Can You Show Me Samples of Leica's Bokeh?

[albertdarmali]

Alright, first of all, I am not trolling.

 

Yes, I am a Nikon user, but I keep hearing that Leica is the lens to go if you

love bokeh. Many also mentioned that Leica can render background blur very well

(smooth?) especially sharp objects like twigs, where many lenses seem to fail in

this category.

 

I personally think that my good old Nikon 85mm 1.4 AIS can make smooth

twigs-in-the-background pictures and I am perfectly happy with it, but is it

true that Leica lenses can do even better? Again, I am not baiting, I am just

talking as one enthusiast to another.

 

If someone could post some nice pictures taken with Leica (especially with nice

background blur), that'll be great. I tried to find the images but couldn't find

many. Thanks in advance!

[Craig_Cooper11664875449]

<img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1359/538346635_278d347d9e.jpg">

<br>SAA 90mm f/2 at a little distance

<p><p>

<img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1279/538227468_1e62a149cf.jpg">

<br>SAA 90mm f/2 at close up

<p><p>

<img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/120/294379389_8f06530929.jpg">

<br>Summilux 35mm f/2

<p><p>

<img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/120/296843851_5370207bdd.jpg">

<br>another Summilux 35mm f/2 where the bokeh is not attractive and quite common with this lens

<p><p>

<img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/118/300148569_cabc79264e.jpg">

<br>...and this is a Nikon 70-200mm @ f/2.8 which also does a nice Bokeh

[jose_angel]

In my experience, older lenses are better in terms of focus-to-unfocus transition, -and- specially for that highlight point rendering. About highlight points, almost all modern lenses render bright points as rings, more or less pronounced, Leica lenses included on the "soft" side. Some Nikkors are really harsh. Perhaps older Leicas don`t. My very old large format lenses render light points beautifully blurred, no rings, or polygons. I don`t know if it is caused by coatings, too many elements, or whatever. I`m sorry I haven`t an example here.

[Uhooru]

The 70-200 is not shamed by any Leica lens for smoothness of the backgrounds.

[wai_leong_lee]

Google can find you a lot of Leica bokeh pixs.

[paul_neuthaler]

My pal Ken and his family<div></div>

[peteradownunder]

<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/33093861@N00/936340378/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1341/936340378_6d3bc31959_o.jpg" width="500" height="750" alt="" /></a> <p><i> shot from minimum shooting distance via M8 with non apo 50 'lux </i><p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/33093861@N00/1007284382/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1059/1007284382_fa30df5389.jpg" width="500" height="346" alt="" /></a><p><i>same lens shot from 4 foot away - again wide open - person behind foreground is 6 foot past - background is a 30 story drop to street level from my office </i><p> btw the 'pop' factor is why you really want a fast leica lens - the edge contrast is cool - even on an 'old' lens ...</center>

[doug herr]

Generalizations such as this typically have exceptions; I prefer to make comparisons on a

case-by-case basis. If I were to make a generalization it would be that taken as a whole

I've found more examples of harsh bokeh among Nikkors than among Leica lenses.

<P>

300mm f/4.5 Nikkor-P (weak sharpness, good bokeh):<BR>

<IMG SRC="http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/trochilidae/hbird00.jpg">

<P>

300mm f/4.5 Nikkor-H (adequate sharpness, good bokeh):<BR>

<IMG SRC="http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/charadriidae/kill00.jpg">

<P>

300mm f/4.5 Nikkor-ED (exceptional sharpness, bokeh can be harsh):<BR>

<IMG SRC="http://www.wildlightphoto.com/mammals/carnivores/refo00.jpg">

<P>

60mm f/2.8 Macro-Elmarit-R (excellent sharpness and bokeh):<BR>

<IMG SRC="http://www.wildlightphoto.com/land/barley.jpg">

<P>

90mm Summicron-R (good sharpness, great bokeh):<BR>

<IMG SRC="http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/strigidae/nhow00.jpg">

<P>

280mm f/4 APO-Telyt-R (mind-boggling sharpness, acceptable bokeh):<BR>

<IMG SRC="http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/phasianidae/rnph01.jpg">

[tony31664880056]

M8; Noctilux wide-open

[richam]

Sorry I don't have any Nokon/Leica comparisons of similar subjects, but I've observed that

the Leica seems smoother to me. Here are two of very different subjects and backgrounds:<div></div>

[richam]

And the Leica image:<div></div>

[derek_stanton2]

Try Flickr:

 

[Robin Smith]

80mm Summilux-R<div></div>

[albertdarmali]

If you have lots of points of lights in the background of the pictures, how do Leica lenses (in general) usually "stack" them?

 

I found this is one of the weak point of lenses such as Nikon 50mm, but Nikon 85mm 1.4 performs much better in this regards.

 

But then again, the best point of lights I've ever seen is from movies. I don't know what lenses/video camera do those cameramen use, but in some movies, the point of lights are so perfectly rendered.

[albertdarmali]

I checked the link that Derek posted, and wow, so many great pictures!

One thing I notice is how good the colour and contrast are, but I'm not sure if it's due to post processing or basically higher end Leica lenses are more contrasty with warmer colours?

[vivek iyer]

<i>But then again, the best point of lights I've ever seen is from movies. I don't know what lenses/video camera do those cameramen use, but in some movies, the point of lights are so perfectly rendered.</i>

<p>

Cooke Taylor Taylor Hobson, Zeiss, Kinoptik and the like. The prices of which are truly astounding for any still photographers.

[jose_angel]

I haven`t found scanned samples of what you`re looking for, just the following one where you can see how the latest 35`cron asph render bright points; not as ugly as the polygons from some AiS lenses, but still rings. Definitely not the main reason to buy this lens. ITOH, contrast and sharpness is really much higher, specially wide open.<div></div>

[jose_angel]

Jim Galli`s site is great if you look for bokeh... some vintage lenses are absolutely marvellous, check

 

http://tonopahpictures.0catch.com/

[captainvideo]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/captainvideo/tags/bokeh/

[peteradownunder]

Jose - thanks for the link - that guy makes beautiful shots.

[vic_.]

Pick any lens on the right of this page:

 

http://noctiluxf1.blog69.fc2.com/

 

Here too:

 

http://www.shinozuka.org/200110autumnlux1/

 

http://www.shinozuka.org/200110autumnlux2/

 

http://www.shinozuka.org/200110autumnlux3/

[albertdarmali]

After looking at the photos, I suddenly feel the urge to buy Noctilux 50mm f/1. haha... but with that price range, more likely never. But that looks that the kind of lens that really suit me, everything looks great.

 

I wish I could try the combination of M8+Noctilux 50mm f/1, that must be awesome.

[kentish_townie]

Personally speaking, I always found it easier to find examples of bokeh, good or bad, in

medium or large format photos.

 

Vivek mentioned Cookes. This was taken on a 1920's 6x9 Thornton Pickard with a 5" f4.5

Cooke. Please excuse, the sentimental subject of the photo as it was only a test of camera

and lens.<div></div>

[kentish_townie]

Example, from a couple of years ago, of a 40mm Summicron.

[kentish_townie]

Example, from a couple of years ago, of a 40mm Summicron. Taken with an M3 and Fuji

Superia 400.<div></div>