Soft focus explained

In photography, soft focus is a lens flaw, in which the lens forms images that are blurred due to uncorrected spherical aberration. A soft focus lens deliberately introduces spherical aberration which blurs fine texture in the image while retaining sharp edges across areas of high contrast; it is not the same as an out-of-focus image, and the effect cannot be achieved simply by defocusing a sharp lens. Soft focus is also the name of the style of photograph produced by such a lens.

Photography

Effect

Soft focus has been described as "an image that is in focus but has a halo of out-of-focus images around it."[1] The first deliberate use of undercorrected spherical aberration, resulting in halos around highlights (also known as "pearly" highlights),[2] is thought to have been by French pictorialists around 1900, spreading to the United States, where these lenses were most popular between 1910 and 1930.[3] Noted practitioners of soft focus photography include Julia Margaret Cameron,[4] Bob Guccione,[5] and early Edward Weston, though Weston was later credited with moving photography away from soft focus pictorialism.[6] [7]

The soft focus effect is used primarily in glamour photography, because it eliminates blemishes. In general, soft focus photography produces a misty, dream-like image, sometimes characterized as romantic.[8]

Technique

Special focusing techniques may be required to use a soft focus lens. For example, a front-focusing technique was suggested for the Kodak Portrait, in which the point of focus was placed closer to the camera than the actual subject.[2] Unlike typical camera lenses, which have a generally symmetric depth of field characteristic extending both in front of and behind the point of focus, the uncorrected spherical aberration results in a depth of field which extends past (behind) the point of focus, but not in front.[9]

Physically, the effect of a soft focus lens may be approximated by the use of diffusion filter or other method, such as stretching a nylon stocking over the front of the lens, or smearing petroleum jelly on a clear filter or on the front element or even the back element of the lens itself.[10] The latter is less recommended because successive cleaning always introduces a risk to damage the lens's surface.

It can also be approximated with post-processing procedures, either during photographic printing or through digital manipulation. Specifically, highlights in an image are blurred, but the bokeh effects of soft focus cannot be reproduced.

Design

Because soft focus results from what are considered technical flaws, typically spherical and chromatic aberration, many older lenses had soft focus built in as a side effect of their construction. For example, the two-element cemented meniscus lens fitted to early cameras had a dish-shaped hood[11] which controlled spherical aberration by reducing the effective aperture to ; when the hood is removed, the resulting uncorrected images have a strong soft focus effect. After this modification, the lens enjoyed significant popularity in Japan during the 1970s, remounted to modern cameras.[12] [13] Photographers called this lens the, referring to the camera's name and single-group lens construction,[14] and the technique was championed by several Japanese photographers, including Shōji Ueda.[15] The basic design of this lens was revived in 2016 as the Yasuhara MOMO 100.[16]

Some lenses designed and sold during the heyday of soft focus lenses, including the Pinkham & Smith Visual Quality series[17] [18] and Busch Nicola Perscheid,[19] were designed intentionally to take advantage of these flaws. As color films became available, well-managed spherical aberration became more desirable than chromatic aberration.

Newer lenses are optimized to minimize optical aberrations, but starting from the 1970s, manufacturers began releasing specialized contemporary lenses which are designed with adjustable levels of spherical aberration at wide apertures. The effect can be disabled entirely as well, in which case the lens is sharp. These modern soft focus lenses and their effect on the images should be considered distinct from the effect of lenses designed to render smooth using an apodization filter, such as the Minolta STF 135mm T4.5.[20]

As described in U.S. Patent 4,124,276,[21] realized as the Minolta Varisoft Rokkor,[22] a modern example with variable spherical aberration is a six-element, five-group lens which can be divided into three composite lens groups, marked A-I, A-II, and B. The first four elements (A-I, closest to the object being photographed) are moved as a unit to focus the lens, increasing the meniscus-shaped air gap between A-I and A-II as the lens is focused closer. The air gap distance between A-II and B is used to control spherical aberration; spherical aberration increases as the distance between A-II and B grows.[21] In the patent summary, the inventors noted the object side lens group (A-I) was a Tessar design, although they added that any suitable lens would do, such as a Cooke triplet or Double Gauss lens; the preferred embodiment uses two meniscus lenses on the image side to control spherical aberration.[21]

As an alternative to variable element spacing, some soft focus lenses such as the Rodenstock Imagon use interchangeable sieve aperture "grid" or "diffusion" discs which have a perforated annular shape to control the balance of light recorded between the relatively well-corrected center of the lens and the uncorrected periphery. As light from the periphery is restricted, the soft focus effect becomes less pronounced. Effective aperture values (for computing exposure) range from to .[23]

