Bokeh ?

[Rob612]

Ok folks, I'm sure that I know exactly what it is, but I could not find a translation of the term either in Italian or any other language that I know.

Somebody would be so kind to explain me what you mean with the term, so I can understand whar are we taling about ? I KNOW there is an Italian translation, but I could not find it anywhere.

Thanks for the help.

[aam1234]

Ciao Rob,

Bokeh is the quality of out-of-focus area in a photograph. And it's originally a Japanese word. Good quality lenses have very nice and creamy Bokeh.

[KevC]

Lotsa info here:
http://www.vanwalree.com/optics/bokeh.html

[kawter2]

Ciao Rob,

Bokeh is the quality of out-of-focus area in a photograph.


More like "Bokeh is the out-of-focus area in a photograph"

"quality of Bokeh", is the quality of out-of-focus area in a photograph

;)

[aam1234]

You got me there kawter2 :D I knew something is wrong with my sentence, that's why I edited it (apparently it didn't do any good).

[rdenney]

Ok folks, I'm sure that I know exactly what it is, but I could not find a translation of the term either in Italian or any other language that I know.

Bokeh is the rendering of out-of-focus areas. Some lenses render out-of-focus highlights with a bright edge, and others with a faded edge. Some render out-of-focus linear elements as two lines, and others don't. And some lenses have a creamy and smooth rendering, while others are choppy or lumpy with lots of false edges and other artifacts.

Bokeh is good or not depending on whether you like the rendering. There is no objective test as with resolution, acutance, and contrast.

In order of influence, the factors that affect bokeh (at a given focal length and aperture) are lens design, aperture position, and aperture shape, with lens design being dominant. But longer focal lengths and wider apertures have a much bigger effect on out-of-focus rendering.

Rick "who has seen arguments that it's not Japanese at all but rather a bastardization of the French word 'bouquet'--and who doesn't care" Denney

[robertwgross]

Bokeh is kind of difficult to define in a few words. It is not just an out-of-focus background. It is more like the texture of the out-of-focus background, and it does not necessarily have to be creamy smooth. The texture can actually carry a message or a state of mind.

Normally, an expensive lens does this better than an inexpensive lens. Mirror lenses have a reputation for producing odd bokeh.

If your background is completely out-of-focus, then that can serve to isolate your subject, which is normally in perfect focus. If the background is only slightly out-of-focus, then that often causes concern on the part of the viewer. Sometimes they will look past the real subject and report that they don't like the image because it is too fuzzy.

---Bob Gross---

[cmM]

More like "Bokeh is the out-of-focus area in a photograph"

"quality of Bokeh", is the quality of out-of-focus area in a photograph

;)
No, aam is right.

boke refers to the quality of the out of focus image

[aam1234]

Thanks Chris. The language confused me (my 1st language is not English as you know).

[cmM]

Thanks Chris. The language got me (my 1st language is not English as you know).
Neither is mine ;)

[aam1234]

Neither is mine ;)

Really! I've always suspected that.

[Rob612]

Well. thanks to all. Now I understand what you mean and guess what ? There no italian word for this, at least that I know of. And italian IS my 1st language :D

We refer to that as something like "diffusion quality" but the translation does not really work. Anyway, now I know what you folks are talking about. Thanks again.