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Soft focus

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This article is about the term used in photography and optics. For other uses, see Soft Focus (disambiguation).

Example using Canon EF 135 mm f/2.8 Soft Focus
A glass bottle with a green bottlecap; the lens has applied a heavy soft focus effect, resulting in halation around highlights and a hazy, dreamy texture.
An image of a bottle with a heavy soft focus effect.
The same glass bottle with a green bottlecap; in this case, the lens has applied no soft focus effect, resulting in a normal, sharp texture.
An image of the same bottle, but without soft focus.

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

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Effect

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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]: 106  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

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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[citation needed].

Design

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Vest Pocket Kodak with 2-element meniscus lens and integral hood

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 Vest Pocket Kodak [ja] cameras had a dish-shaped hood[11] which controlled spherical aberration by reducing the effective aperture to f/11; 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 Vestan (ベス単), 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 (c. 1910–1930), 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.

Maximum (top) and minimum (bottom) spherical aberration configurations in a modern soft focus lens.[20]

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.[21] These modern soft focus lenses and their effect on the images should be considered distinct from the effect of lenses designed to render smooth bokeh using an apodization filter, such as the Minolta STF 135mm f/2.8 [T4.5].[22]

As described in U.S. Patent 4,124,276,[20] realized as the Minolta Varisoft Rokkor,[23]: C9  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.[20] 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.[20]

Imagon fitted with f/7.7-equivalent sieve aperture.

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 f/5.8 to f/11.5.[24][25]

Examples

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Some examples of soft focus lenses, including modern (after 1950) lenses with controllable amounts of spherical aberration, include:[26]: 27–28 

Selected soft focus lenses
Spec
Lens
FL (mm) Ap. Intro. Min. focus Const. Dimensions Method[a] Notes / Refs.
Mfr. Name Mount(s) Ele Grp Φ×L Wgt. Filter (mm)
Canon New FD 85mm f/2.8 Soft Focus FD 85 f/2.8–22 1983 0.8 m (31 in) 6 4 70×70 mm (2.8×2.8 in) 400 g (14 oz) 58 V Sliding soft focus control[21][27]
Canon EF 135mm f/2.8 Soft Focus EF 135 f/2.8–32 1987 1.3 m (51 in) 7 6 69.2×98.4 mm (2.7×3.9 in) 390 g (14 oz) 52 V [28][29]
Fujifilm EBC Fujinon-SF 85mm f/4 M42 85 f/4–16 c. 1975 1 m (39 in) 4 4 63.5×64.5 mm (2.5×2.5 in) 285 g (10.1 oz) 49 CS [30]
Fujifilm GX(M) SF 190mm f/8.0 GX680 190 f/8–64 1988 1.52 m (60 in) 3 3 101.0×107.0×104.0 mm (4.0×4.2×4.1 in) 690 g (24 oz) 82 CS Discontinued 2011[31][32]
Fujifilm Fujinon-SF #1 180 f/5.6–22 ? varies 3 3 48×42.5 mm (1.9×1.7 in) 240 g (8.5 oz) 46 CS [33][34]
#2/#3 250 70×61 mm (2.8×2.4 in) 550 g (19 oz) 67
barrel 420 85×77.5 mm (3.3×3.1 in) 980 g (35 oz) 82