Examples

Some examples of soft focus lenses, including modern (after 1950) lenses with controllable amounts of spherical aberration, include:[24]

FL (mm)! rowspan=2
Ap.Intro.Min. focusConst.DimensionsMethodNotes / Refs.
Mfr. Name Mount(s)Ele GrpΦ×L Wgt. Filter (mm)
CanonNew FD 85mm Soft Focus FD85 19836 458VSliding soft focus control[25] [26]
CanonEF135 19877 652V[27] [28]
FujifilmEBC Fujinon-SF 85mm M4285 4 449CS[29]
FujifilmGX(M) SF 190mm GX680190 19883 382CSDiscontinued 2011[30] [31]
FujifilmFujinon-SF
  1. 1
180 varies3 346CS[32] [33]
  1. 2/#3
25067
barrel42082
LensbabySoft Focus Optic (multiple)50 20092 1S3 magnetic sieve aperture discs, and overall.[34] [35] [36]
LensbabySoft Focus II (multiple)50 20222 146CSInternal diaphragm + magnetic sieve apertures[37] [38]
MinoltaSR/ MC/ MD85 19786 555V[39] [40]
NikonNF90 19952 152WIncluded in Amusing Lenses (1995) / Fun Fun LensSet (2000)[41] [42] [43]
Rodenstock
  1. 3
 (typ. Φ=65.3 mm)		200 H 5.8–11.51926varies2 155 (slip-on)SMost commonly found in 200, 250, or 300mm, but 170, 360, 420, and 480mm exist.[44] [45] [46] [47]
250
  1. 3 or #4
30055 or 78 (slip-on)
Notes

Thambar

In 1935, Leitz released a legendary soft-focus lens, the Thambar 90mm, for the Leica rangefinder cameras. It was supplied with a special filter to block light through the center of the lens, resulting in the image being formed by relatively uncorrected aberrations through the periphery.[65]

