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Re:Clinically clean lenses are destroying what makes cameras... by dannyw on Saturday July 09, 2022 @06:17AM (#32033598)
Are there any budget-friendly lens (assuming vintage) that also showcases this effect?
Re:Clinically clean lenses are destroying what makes cameras... by pixelfarmer on Tuesday July 12, 2022 @11:49AM (#32071679)
Sorry for the late reply. And I have no idea what other lenses show this effect, but I wouldn't exclude that possibility. From what I gathered you will need a field curvature where towards the edges the focus runs away from the camera. It needs to be a somewhat faster lens, because stopped down the effect is less pronounced. And finally, it should be sharp enough to convey this "in focus" vs. "out of focus".

I didn't know about all this at the time I got the Leica, only that it had field curvature wide open, and learned these things through using it. But considering available pictures online, there are maybe ways to figure the field curvature out, because most test/review sites are rather useless in that regard:

https://www.dpreview.com/opinion/4042117089/roger-cicala-why...

and for some additional info on top of that

https://www.dpreview.com/articles/1351719699/roger-cicala-fi...

Once you have seen these "special" images and their look it also makes it easier skimming through images from other lenses if they show that here and there.

Roger also jokes about the 3D-pop at the end of the 2nd link, but considering that tilt-shift lenses can produce a miniature look by meddling with the "field curvature", getting specific other looks through usage of actual field curvature isn't too far fetched of a concept. It is some sort of an optical illusion in the end.