hi psychobiologist, in this thread (
http://forums.clubsnap.org/showthread.php?p=3632389#post3632389), u mentioned that "some lenses like the zf 50mm, i like the bokeh within 45cm to 1 metre working distance but further than that, i find the background increasingly in "shape/texture"". can u assist to explain a bit more (preferred with sample photos)? i am trying to figure out the best working distance for zf 35mm f/2 on bokeh.
i'll work on the sample photos soon, bokeh itself is very subjective and a personal choice.. an important factor is also what is in your background and how far away are the objects in the background.
working distance is limited by the focal length, min focal distance, the size of the subject, and subsequently the bokeh effect also depends on whether the subject is nearer to you or nearer to the background, or infinity.
some people would prefer the pure smooth blur (i.e. photoshop like quality) straight out from the lens.. but for me a good bokeh is one that follows the "zen" theory, that the background is as dynamic as the subject itself. (if you do chinese calligraphy, the background i.e. the white paper.. changes the moment you start writing with the brush, and the changes in the white background is as dynamic as every stroke of the character in black)
wonder if its too awkward a concept though.
in my opinion its how the background, its texture etc, augments the subject that matters.
so why the ZF 50mm? that was because i always liked the working distance of 45cm to 1 metre, on smaller objects etc, and the bokeh in this distance range, wide open, is just unusually rendered. indoors wise, and the objects i take etc. i can have the background at 1 metre or 80cm behind the subject, and work arnd 50-60cm working distance and achieve a nice "creamy" background. if the background is further like 4-5 metres behind, i can increase my working distance to 80-90cm- etc, but limited by the size of the subject which becomes smaller as i move backwards etc.. one of the reasons why i bought the 85mm F1.4 after that, so that for bigger objects, i can still obtain the same "bokeh"