It was made in small numbers, no more than 3000 units, and is a rare collector's item today.[66] In 2017, a new version was produced, costing $6,495. A lens from the original series can fetch between $3,000 and $8,000, depending on condition.[67]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: The visual dictionary of photography . 232 . AVA Publishing . 2010 . 978-2-940411-04-7.
  2. Web site: Kodak Portrait Lens 305mm (12-in.) f/4.8 . 1952 . Eastman Kodak Company . 29 July 2024.
  3. Book: Photographic lenses . C. B. . Neblette . Allen E. . Murray . 1973 . Morgan & Morgan, Inc. . Dobbs Ferry, New York . 0-87100-070-9 . 64-20637 . Revised . 29 July 2024 . registration.
  4. News: Julia Margaret Cameron: soft-focus photographer with an iron will . Charlotte . Higgins . 22 September 2015 . The Guardian . 30 July 2024.
  5. Web site: Tech Corner: Soft Effect Lenses and Filters-Still Relevant After All These Years... . Steven . Inglima . February 6, 2018 . photofocus . 30 July 2024.
  6. Web site: Edward Weston 1886–1958 . The Tate Museum . 30 July 2024.
  7. Web site: The Greats: How Edward Weston Pushed Photography into Modernity . Hudson . Brown . 9 November 2020 . URTH . 30 July 2024.
  8. Book: Hurter, Bill . Techniques of portrait photography . 1983 . Prentice-Hall, Inc. . Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey . Master class photography . 0-13-900621-4 . 113 . Soft focus or diffusion on the camera lens minimizes facial defects and can instantly take years off an elderly subject. Softer images are more flattering than portraits in which every facial detail is visible. Soft-focus images have also come to connote a romantic mood in portraits and pictorial photography..
  9. Web site: How to use the Wollensak portrait Veritar lens . December 1951 . Wollensak Optical Company . 30 July 2024.
  10. Book: Bernstein, Gary . Pro techniques of beauty & glamour photography . 1985 . HPBooks . 0-89586-364-2 . 85-60457 . 29 July 2024 . registration . 7 . An image can be softened with the use of a good diffusion attachment. In my beauty and glamour photography, the subject or client frequently prefers a soft-focus version. The diffusion can take place when the camera exposure is made, or later. ... I've achieved wonderful results with diffusers I made myself. As base, I use glass ultraviolet (UV) filters or sheets of acetate. On this base I spray commercial fixative in varying densities, depending on the degree of softening I want..
  11. Web site: Vest Pocket Kodak: 1912 . Early Photography . 30 July 2024.
  12. Web site: ベス単フード外し〜伝統のソフトフォーカスレンズ〜　概要編 . ja . Vestan hood removal ~Traditional Soft Focus Lens~ Overview . 中村文夫 . October 21, 2014 . 中古カメラ・マニアックス [Used Camera Maniacs] . 30 July 2024.
  13. Web site: ベス単フード外し〜伝統のソフトフォーカスレンズ〜　準備〜撮影編 . ja . Removing the hood of the Vestan lens ~Traditional Soft Focus Lens~ Preparation & shooting . 中村文夫 . December 1, 2014 . 中古カメラ・マニアックス [Used Camera Maniacs] . 30 July 2024.
  14. Web site: ベス単フード外し . ja . Vestan hood removal . 田中　長徳 . March 3, 2011 . Camera Kaukau . 30 July 2024.
  15. Web site: Shōji Ueda Photo Exhibition 'Vest Pocket Sketches: White Winds: Brilliant Scenes' . Fujifilm Square . 30 July 2024.
  16. News: 「ベス単フード外し」の再来か？安原製作所の新レンズ . ja . Is this a return of 'Vestan hood removal'? New lens from Yasuhara Manufacturing . 大浦タケシ . August 2, 2016 . Watch-Impress . 30 July 2024.
  17. Web site: Pinkham & Smith VQ IV vs. Cooke Portrait lens . Richard . Man . March 5, 2021 . Richard Man Photography . 30 July 2024.
  18. Web site: Mystry Pinkham and Smith Visual Quality #1 Series IV B Soft Focus Lens . Stephen . Gandy . January 27, 2022 . CameraQuest . 30 July 2024.
  19. Web site: Busch, Emil Nicola Percsheid - Emil Busch brass lens 480mm f4,5 . November 18, 2019 . Barnebys Auctions . 30 July 2024.
  20. Web site: What is Apodization? . Shawn C. . Steiner . June 19, 2019 . Explora . B&H Photo-Video-Audio . 30 July 2024.
  21. US . Patent . 4124276A . Soft focus lens system . Yukio Okano . Akyoshi Nakamura . Toshinobu Ogura . Minolta Co., Ltd. . November 7, 1978 . December 22, 1975 . December 15, 1976.
  22. Web site: Minolta Dealer Notebook, Part 4 (Lenses) . 1981 . Minolta Corporation . 26 July 2024 . Pacific Rim Camera, Reference Library.
  23. Web site: Imagon . September 1964 . Optische Werke G. Rodenstock . 30 July 2024.
  24. Book: Neblette, C. B. . Photographic lens manual and directory . 1959 . Morgan & Morgan, Inc. . New York, New York . 59-11726 . First . 29 July 2024 . registration.
  25. Web site: New FD 85mm f/2.8 Soft Focus . Canon Camera Museum . 30 July 2024.
  26. Web site: Soft focus New FD 85mm f/2.8 . Leo . Foo . 2000 . Canon FD Resources, Photography in Malaysia . 30 July 2024.
  27. Web site: Lens Review: Classic Canon EF 135mm f/2.8 with Softfocus . Jon . Sienkiewicz . June 27, 2019 . Shutterbug . 30 July 2024.
