Bokah?

[Bob&Glennie]

Hi guys, I'm embarased to reveal that I've never heard of this term in over 30 years of photography in 35mm film and now, more recently in digital.

What is "bokah"?

Bob

[gus]

G'day bob...its just the bit that is out of focus.ie the blurred background such as in this shot with the bokah king..135 prime f/2


http://wadjelaphotography.smugmug.com/photos/29788165-M.jpg

[mynakedsoda]

Hi guys, I'm embarased to reveal that I've never heard of this term in over 30 years of photography in 35mm film and now, more recently in digital.

What is "bokah"?

Bob
One of the few articles I like on KR's site...
http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/bokeh.htm
One of many I like on the next...
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/essays/bokeh.shtml
The short answer is that bokeh is the quality of the out of focus areas in a photograph. It's one of the most important aspects of optical performance (my opinion) for those that like to use fast glass wide open alot.

[mynakedsoda]

G'day bob...its just the bit that is out of focus.ie the blurred background such as in this shot with the bokah king..135 prime f/2


http://wadjelaphotography.smugmug.com/photos/29788165-M.jpg
1. Which 135mm f/2 prime did you use?
2. It threw the background out of focus but the bokeh seems troubling to me. Were you actually wide open with this one? It seems to have more DOF than I would expect with a 135mm at f/2.

[blackwaterstudio]

1. Which 135mm f/2 prime did you use?

Most likey used the Canon 135L f/2 which is Canon's most sharpest lens (even beats out the 85L 1.2)

Here's a shot with my Canon 300L
http://blackwater-studio.smugmug.com/photos/29424244-L.jpg

[gus]

1. Which 135mm f/2 prime did you use?
2. It threw the background out of focus but the bokeh seems troubling to me. Were you actually wide open with this one? It seems to have more DOF than I would expect with a 135mm at f/2.

No dont be troubled ...that was just a shot i grabbed quickly to explain it to bob...there is... as you know no specific level that draws a line that says this is bokeh & this isnt. It just gets sharper or butteryier (i just made that word up) That 1st shot is f/5 canon 135.

[gus]

F/2 shows just how shallow the focus is. Bokah to the front & bokah to the rear.

http://wadjelaphotography.smugmug.com/photos/29926846-M.jpg

[mynakedsoda]

Most likey used the Canon 135L f/2 which is Canon's most sharpest lens (even beats out the 85L 1.2)

Here's a shot with my Canon 300L
http://blackwater-studio.smugmug.com/photos/29424244-L.jpg
That looks like a bad background with good bokeh. Honestly (for me) that's how I judge any lens for bokeh. How good can it handle a troubling background.

[mynakedsoda]

F/2 shows just how shallow the focus is. Bokah to the front & bokah to the rear.

http://wadjelaphotography.smugmug.com/photos/29926846-M.jpg
Maybe it's just me but I don't care for how it handled the bokeh in this one either. Keep in mind that I don't personally own even a handful of lenses that I would say have good bokeh while at the same time I do like this image.

[Andy]

http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=23924&highlight=bokeh

[gus]

Maybe it's just me but I don't care for how it handled the bokeh in this one either..

Neither do i...im selling it immediately

[Bob&Glennie]

Well, now that it's explained I certainly know what you're talking about. I just never heard it identified with the word "bokah". Is this a term that has become indiginous with digital? Or should I have heard this word somewhere during my long history with film?

Anyway, thankyou all very much for the explaination. ( Lucy, you got some 'splainin' to do:rofl :rofl :rofl )

Bob

[mynakedsoda]

Neither do i...im selling it immediately
Lol!:rofl Are you serious? I've got plenty of glass that can't handle troubling backgrounds that great but I'd still keep for other reasons. Is their a Canon 135mm with good bokeh? I can't speak for the Nikon's other than what I hear second hand. For the 135mm 2.0 DC I haven't seen evidence of great bokeh. For the 135mm 2.0 AIS only reviews that say the sharpness isn't that great (internal flare) wide open. Not much about the bokeh. For the 135mm 2.8 AIS I've seen plenty of examples recently with what looked like good bokeh. I'm thinking of trying that one out myself. Personally the only 135mm I have is an one old t-mount Vivitar 135mm f/3.5 plus one identical Ponds and Bender 135mm f/3.5. Here's a shot with it wide open with the most troubling background I have...
http://mynakedsoda.smugmug.com/photos/47791947-L.jpg

Great sharpness wide open and good bokeh but not stunning IMO.

One of my favorites for bokeh (although restricted use) is an old JML Optical 56mm f/1.2.
http://mynakedsoda.smugmug.com/photos/50103494-L.jpg

http://mynakedsoda.smugmug.com/photos/54424820-L.jpg

One that I like alot for bokeh (while alot of people don't) is my Nikor 85mm 1.8D. One of my favorite shots because of how it handled all the distracting elements...
http://mynakedsoda.smugmug.com/photos/19717501-L.jpg
Don't get me wrong. I've plenty of shots with that lens that show troubling bokeh. I just think some backgrounds are so bad that no lens could handle them well.:dunno

[mynakedsoda]

Well, now that it's explained I certainly know what you're talking about. I just never heard it identified with the word "bokah". Is this a term that has become indiginous with digital? Or should I have heard this word somewhere during my long history with film?