Lensbaby Soft Focus Optic (multiple)[b] 50 f/2–22 2009 0.3–0.45 m (12–18 in) 2 1 49×34 mm (1.9×1.3 in) ? — S 3 magnetic sieve aperture discs, f/3.3 and f/4.8 overall.[35][36][37]
Lensbaby Soft Focus II (multiple)[b] 50 f/2.5–22 2022 0.38 m (15 in) 2 1 ? ? 46 CS Internal diaphragm + magnetic sieve apertures[38][39]
Minolta Varisoft Rokkor 85mm f/2.8 SR/ MC/ MD 85 f/2.8–16 1978 0.8 m (31 in) 6 5 70×80 mm (2.8×3.1 in) 430 g (15 oz) 55 V [40][41]
Nikon Fuwatto Soft (ふわっと ソフト) NF 90 f/4.8 1995 0.4 m (16 in) 2 1 60×112.5 mm (2.4×4.4 in) 300 g (11 oz) 52 W Included in Amusing Lenses (1995) / Fun Fun LensSet (2000)[42][43][44]
Rodenstock Imagon #3 (typ. Φ=65.3 mm) 200 H 5.8–11.5 1926 varies 2 1 102×78 mm (4.0×3.1 in) 510 g (18 oz) 55 (slip-on) S Most commonly found in 200, 250, or 300mm, but 170, 360, 420, and 480mm exist.[45][24][25]: 13 [46][47]
250 102×84.5 mm (4.0×3.3 in) 510 g (18 oz)
#3 or #4 300 102×91 mm (4.0×3.6 in) 540 g (19 oz) 55 or 78 (slip-on)
Notes
  1. ^ Basic method of achieving soft focus effects:
    C (conventional aperture)
    The lens is undercorrected for spherical aberration when the diaphragm is fully open. A conventional iris diaphragm is closed to minimize spherical aberration. Typically, the soft focus effect is controlled directly by the aperture setting, and these lenses do not have a separate control for soft focus.
    S (sieve aperture)
    The lens is undercorrected for spherical aberration when the diaphragm is fully open. A sieve aperture (perforated annulus) is used to change the balance of image-forming light between the relatively well-corrected center of the lens and undercorrected periphery of the lens. Light from the periphery is suppressed to minimize spherical aberration. Typically, the soft focus effect is controlled by adding or removing a physical element to the lens to restrict or add light from the periphery.
    CS (conventional + sieve aperture)
    The lens is undercorrected for spherical aberration when the diaphragm is fully open. An internal sieve aperture (perforated annulus) is permanently fixed to set a default balance of image-forming light between the relatively well-corrected center of the lens and undercorrected periphery of the lens when the diaphragm is fully open. Typically, the soft focus effect is controlled by a conventional, adjustable iris diaphragm to restrict light from the periphery. When light from the periphery is suppressed, spherical aberration is minimized.
    V (variable element spacing)
    The lens is corrected for spherical aberration. An element or group of elements is moved relative to the rest of the elements to adjust the degree of spherical aberration correction. Typically, these lenses have a separate control for the soft focus effect to displace the corrective element(s).
    W (Waterhouse aperture)
    The lens is undercorrected for spherical aberration when the diaphragm is fully open. A Waterhouse stop is added to change spherical aberration, with the smallest diaphragm openings resulting in minimal spherical aberration. Typically, the soft focus effect is controlled by the aperture selected, and these lenses do not have a separate control for soft focus.
  2. ^ a b This is a lens unit that is inserted into a mechanical body, which Lensbaby calls the Optic Swap System (OSS). OSS lens units are compatible with the Lensbaby Composer, Composer Pro, Muse, Control Freak, Spark, and Scout mechanical bodies, which are available with multiple camera system mounts, including EF, NF, A/α, PK, E/NEX, 4/3, and μ4/3.

