Best And Worst Nikkor Bokeh

As a follow-up to my 'overrated nikkors' post, I was also considering

the bokeh factor within Nikkor optics. As criteria, I would like for

each member to give a top three best, and top three worst bokeh

producing Nikkor lenses. You have to have had personal experience

and use with the lenses that you list, not using any sort of

information based on other's experiences.

Ok; I'll start with a 1/2 century old screwmount Nikkor; the 10.5cm F2.5.<BR><BR> Wide open shot at F2.5 and 1/250 has an "out of focus area" that is still "identifyable"; as they say in movie camera work.<BR><BR> All this "B" word stuff is what movie camera users who do focus pulls have known since day one. Some lenses have nice out of focus areas; that dont distract from the movie; some are crap. The "out of focus" character in a movie may want to still be "bonded" to the viewing audience instead of a worm like mess of optical artifacts; ....<BR><BR>. Rejean Stinger; Of the Inferno; shot with an M3. <BR><BR><A HREF=http://www.ezshots.com/members/tripods/images/tripods-406.jpg target = "_blank">

<IMG SRC=http://www.ezshots.com/members/tripods/thumbs/tripods-406-thumb.jpg BORDER=0></A>

<P>Well, I don't own six nikkors nor have I used so many so I cannot really give you three of each. But I have the 105mm DC-Nikkor and depending upon how you set the DC ring you can get awful or nice bokeh. Most of the time you set it to produce good bokeh for the moment of course. So that would be number one on the top of both lists.</P>

<P>To illustrate the effect of the DC-feature to some of my friends at the photography club I took some test shots and put them on <A HREF="http://www.stacken.kth.se/~maxz/defocuscontrol/">a page</A> just yesterday. The effect is subtle but it can be observed. Note the red ribbon on the pink squids head when DC is set to REAR.</P>

The best Nikon bokeh is....

 

The 85mm f1.4 AF

 

Numbers 2 and 3 are probably the 105mm f2.5 starting in 1977 (the Xenotar based design) and the 105mm or 135mm f2.0 DC Nikkors.

 

Honorable mentions include the 70-200mm f2.8 AF-S VR, which is unique in being the only telephoto zoom in the entire world with really nice "portrait" bokeh, the 45mm f2.8 "pancake" AI-P, and the 300mm f2.8 AF-I telephoto, with nicer bokeh than any of the 300mm Nikors before (ED-IF, AF) or after (AF-S, AF-S II).

 

The worst Nikon bokeh you're likely to encounter is the 60mm f2.8 Micro-Nikkor, 105mm f2.8 Micro-Nikkor, 28-70mm f2.8 AF-S.

 

The worst, plain and simple, belong to the mirror Nikkor telephotos, but you're not likely to encounter one in the wild, so don't worry.

 

And yes, I've shot every lens I've mentioned.

Max,

 

Tried to view your samples. Got a "

" message.

I second the 85 AF-D f1.4 for the best. And of all the ones I own or have owned, the 50 AF f1.4 is probably the worst. The 28-105 does a lot of things well and is a bargain for the image quality - bokeh is pretty good too. The 80-200 f2.8 two-touch isn't really impressive, yet another reason for me to look at the 70-200VR!

Joseph,

 

That webserver was a bit flaky this weekend and I have gotten quite a few hits on the page. Although the images aren't too big (in file size) this might have something to do with it. It worked for me at the moment of writing.

Here would be my selection for best:

 

1. 85/1.4 AF-D

 

2. 45/2.8 P

 

3. 105/2 AF-D/DC

 

Honorable mention to the AIS 105/2.5, which is my overall favorite Nikkor, but honestly its bokeh is not as pleasing as those I've listed.

 

For worst, in no particular order, I'd name the 24-85 AF G, the 50/1.4 AF-D, and maybe the 18-35 AF-D.

 

Best wishes,

 

David

I was taking macro shots of flowers in the park one afternoon

when I noticed a male mallard duck playing around one of the flower

bushes. The colors of the duck, flowers, and water really complimented

each other and at certain angles, the duck had a very funny

seductive expression. I turned my camera on the duck to compose

and waited for the right angle for the light to reflect the green

off his head and the funny expression.

When he made eye contact, I knew I had a great shot

and was extremely pleased with the enlargement which now hangs on

my wall (only my best make it there).

 

The only thing I wasn't pleased with was the out of focus areas

which are sharp and jarring. Whenever I see that picture on the

wall, I have a chuckle at the duck's expression, but I also think,

"if only I had my 85 f/1.4 AF-D on instead of the 105 macro...".

Steve,

 

Sounds cool, and I'd live to see the picture.

 

But I've just got to say, this is the first time I've seen the wprds or phrases "duck", "seductive expression", and "made eye contact" all in the same paragraph. For a minute there, I was wondering if you were shooting wildlife or fashion. Especially with your description of the colors.

 

Thanks greatly, you brought a bit of cheer to what has been a very bad day for me.

Sorry you had such a rotten day.

 

Hope things pick up for you.

 

Best wishes,

 

David

David, thank you.

 

Unfortunatly, Tuesday was rotten from start to finish. Wednsday was pretty good. Finished an important acoustical analysis and got the report out. Taught a class that went surprisingly well, considering that I had to substitute on less than 24 hours notice, with virtually zero lesson plan time.

 

Today, I was at a friend's sentencing for moral support and as a character witness. We all thought he'd get parole, but he ended up with 90 days.

 

I'm hoping for a better weekend.