  28. Web site: EF 135mm f/2.8 Soft Focus (with Softfocus mechanism) . Canon Camera Museum . 30 July 2024.
  29. Web site: Zoom SLR: Fujica AZ-1 (brochure, Ref. No. OP1-111E) . October 1977 . Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. . 2 August 2024 . Pacific Rim Camera, Reference Library.
  30. Web site: EBC Fujinon GX M SF 190mm 1:8 . Fujifilm . ja . 1 August 2024.
  31. The Big Show '88, Part 2: Lens lineup shows more autofocus from independents . 96;104 . Popular Photography . January 1989 . 30 July 2024 . Fuji announced a Rodenstock Imagon-inspired 190mm f/8 soft-focus and a 65mm f/5.6 wide-angle lens for the GX680..
  32. Web site: Fujinon Professional Lenses . November 1976 . Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. . 2 August 2024 . Pacific Rim Camera, Reference Library.
  33. Web site: Fujinon Lenses . August 1982 . D.O. Industries, Inc. . 2 August 2024 . Pacific Rim Camera, Reference Library.
  34. Web site: Optics: Soft Focus . Lensbaby . https://web.archive.org/web/20101031215851/http://lensbaby.com/optics-softfocus.php . October 31, 2010 . dead.
  35. Web site: Soft Focus Optic . 2011 . Lensbaby . https://web.archive.org/web/20130507085347/http://lensbaby.com/sites/default/files/userguides/SoftFocus_UG.pdf . May 7, 2013 . dead.
  36. Lensbaby releases Fisheye and Soft Focus Optics . October 22, 2009 . DPReview . 2 August 2024.
  37. Web site: Soft Focus II Optic Only . Lensbaby . 2 August 2024.
  38. Web site: Lensbaby Soft Focus II User Guide . 2022 . Lensbaby . 2 August 2024.
  39. Web site: A guide to the Minolta SLR system of creative photography (SLR SYS 0209-F1) . September 1982 . Minolta Camera Co., Ltd. . Minolta.suaudeau.eu.
  40. Web site: The Battle of the 85mm's: Minolta's Top Portrait Lenses Compared . Antony . Hands . The Rokkor Files . 30 July 2024.
  41. Web site: NIKKOR: The Thousand and One Nights: Tale 52, Nikon Fun Fun LensSet (Gugutto Macro/Fuwatto Soft) . Kouichi . Ohshita . Nikon Imaging . 30 July 2024.
  42. Web site: Nikon Fun Fun Lens Set . Ching-Kuang . Shene . May 22, 2014 . Michigan Technical University . 31 July 2024.
  43. Web site: Nikon Amusing Lenses . ja . November 1995 . Nikon Inc. . 31 July 2024.
  44. Web site: Rodenstock Imagon: Plastic Depth lens sees like the artist's eye. . Heinrich . Kühn . Rudolf Wolf . Optical Works G. Rodenstock . 2 August 2024.
  45. Web site: Camera Lenses . 1982 . Optische Werke G. Rodenstock . 30 July 2024 . Pacific Rim Camera, Reference Library.
  46. Web site: Lenses for large format cameras . June 1995 . Optische Werke G. Rodenstock . 1 August 2024 . Camera Eccentric.
  47. Web site: History . Rodenstock Photo Optics . 1 August 2024 . 1926: Development of the legendary portrait lens Imagon..
  48. Web site: The Velvet Effect . Lensbaby . 30 July 2024.
  49. Web site: Mamiya-Sekor SF C 145mm f/4 Lens for Mamiya M645: Instructions . Mamiya Camera Co., Ltd. . 30 July 2024.
  50. Web site: Mamiya RB67: Mamiya-Sekor SFC 150mm f/4 Lens Instructions . Mamiya Camera Co., Ltd. . 30 July 2024.
  51. Web site: Mamiya RZ67 Professional IID . Mamiya Camera Co., Ltd. . 30 July 2024 . Pacific Rim Camera, Reference Library.
  52. First Look: New Minolta lenses, too! . March 1995 . Popular Photography . 22 . 26 July 2024.
  53. Web site: FA 28/2.8 Soft . The Pentax K-Mount Page . 30 July 2024.
  54. Web site: K 85/2.2 Soft . The Pentax K-Mount Page . 30 July 2024.
  55. Web site: What a Soft Focus speciality lens does to highlights . James . Warner . January 5, 2022 . Snappiness: The joy of photography . 30 July 2024.
  56. Web site: F 85/2.8 Soft . The Pentax K-Mount Page . 30 July 2024.
  57. Web site: FA 85/2.8 Soft . The Pentax K-Mount Page . 30 July 2024.
  58. Web site: Lens #6: Pentax 67 120mm F3.5 Soft . Sasha . Krasnov . June 13, 2021 . 30 July 2024.
  59. Web site: sima SF lens 100mm F2 (1982) . ja . Omocame World . 30 July 2024.
  60. Web site: Old-School Meets New School: The Portragon 100 f:4 . November 26, 2014 . Reed Photo . 30 July 2024.
  61. Web site: Model 51A: Fast Portrait Zoom with Soft-Focus Feature 70~150mm F/2.8 . Adaptall-2.com . 30 July 2024.
  62. Web site: Wollensak Portrait Veritar Lenses . July 1950 . Wollensak Optical Company . 30 July 2024.
  63. Web site: MOMO100 soft focus dreamy effect lens . Yasuhara USA . 30 July 2024.
  64. Web site: MoMo is a Soft-Focus Lens Inspired by a 100-Year-Old Kodak Camera . Michael . Zhang . June 15, 2016 . PetaPixel . 30 July 2024.
  65. Book: Puts, Erwin . Leica Lens Compendium . 2005 . 30 July 2024.
  66. Web site: The Leitz Thambar 90 mm f/2.2: Why Is It Considered A Legendary Portrait Lens? . Roger W. . Hicks . . 1 April 2005.
  67. Web site: Technical data on the Leitz Thambar f/2.2 . Thorsten Overgaard . Thorsten . Overgaard.

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