Thambar

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Very rare Leica soft-focus Thambar lens from the 1930s with original leather case. In front, left to right: Rear cap, special dot filter, lens shade, front cap.
A portrait taken with a Leica Thambar soft-focus lens

In 1935, Leitz released a legendary soft-focus lens, the Thambar 90mm f/2.2, 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.[48]

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

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References

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  1. ^ The visual dictionary of photography. AVA Publishing. 2010. p. 232. ISBN 978-2-940411-04-7.
  2. ^ a b c "Kodak Portrait Lens 305mm (12-in.) f/4.8" (PDF). Eastman Kodak Company. 1952. Retrieved 2024-07-29.
  3. ^ Neblette, C. B.; Murray, Allen E. (1973). Photographic lenses (Revised ed.). Dobbs Ferry, New York: Morgan & Morgan, Inc. ISBN 0-87100-070-9. LCCN 64-20637. Retrieved 2024-07-29.
  4. ^ Higgins, Charlotte (2015-09-22). "Julia Margaret Cameron: soft-focus photographer with an iron will". The Guardian. Retrieved 2024-07-30.
  5. ^ Inglima, Steven (2018-02-06). "Tech Corner: Soft Effect Lenses and Filters-Still Relevant After All These Years..." photofocus. Retrieved 2024-07-30.
  6. ^ "Edward Weston 1886–1958". The Tate Museum. Retrieved 2024-07-30.
  7. ^ Brown, Hudson (2020-11-09). "The Greats: How Edward Weston Pushed Photography into Modernity". URTH. Retrieved 2024-07-30.
  8. ^ Hurter, Bill (1983). Techniques of portrait photography. Master class photography. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Inc. p. 113. ISBN 0-13-900621-4. 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. ^ "How to use the Wollensak portrait Veritar lens" (PDF). Wollensak Optical Company. December 1951. Retrieved 2024-07-30.
  10. ^ Bernstein, Gary (1985). Pro techniques of beauty & glamour photography. HPBooks. p. 7. ISBN 0-89586-364-2. LCCN 85-60457. Retrieved 2024-07-29. 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. ^ "Vest Pocket Kodak: 1912". Early Photography. Retrieved 2024-07-30.
  12. ^ 中村文夫 (2014-10-21). "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" [Vestan hood removal ~Traditional Soft Focus Lens~ Overview]. 中古カメラ・マニアックス [Used Camera Maniacs] (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-07-30.
  13. ^ 中村文夫 (2014-12-01). "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" [Removing the hood of the Vestan lens ~Traditional Soft Focus Lens~ Preparation & shooting]. 中古カメラ・マニアックス [Used Camera Maniacs] (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-07-30.
  14. ^ 田中　長徳 (2011-03-03). "ベス単フード外し" [Vestan hood removal]. Camera Kaukau (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-07-30.
  15. ^ "Shōji Ueda Photo Exhibition 'Vest Pocket Sketches: White Winds: Brilliant Scenes'". Fujifilm Square. Retrieved 2024-07-30.
  16. ^ 大浦タケシ (2016-08-02). "「ベス単フード外し」の再来か？安原製作所の新レンズ" [Is this a return of 'Vestan hood removal'? New lens from Yasuhara Manufacturing]. Watch-Impress (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-07-30.
  17. ^ Man, Richard (2021-03-05). "Pinkham & Smith VQ IV vs. Cooke Portrait lens". Richard Man Photography. Retrieved 2024-07-30.
  18. ^ Gandy, Stephen (2022-01-27). "Mystry Pinkham and Smith Visual Quality #1 Series IV B Soft Focus Lens". CameraQuest. Retrieved 2024-07-30.
  19. ^ "Busch, Emil Nicola Percsheid - Emil Busch brass lens 480mm f4,5". Barnebys Auctions. 2019-11-18. Retrieved 2024-07-30.
  20. ^ a b c d US Patent 4124276A, Yukio Okano; Akyoshi Nakamura & Toshinobu Ogura, "Soft focus lens system", published November 7, 1978, assigned to Minolta Co., Ltd. 
  21. ^ a b "New FD 85mm f/2.8 Soft Focus". Canon Camera Museum. Retrieved 2024-07-30.
  22. ^ Steiner, Shawn C. (2019-06-19). "What is Apodization?". Explora. B&H Photo-Video-Audio. Retrieved 2024-07-30.
  23. ^ "Minolta Dealer Notebook, Part 4 (Lenses)" (PDF). Minolta Corporation. 1981. Retrieved 2024-07-26 – via Pacific Rim Camera, Reference Library.
  24. ^ a b "Imagon" (PDF). Optische Werke G. Rodenstock. September 1964. Retrieved 2024-07-30.
  25. ^ a b "Camera Lenses" (PDF). Optische Werke G. Rodenstock. 1982. Retrieved 2024-07-30 – via Pacific Rim Camera, Reference Library.
  26. ^ Neblette, C. B. (1959). Photographic lens manual and directory (First ed.). New York, New York: Morgan & Morgan, Inc. LCCN 59-11726. Retrieved 2024-07-29.
  27. ^ Foo, Leo (2000). "Soft focus New FD 85mm f/2.8". Canon FD Resources, Photography in Malaysia. Retrieved 2024-07-30.
  28. ^ Sienkiewicz, Jon (2019-06-27). "Lens Review: Classic Canon EF 135mm f/2.8 with Softfocus". Shutterbug. Retrieved 2024-07-30.
