Summicron 90 transitions

[PaulC]

I happened to use the Summicron-R 90 (3 cam) with a short tube for some food macros today. The quality of the transition between in-focus and out-of-focus area struck me as being something people might be interested in, so here is a long, thin 100% crop from the lens on a 5D Mk2. Enjoy

[Nordentro]

I must say, that's a smooth gradient!

[gillbod]

that does look nice indeed, especially because there are some specular highlights in that middleblurry bit that are extra smooth.

but i do feel that other essential information in gauging the quality of blur would be 1) how much the lens was stopped down, and 2) where this vertical crop was taken (smooth bokeh at a corner is a tougher than the middle of an image circle).

that said, i have no doubt your lens is top drawer. i almost ditched my minolta 85/1.4 for a 'cron 90/2...

[PaulC]

It was at or about f8 (possibly f9) and the crop is about a third of the way in from the left edge.

[kopimorning]

I thought people was expecting micro contrast from this lens?

[timo832000]

I think the Summicron-R 90 does not deliver as much micro contrast as a Zeiss lens does.
PaulC already pointed out the advantage of this lens, it`s smooth transition.
In German I call it "Summicronschmelz", a kind of glow.
In fact I belief to see some kind of 3D effekt in the pictures I have taken with my Summicron. Maybe it`s the soft seperation of the foreground from the bokeh which also can cause an effect of plasticity.

Summicron-R 90 @ 5,6 stitched from several images:



Maybe you can see what I mean,
unfortunately I don`t have a better example I can post.

Timo