (K200):

 

http://www.codex99.com/photography/images/kodachrome/kodachrome_1964_lg.jpg

 

https://i1.wp.com/www.pavelkosenko.com/lj/048/37.jpg

 

http://www.barnum-review.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/aaaMACYS-PARADE-65th-1991-copia-2.jpg

 

But as to the question of OOF rendering, mostly you are correct. However, film (especially multi-layer color film) has a "thickness" into which the lens image falls and gets slightly diffused, whereas digital has an infinitely thin "surface".

 

What hits the film or sensor from the lens is identically OOF - but the final image recorded may be slightly softer or harder-edged. May or may not be enough to notice. You'll just have to experiment.

 

Hello Andy,

 

And don't forget Kodachrome 40.

 

A type "A" film that some people said was the same film as Kodachrome 25. But without its type "A" to Daylight mask.

 

Best Regards,

 

Michael

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