Bokeh and the HD 150-450

Link Posted 27/03/2016 - 06:57


Recent PU Quote in respect of the HD 150-450: "My only concern would be the bokeh"

Not sure if the images below ( all taken with the 150-450) show "the good, bad or the ugly as regards bokeh" specifically;

Whether there must be defined points in the backgrounds that can be rendered out of focus in such a way that results in attractive bokeh is also a question ; these three shots might not demonstrate the "quality or lack of quality of bokeh" from the HD 150-450.

Couple of associated points:

(i) I don't really know what is visually good bokeh being perfectly frank ?

(ii) Maybe someone can post some shots exhibiting good bokeh ?

(iii) Good subject for a competition !

(Iv) Is it a subjective thing in an image ?

It strikes me that the lens might need to be assessed on subject matter that does exhibit clearly defined background shapes with high contrast or colour variations more suited to the discussion.

Based on the three shots below I am not sure if a comment can be made about the bokeh characteristics of the HD150-450 , but it would interesting to hear opinions on the bokeh ?







Daronl
Last Edited by Daronl on 27/03/2016 - 07:06
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Hi Daron

The lens looks to be stellar in the sharpness / colour department, but I tend to agree with DrOrloff's comment on the bokeh, it does seem to produce 'messy' out of focus areas. You asked for an image with nice bokeh, the one below was taken with the DA*300, a lens which I think produces lovely, smooth out of focus areas.




Cheers
David

Hi David,

Yes , for sure that is a wonderful picture and the bokeh enhances the image too.

Definitely a very composed and well thought out image which has got me thinking about trying to take a similar type of image in order to answer the question regarding the " bokeh " on the HD 150-450

I guess back grounds on wild life shots, which is my main focus ( not to use a pun), are a little random, particularly when panning around or following a moving subject but having seen that lovely image of yours I will test the lens on a similar composition,so watch this space

Thanks again for the sample image, it is not only a good example of the subject ( bokeh) but underlines the standard we should all be trying to achieve.

Regards

Daron

The 150-450mm is used mainly at the long end and mostly for wildlife (or in my instance aircraft where bokeh isn't a factor). With this sort of subject you get a lot of foliage, twigs, trees etc which will cause a messy background unlike David's picture where you tend to frame your shot according to the background.


i will say though that although bokeh is not the best on the 150-450mm it's a lot better than the Sigma 50-500mm OS I had previously.

With the right background it's not too bad though.


IMGP6784 by Mike.Pursey, on Flickr


IMGP6791 by Mike.Pursey, on Flickr

Here's a shot with the DA*300 wide open similar to Mike's 2nd one for comparison.....if it is a similar comparison!

This is quite an interesting thread, discussing an aspect of lens performance that is often regarded as secondary. The 150-450 appears to be a superb lump of glass, but as DrO pointed out, bokeh is of high importance with long lenses, depending on the type of images being taken and the results the photographer is trying to achieve, As Mike mentions, with bird shots there is often a mess of twigs, but to me this raises this importance of smooth bokeh. Messy backgrounds with bird images is a pet hate of mine, I know it's sometimes unavoidable, but I don't like it. I've always found that my DA*300 copes with backgrounds superbly well, with or without the 1.4TC.

Mike has also pointed out that the Tulip image has been framed according to the background, however I know that when this was shot, the distance to the Tulips behind was not very far, probably 2 or 3 feet. This shot was not 'planned', it was a grab shot with the DA*300 wide open at F4. Here's a couple of bird shots with the DA*300 and 1.4TC, again I appreciate the background is not full of twigs, but I think these demonstrate how well this lens smooths out background details.







Regards
David

Hi all, another factor in the Bokeh debate is sharpening, in camera or afterwards (unless selective to foreground subject). I find too much sharpening draws strange effects from some backgrounds. I like to aim for a nice buttery background or one not too busy to detract from subject. A number of examples in my eclectic gallery on here..

I seem to have launched a whole new thread. I don't really judge bokeh by already diffuse backgrounds (like the foxglove images) rather how it copes with a messy background - grass, twigs, that kind of thing. And to me from the examples so far that seems a bit fussy in comparison with the DA*300 which is excellent in that regard. The likes of the reeds in Steve's shot on the other thread definitely reminds me of the 55-300. I have not dissimlar shots with the DA*300 and, although it's not scientific, the bokeh is definitely less eye catching. You can't have everything of course.