Bokeh Machines
I have to admit, I'm an addict for lenses that produce quality bokeh. Those who are not familiar with the term bokeh, check out this Wiki article. Typically the lenses that produce very nice bokeh have large apertures - f/2 or lower in aperture number. When shot wide open (although not required) the circles of confusion these lenses produce in out of focus areas are a joy to look at. It creates that "dreamy" look at least that's how people with non photographic backgrounds have described it to me. There are some favorite lenses that I have in each format that I shoot with and I call them Bokeh Machines.
Small Format - Typically 135mm film size or smaller. It's also known as "full frame" or "cropped frame" in digital world depending on the size of the sensor.
Hexanon 57mm f/1.2 - This lens is amazing and truly affordable compared to some of the other lenses that I own. It can be adopted to 4/3rds or micro 4/3rds format but it's true home is in Konica SLRs. I have shot this with Konica T3 and Olympus cameras. Konica T3 is built like a tank and has an amazing shutter sound (I know that's very geeky!). Here is one of my favorite pictures I shot using this combo.
Here is a shot with the lens adopted to 4/3rds digital camera Olympus E-510.
Medium Format - Typically 120 or 220 films fall under this section.
Carl Zeiss Planar 80 f/2.8 - I shoot both 6x6 and 6x7 formats when it comes to medium format cameras. Hasselblad 500C in 6x6 is my favorite. The lens of choice for Bokeh is Carl Zeiss Planar 80 f/2.8. Unlike 35mm format, it's very difficult to focus at f/2.8 especially if handheld. So one has to work with patient subjects to get the nice bokeh, shooting wide open.
Small Format - Typically 135mm film size or smaller. It's also known as "full frame" or "cropped frame" in digital world depending on the size of the sensor.
Hexanon 57mm f/1.2 - This lens is amazing and truly affordable compared to some of the other lenses that I own. It can be adopted to 4/3rds or micro 4/3rds format but it's true home is in Konica SLRs. I have shot this with Konica T3 and Olympus cameras. Konica T3 is built like a tank and has an amazing shutter sound (I know that's very geeky!). Here is one of my favorite pictures I shot using this combo.
Here is a shot with the lens adopted to 4/3rds digital camera Olympus E-510.
Medium Format - Typically 120 or 220 films fall under this section.
Carl Zeiss Planar 80 f/2.8 - I shoot both 6x6 and 6x7 formats when it comes to medium format cameras. Hasselblad 500C in 6x6 is my favorite. The lens of choice for Bokeh is Carl Zeiss Planar 80 f/2.8. Unlike 35mm format, it's very difficult to focus at f/2.8 especially if handheld. So one has to work with patient subjects to get the nice bokeh, shooting wide open.
Large Format - Typically 4x5 or larger size films fall under this section.
Kodak Aero Ektar - It's not a secret that this is my current favorite lens. I even posted a blog entry about its mystical powers! I shoot it with Speed Graphic 4x5 camera. It's very difficult focus and extreme patience is required on subjects' part while working with this lens. But when you get it right, the results speak for themselves. There is just one small area in focus and the rest is thrown out of focus.
Comments