Anyway, thankyou all very much for the explaination. ( Lucy, you got some 'splainin' to do:rofl :rofl :rofl )

Bob
I never heard of that word (or really thought about that element of optical performance) till I started shooting alot of digital and hanging around some forums online.

[blackwaterstudio]

Lol!:rofl Are you serious? I've got plenty of glass that can't handle troubling backgrounds that great but I'd still keep for other reasons. Is their a Canon 135mm with good bokeh? I

Yes there is the Canon 135L
http://www.fredmiranda.com/reviews/data/2/1ef135mmf_2l_1_.jpg
**image taken from FM.com

This is probably canon's most sharpest lens, even beats out the famous Canon 85L 1.2 lens

Here's the review on the 135L
FM review of Canon 135L (http://www.fredmiranda.com/reviews/showproduct.php?product=34&sort=7&cat=2&page=2)

[gus]

Yes there is the Canon 135L
http://www.fredmiranda.com/reviews/data/2/1ef135mmf_2l_1_.jpg
**image taken from FM.com

This is probably canon's most sharpest lens, even beats out the famous Canon 85L 1.2 lens

Here's the review on the 135L
FM review of Canon 135L (http://www.fredmiranda.com/reviews/showproduct.php?product=34&sort=7&cat=2&page=2)

It really is that sharp.

I actually only have shots of close friends & their kids with it that show its real potential re bokah & i dont post their shots onto the net.

I will look at doing a demo with it in the next few days....its a magnificent lens. Nothing ive ever seen can come close to it.

[blackwaterstudio]

I have the lens and its wonderful.. I try to get some shots to post with it.

[mynakedsoda]

Out of curiosity I read a few reviews on the 135mm L earlier today. One of the things mentioned was in fact the excellent bokeh. I guess it just goes to my point of some backgrounds being so bad that no lens will clean it up short of obliterating it completely out of existence.

I look forward to seeing some samples from this lens. If I were shooting Canon then it actually sounds like one of the first I would buy.

[gus]

I guess it just goes to my point of some backgrounds being so bad that no lens will clean it up short of obliterating it completely out of existence.



Yep...such as those backgrounds you posted. That is not what i call good & thus as with a photo...its subjective as to what is appealing to an individual eye. However its still bokah & i think we have answered bobs question.

[mynakedsoda]

Yep...such as those backgrounds you posted. That is not what i call good & thus as with a photo...its subjective as to what is appealing to an individual eye. However its still bokah & i think we have answered bobs question.
Agree. Very subjective.:D

[mynakedsoda]

Yep...such as those backgrounds you posted. That is not what i call good & thus as with a photo...its subjective as to what is appealing to an individual eye. However its still bokah & i think we have answered bobs question.
Reading again, I guess that's a terrible background...
http://mynakedsoda.smugmug.com/photos/54424820-L.jpg

I guess I hurt some feelings? :rofl
It wasn't intentional.

[gus]

Reading again, I guess that's a terrible background...


I guess I hurt some feelings? :rofl
It wasn't intentional.
Please dont collect credit for that...i have no feelings in forums....i still do not like the bokah in your samples so it may well be me that hurt some feelings. My last post to this pointless rehashing of the same comments over & over & over.

[mynakedsoda]

Please dont collect credit for that...i have no feelings in forums....i still do not like the bokah in your samples so it may well be me that hurt some feelings. My last post to this pointless rehashing of the same comments over & over & over.
Ok.:rofl

[Mitchell]

One that I like alot for bokeh (while alot of people don't) is my Nikor 85mm 1.8D.
Don't get me wrong. I've plenty of shots with that lens that show troubling bokeh. I just think some backgrounds are so bad that no lens could handle them well.:dunno

I also love the Nikkor 85, 1.8 for it's bokeh. Wide open it is razor thin but provides a pleasing, buttery bokeh.

http://clearwaterphotography.smugmug.com/photos/43375136-L.jpg

[Angelo]

Bob - while these guys are busy waving their lenses around I'll actually answer your question :lol3

I also never heard the term "bokah" until encountering here at dGrin. So you are not alone! :D

[mynakedsoda]

Bob - while these guys are busy waving their lenses around I'll actually answer your question :lol3

I also never heard the term "bokah" until encountering here at dGrin. So you are not alone! :D
Does this...
One of the few articles I like on KR's site...
http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/bokeh.htm
One of many I like on the next...
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/essays/bokeh.shtml
The short answer is that bokeh is the quality of the out of focus areas in a photograph. It's one of the most important aspects of optical performance (my opinion) for those that like to use fast glass wide open alot.
not appear as an answer? Not to mention the other numerous answers.