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  1. #1
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    Aperture and bokeh



    I'm looking for a little enlightenment, or perhaps to generate some discussion. In reading Bryan's reviews, a lot of the lenses that have "many" aperture blades (8 blades for example in the 200 f/2 IS L) suggest that the number of aperture blades contributes to the bokeh quality. So here's my question: don't most of us tend to evaluate the blur quality at wide-open, maximum aperture? And as a result, isn't the aperture blade count irrelevant at that point, as the blades are now "in" the aperture housing? Certainly it'd be disappointing if the blur quality changed drastically as soon as we stop down 1/3rd of a stop, but...
    We're a Canon/Profoto family: five cameras, sixteen lenses, fifteen Profoto lights, too many modifiers.

  2. #2
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    Re: Aperture and bokeh



    Aperture blade shape has to do with it also. Most of the wides have 7 blades but are curved, with the exception of the new 24 1.4L mkII it has 8 also curved.


    Where it comes into play with your question is the shape of the out of focus elements. See Bryan's review of the 3 different 50mm lenses for great examples of this and aperture blade shape. The 1.2 and the 1.4 both have 8 blades but there is a significant difference in the bokeh.


    Just like blurred out lights in the background everything out of focus gets smoothed and takes on the shape of the aperture blades. While not technical mumbo jumbo, the wider the aperture, the more space there is for things to get smoothed out, taking any fine hard edges away.

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    Re: Aperture and bokeh



    Quote Originally Posted by peety3
    So here's my question: don't most of us tend to evaluate the blur quality at wide-open, maximum aperture?


    No. If you always shoot wide open and never stop down, then it would make sense to only evaluate bokeh wide open. But most of us also shoot stopped down.


    Quote Originally Posted by peety3


    And as a result, isn't the aperture blade count irrelevant at that point, as the blades are now "in" the aperture housing?


    Yes, the aperture blades are irrelevant to wide-open shots.

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    Re: Aperture and bokeh



    Thanks for saying no. That helped.
    We're a Canon/Profoto family: five cameras, sixteen lenses, fifteen Profoto lights, too many modifiers.

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    Re: Aperture and bokeh



    Sorry I missed what you were asking. Wide open went in one ear and out the other.

  6. #6
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    Re: Aperture and bokeh



    You mean in one eye and out the other? []

  7. #7
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    Re: Aperture and bokeh



    No, but I am tired of the strange stares I get with my ear pinned up against the monitor.

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