Interesting, normally if I was looking to isolate a subject I would be reaching for a telephoto lens. With wide angles, the way I use them at least, I would rarely be trying to use a wide aperture.

Title corrected.

Do you think it should be stopped? Or do you think watching and giving some leeway is more sensible?

Art takes many forms though and we can't generalise like that, can we? There are plenty of artistic images with sharpness throughout, just as there are those with limited DOF that will sell.

DOF, controlled by the aperture, is just another photographic tool, another brush that we paint our images with. Like Gareth, I would use DOF in whatever way I felt suited the subject, although I don't consciously try to use the widest aperture possible.

Many congratulations, but the link isn't working.

There have been f1 and f0.95 lenses, and you can still buy f1 lenses. You probably need £8000 and you end up with something that very few people actually need.

This is interesting, and it was an open question.

For those who think they use their lenses wide open all the time, have a look again at your images. I can think of at least one poster here who says that, but whose images are sharp from foreground to background.

The PT article was a review of the original 50mm f1.2. I have other reviews of that lens which also reveal that it has excellent coma control (no spreading of highlights) and alos 0% decentreing. However, there are better 50mm f1.2 lenses, but nowhere near the price level of the Pentax.

There is no need to unmask PentaxExpert, but I would point out that the terms of use specifically prohibit multiple identities.

George, you are absolutely correct in this. The analogy with sound is good. Japanese amplifiers, for example, will display very low distortion levels electronically. However, it's the worst sort of distortion. A Quad amplifier will have much higher levels of distortion, but sound much better.

This can't be measured with instruments, but fortunately we have ears. Photographically, fortunately we have eyes.

Excellent find, what a wonderful lady love you have!