Welcome back to my corner of the web. Huge thanks to my loyal followers for sticking around. And to all you newcomers, a big warm welcome ! Today, let’s dive into the interesting world of ” Lens blades, further notes “.
Returning to my previous post of May 12, 2024. I’d like to add some further notes that I consider useful and interesting. The blades of the photographic lens are in my opinion a very important component of a photographic lens.
So let’s get into context ” Lens blades, further notes “
Modern Lenses:Mechanical Precision– Today’s lens blades are manufactured with extremely tight tolerances to ensure precise and consistent operation across different aperture settings. Advanced machining techniques and quality control processes result in smooth aperture transitions and accurate exposure control. – Bokeh Optimization: Manufacturers of modern lenses often optimize the design of aperture blades to minimize aberrations and improve bokeh quality. Special care is given to the shape, curvature, and arrangement of the blades to achieve smoother transitions between in-focus and out-of-focus areas, resulting in more aesthetically pleasing bokeh. – Asymmetrical Blade Arrangement: Some modern lenses feature asymmetrical blade arrangements, where the blades are not evenly spaced around the aperture. This design can help reduce the appearance of bokeh artifacts, such as onion rings or cats-eye distortion, especially towards the corners of the frame.
Minolta 50mm F2.8 – Front Lens
Vintage Lenses:Materials and Durability– Vintage lens blades were often made of durable materials like brass, which provided stability and longevity. Despite their robust construction, prolonged use and exposure to environmental factors could lead to wear and tear over time, affecting the smoothness of blade operation. – Aperture Shape: – Due to the design of vintage lens blades, the shape of the aperture could vary depending on the F-stop selected. When fully open, vintage lenses with fewer blades would produce more distinct aperture shapes, such as hexagonal or octagonal, in out-of-focus areas. – Bokeh Characteristics: The aperture shape (determined by the work and action of the blades) and design of vintage lenses contributed to the unique bokeh characteristics they produced. Vintage lenses are often prized for their distinctive bokeh rendering, which can add a nostalgic or artistic touch to images.
I think with this additional post, I’ve included some notes that I had not previously mentioned. Personally I consider this topic particularly interesting for vintage lenses. In some of these lenses, the blade work is clearly one of the most sought after and desired qualities. Especially for those who love backgrounds with more or less evident bubbles, or even very soft and pastel blurs. Tastes are tastes and everyone has their own personal and particulars. Experiment with various vintage lenses with digital cameras. It’s probably one of the most interesting and all in all economical things you can do.
See you then in the next post. A very cordial greeting.
