I am a sucker for this kind of specialty lens. It’s not that I like gimmicks, but that I just have to see for myself, and often send it back if it is not “special.” The new Venus Optics Laowa Smooth Trans-Focus 105mm f/2 (T/3.2) is such a lens, having within it two separate apertures, one with a “14-blade diaphragm [T-stop] that works mainly in conjunction with the APD (apodization) element to control bokeh, as well as a standard 8-blade diagram at the rear of the lens to control the overall light transmission and affect depth-of-field.” The quote is what their advertising states.
However, in a personal e-mail with the company, they state the following:
“When you take stills, please use the f-stop. When you take videos, please use the t-stop. When you are using one of them, the other one should be left wide open.”
Now, this does not relate to all kinds of other statements floating around, many of which say the two are used in conjunction with one another to achieve the effects. And the email does not comport with the statement in their advertising. So which is it?
I have tried taking photos both ways, using either of the apertures, with the other left wide open. Perhaps some of you who understand the theory of this lens can point out which of these two apertures is the right one for the great bokeh. Both methods produce identical results IMO.
However, in order to shoot close, I have had to use some extension, so that may have destroyed the effect? Any ideas?
