Descriptive terms for bokeh

alanrockwood · Jan 27, 2022

I thought this might be a fun topic to discuss. What words and phrases have you heard of or used to describe the bokeh of a lens?

I'll prime the pump by listing a few: smooth, creamy, harsh, swirly, bubble, onion.

Sirius Glass · Jan 27, 2022

For mirror lenses the bokeh is shaped like little donuts without the calories.

Bill Burk · Jan 27, 2022

I recall an illustration where a lens can have…

“The good bokeh” where the out of focus shape is filled with a smooth tone, and “The bad bokeh” where the out of focus area has a bright outer ring and darker interior.

And it’s heartbreaking when you find out your lens has “The bad bokeh” because there is nothing you can do about it but pretend it doesn’t matter.

Sirius Glass · Jan 27, 2022

Bill Burk said:
I recall an illustration where a lens can have…

“The good bokeh” where the out of focus shape is filled with a smooth tone, and “The bad bokeh” where the out of focus area has a bright outer ring and darker interior.

And it’s heartbreaking when you find out your lens has “The bad bokeh” because there is nothing you can do about it but pretend it doesn’t matter.

OR you put up for sale on eBay as "rare and hard to find", "highly desired".

Arthurwg · Jan 27, 2022

Schmutz?

NB23 · Jan 28, 2022

Smooteh
Softeh
Blurreh

wiltw · Jan 28, 2022

smooth
harmonious
pleasing
bad

Nitroplait · Jan 28, 2022

Nervous

Ivo Stunga · Jan 28, 2022

Arthurwg said:
Schmutz?

I read that as a Lens model/manufacturer

Helge · Jan 28, 2022

I have yet to see an example of objectionable bokeh.
It’s like discussing flavors of ice cream or the weather.

It’s not even the platitude “it’s subjective”, because at times it’s all good with the right mindset and approach.
Even the super imposing mirror doughnut can look very appealing with the right kind of subject and/or approach.

Also of course the bokeh will often completely change character with distance, focus distance, aperture and even shutter speed with central shutters.

Look at the Japanese origin and etymology of the word for a real grokking and explanation of the term.

It’s origin is in the concept of “ma”/ 間 https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ma_(negative_space) and in the use of manually graduated colour patches to woodblock prints.

benjiboy · Jan 28, 2022

It's not a term I ever use.

miha · Jan 28, 2022

To start with it's boke.

foc · Jan 28, 2022

When I studied photography,(a long time ago) I don't remember the term being used.
It would have been called outside the depth of field or iris blur.
We were taught that if it drew attention away from the subject then it was undesirable, just like lens flare.

To answer the OP's question, my description would be "smooth and creamy".

NB23 · Jan 28, 2022

miha said:
To start with it's boke.

It’s Bouquet. But whatever.

miha · Jan 28, 2022

NB23 said:
It’s Bouquet. But whatever.

Bokeh, Bouquet, Bucket... all the same.

Ivo Stunga · Jan 28, 2022

NB23 said:
It’s Bouquet. But whatever.

Actually it's 暈け/ボケ, but whatever - we all get it that's what matters.

wiltw · Jan 28, 2022

miha said:
To start with it's boke.

Interestingly, while the 'h' was added per the 1997 article printed in the Photo Techniques magazine (Mike Johnston editor), Zeiss uses the 'bokeh' spelling officially,, too.
https://lenspire.zeiss.com/photo/app/uploads/2018/04/Article-Bokeh-2010-EN.pdf

NB23 · Jan 28, 2022

Ivo Stunga said:
Actually it's 暈け/ボケ, but whatever - we all get it that's what matters.

bucket in japanese, please

Ivo Stunga · Jan 28, 2022

According to Wikipedia it's Bokeh - a term of Japanese origin.

Duck Duck Go (uses Bing I guess) agrees

Google Translate gives the same result.

Where did you get your bucket?

NB23 said:
bucket in japanese, please

wiltw · Jan 28, 2022

Ivo Stunga said:
According to Wikipedia it's Bokeh - a term of Japanese origin.

Duck Duck Go (uses Bing I guess) agrees
View attachment 296908

Google Translate gives the same result.
View attachment 296909

Where did you get your bucket?

^
Per the aforementioned Wikipedia article...
"The English spelling bokeh was popularized in 1997 in Photo Techniques magazine, when Mike Johnston, the editor at the time, commissioned three papers on the topic for the May/June 1997 issue; he altered the spelling to suggest the correct pronunciation to English speakers, saying "it is properly pronounced with bo as in bone and ke as in Kenneth, with equal stress on either syllable".[11]"

No boo-kay, no buck-it

Arthurwg · Jan 29, 2022

I thought it was Yiddish.

snusmumriken · Jan 29, 2022

alanrockwood said:
What words and phrases have you heard of or used to describe the bokeh of a lens?

Bummer?

markjwyatt · Jan 29, 2022

How about some examples?

Smooth: (Carl Zeiss Optron 50mm f2 Sonnar). Probably at f2.8 or f4

TeslaX by Mark Wyatt, on Flickr

Bubbly/smooth: Carl Zeiss 50mm f1.8 Ultron (likely at f1.8)

Wine Glass by Mark Wyatt, on Flickr

Smooth: Carl Zeiss Jena 58mm f2 Biotar

weed by Mark Wyatt, on Flickr

Smooth: Carl Zeiss 50mm f1.8 Ultron close to open

flowers by Mark Wyatt, on Flickr

Disturbing Carl Zeiss 50mm f1.8 Ultron

Honeysuckle Realized by Mark Wyatt, on Flickr

markjwyatt · Jan 29, 2022

Here are a couple with the Nikkor-PC 105mm f2.5 (Contax mount) [Sonnar design]

f8-f11, maybe 20 foot focus
Soft

ex-tree by Mark Wyatt, on Flickr

Closer to wide open
Smooth

honeysuckle by Mark Wyatt, on Flickr

markjwyatt · Jan 29, 2022

CZJ 50mm f2.8 Tessar; probably f2.8 for f4

Smooth with some splotchiness; minor bubbles

fountain1 by Mark Wyatt, on Flickr

Closer to f8
Smmoth/soft

fountain2 by Mark Wyatt, on Flickr

Descriptive terms for bokeh

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