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 Light Control “.
We all consciously or perhaps unconsciously use light control in photography. Today, I’d like to delve into how this happens in the lens of our cameras, and how it can be used to control light.
Lens blades Light Control
Photographic lens blades, also known as aperture blades or diaphragm blades, are crucial components of camera lenses responsible for controlling the amount of light that passes through the lens to the camera’s sensor or film. These blades form an adjustable opening called the aperture, which regulates the exposure and depth of field in a photograph.
Modern Lenses: Modern lens blades are typically made of lightweight materials like aluminium or composite plastics. To ensure smooth operation and durability. The construction involves precise engineering to ensure consistent performance and minimal wear over time. – Most modern lenses feature aperture mechanisms with an even number of blades (e.g., 6, 7, 9) to produce polygonal or circular-shaped apertures. A higher number of blades usually results in a smoother, more circular aperture shape, leading to pleasing bokeh (the aesthetic quality of the out-of-focus areas in an image). – Lenses often employ curved or rounded blade edges to reduce the formation of harsh, distracting bokeh highlights, especially when shooting wide open. Blade designs may vary between manufacturers and lens models, with some prioritizing smooth bokeh rendition while others focus on sharpness and optical performance. – Many modern lenses feature electronic aperture control, allowing seamless integration with the camera body for aperture adjustment and exposure control. Electronic control enables features like aperture priority mode, automatic exposure settings, and real-time aperture adjustment during video recording. – Some high-end lenses offer customizable aperture blade designs, allowing photographers to achieve specific bokeh effects or adjust the aperture shape for creative purposes. – Advanced coatings (nano coatings) on modern lens blades help reduce flare, ghosting, and reflections, contributing to improved contrast and color accuracy in images.
Helios 44M-6, Front lens
Vintage Lenses: Vintage lens blades were often made of metal, such as brass, and were manually assembled with precision. While durable, these blades could be prone to wear and lubrication issues over time, affecting their smooth operation. – Older lenses typically had fewer aperture blades compared to modern counterparts, often resulting in polygonal-shaped apertures with noticeable geometric bokeh. – Vintage lenses may exhibit straight-edged blade designs, leading to distinctive polygonal bokeh patterns, especially when stopped down. – Manual aperture control was common in vintage lenses, requiring photographers to adjust the aperture ring on the lens barrel to set the desired F-stop. – Vintage lenses are prized by photographers for their unique optical characteristics, including color rendition, contrast, and bokeh rendering, often sought after for creative purposes – Maintaining vintage lenses, including their aperture blades, may require periodic cleaning and lubrication to ensure smooth operation and longevity.
In summary, while both modern and vintage lenses serve the fundamental purpose of controlling light and exposure, they differ in design, materials, and control mechanisms, each offering distinct characteristics that appeal to photographers for various creative and practical applications.
I tried to summarize the topic briefly. There would be further considerations to make and add. For this reason I do not rule out returning to this topic in a subsequent post.
In the hope that this has been of interest to you, we will meet again in the next post. Cordial greetings
