Softening the Apo-Telyt.

[sheridan]

Dear Readers.

When asked to do a photoshoot using a double

portrait with "soft sell" I settled on Apo Telyt 180mm with Softar

as the final image. The maximum bite of this lense without a

touch of soft focus did not give as strong a message.Has

anyone experienced this in their portrait photography and how

have you compensated for the effect? By the way, that classic

gritty black and white Pentax portrait a few threads back achieves

it's purpose perfectly and is a winner.

[al_kaplan1]

Yes, the new lenses are indeed sharp! This would have been a great chance to use a 180/2.8 Elmarit. I always found mine sharp enough, but it gave a nice glow to portraits when used wide open. Even better, if you can find one, is the 150mm f/2.3 Astro Tachar. The 100mm f/2 Angenieux at f/2.8 is similar in character if you can find one that hasn't hazed/fogged up.

[peter_l_ck]

Sheridan, perhaps you try once to breathe against the frontlens - it gives a special effect you may like. Peter

[mike dixon]

Diamonds for preschoolers!!?!?!! Sorry, can't comment on soft focus -- laughing too hard . . .

[terry_rory]

Same here Mike. Its a sick , sick world.

[terry_rory]

However , to come back to topic , I do have a Heliopan Zeiss Softar 1 and I have used this on a 50mm and a 135mm for candlelit portraits. Worked a dream. (I also use it on landscapes occasionally with some pleasant results.)

[robert_luhrs]

I used a paper napkin for about 25% of the exposure time and got a very fine effect in portraits. Say it's a 10 second exposure, do 8 seconds sharp. the next 2 seconds wave the napkin or other tissue paper around between the lens and the print. Works like magic, you get great details where you want them, and a selected contrast reduction in harsh areas. Leaving holes in napkin you can sharpen the eyes, or other areas while the rest are smoothed a bit. Unique, you have to try this to get it. One shot I remembered well was a child in a white dress blowing out candles on a big white birthday cake. Totally fabulous print using the above.

 

bob luhrs

[al_kaplan1]

Just remember that diffusing during the initial exposure spreads the highlights into the shadows. Diffusing while printing the negative spreads shadow into the brighter areas. The two effects do not look the same!