  29. ^ "EF 135mm f/2.8 Soft Focus (with Softfocus mechanism)". Canon Camera Museum. Retrieved 2024-07-30.
  30. ^ "Zoom SLR: Fujica AZ-1 (brochure, Ref. No. OP1-111E)" (PDF). Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. October 1977. Retrieved 2024-08-02 – via Pacific Rim Camera, Reference Library.
  31. ^ "EBC Fujinon GX M SF 190mm 1:8" (in Japanese). Fujifilm. Retrieved 2024-08-01.
  32. ^ "The Big Show '88, Part 2: Lens lineup shows more autofocus from independents". Popular Photography. January 1989. pp. 96, 104. Retrieved 2024-07-30. Fuji announced a Rodenstock Imagon-inspired 190mm f/8 soft-focus and a 65mm f/5.6 wide-angle lens for the GX680.
  33. ^ "Fujinon Professional Lenses" (PDF). Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. November 1976. Retrieved 2024-08-02 – via Pacific Rim Camera, Reference Library.
  34. ^ "Fujinon Lenses" (PDF). D.O. Industries, Inc. August 1982. Retrieved 2024-08-02 – via Pacific Rim Camera, Reference Library.
  35. ^ "Optics: Soft Focus". Lensbaby. Archived from the original on 2010-10-31.
  36. ^ "Soft Focus Optic" (PDF). Lensbaby. 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-05-07.
  37. ^ "Lensbaby releases Fisheye and Soft Focus Optics". DPReview (Press release). 2009-10-22. Retrieved 2024-08-02.
  38. ^ "Soft Focus II Optic Only". Lensbaby. Retrieved 2024-08-02.
  39. ^ "Lensbaby Soft Focus II User Guide" (PDF). Lensbaby. 2022. Retrieved 2024-08-02.
  40. ^ "A guide to the Minolta SLR system of creative photography (SLR SYS 0209-F1)" (PDF). Minolta Camera Co., Ltd. September 1982 – via Minolta.suaudeau.eu.
  41. ^ Hands, Antony. "The Battle of the 85mm's: Minolta's Top Portrait Lenses Compared". The Rokkor Files. Retrieved 2024-07-30.
  42. ^ Ohshita, Kouichi. "NIKKOR: The Thousand and One Nights: Tale 52, Nikon Fun Fun LensSet (Gugutto Macro/Fuwatto Soft)". Nikon Imaging. Retrieved 2024-07-30.
  43. ^ Shene, Ching-Kuang (2014-05-22). "Nikon Fun Fun Lens Set". Michigan Technical University. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
  44. ^ "Nikon Amusing Lenses" (PDF) (in Japanese). Nikon Inc. November 1995. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
  45. ^ Kühn, Heinrich. "Rodenstock Imagon: Plastic Depth lens sees like the artist's eye". Translated by Rudolf Wolf. Optical Works G. Rodenstock. Retrieved 2024-08-02.
  46. ^ "Lenses for large format cameras" (PDF). Optische Werke G. Rodenstock. June 1995. Retrieved 2024-08-01 – via Camera Eccentric.
  47. ^ "History". Rodenstock Photo Optics. Retrieved 2024-08-01. 1926: Development of the legendary portrait lens Imagon.
  48. ^ a b Puts, Erwin (2005). Leica Lens Compendium. Retrieved 2024-07-30.
  49. ^ "The Velvet Effect". Lensbaby. Retrieved 2024-07-30.
  50. ^ "Mamiya-Sekor SF C 145mm f/4 Lens for Mamiya M645: Instructions" (PDF). Mamiya Camera Co., Ltd. Retrieved 2024-07-30.
  51. ^ "Mamiya RB67: Mamiya-Sekor SFC 150mm f/4 Lens Instructions" (PDF). Mamiya Camera Co., Ltd. Retrieved 2024-07-30.
  52. ^ "Mamiya RZ67 Professional IID" (PDF). Mamiya Camera Co., Ltd. Retrieved 2024-07-30 – via Pacific Rim Camera, Reference Library.
  53. ^ "First Look: New Minolta lenses, too!". Popular Photography. March 1995. p. 22. Retrieved 2024-07-26.
  54. ^ "FA 28/2.8 Soft". The Pentax K-Mount Page. Retrieved 2024-07-30.
  55. ^ "K 85/2.2 Soft". The Pentax K-Mount Page. Retrieved 2024-07-30.
  56. ^ Warner, James (2022-01-05). "What a Soft Focus speciality lens does to highlights". Snappiness: The joy of photography. Retrieved 2024-07-30.
  57. ^ "F 85/2.8 Soft". The Pentax K-Mount Page. Retrieved 2024-07-30.
  58. ^ "FA 85/2.8 Soft". The Pentax K-Mount Page. Retrieved 2024-07-30.
  59. ^ Krasnov, Sasha (2021-06-13). "Lens #6: Pentax 67 120mm F3.5 Soft". Retrieved 2024-07-30.
  60. ^ "sima SF lens 100mm F2 (1982)". Omocame World (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-07-30.
  61. ^ "Old-School Meets New School: The Portragon 100 f:4". Reed Photo. 2014-11-26. Retrieved 2024-07-30.
  62. ^ "Model 51A: Fast Portrait Zoom with Soft-Focus Feature 70~150mm F/2.8". Adaptall-2.com. Retrieved 2024-07-30.
  63. ^ "Wollensak Portrait Veritar Lenses" (PDF). Wollensak Optical Company. July 1950. Retrieved 2024-07-30.
  64. ^ "MOMO100 soft focus dreamy effect lens". Yasuhara USA. Retrieved 2024-07-30.
  65. ^ Zhang, Michael (2016-06-15). "MoMo is a Soft-Focus Lens Inspired by a 100-Year-Old Kodak Camera". PetaPixel. Retrieved 2024-07-30.
  66. ^ Hicks, Roger W. (2005-04-01). "The Leitz Thambar 90 mm f/2.2: Why Is It Considered A Legendary Portrait Lens?". Shutterbug.
  67. ^ Overgaard, Thorsten. "Technical data on the Leitz Thambar f/2.2".
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