I've been screwing around with an Opteka 500mm f/6.3 mirror lens. It has "soft" focus which can be an understatement for some people. I use it more as an art lens, simply for the bokeh. I've played around with changing the bokeh as well. The f-stop is fixed on these lenses, you can't change it. However, I was thinking, could different sized bokeh filters that block light be a poorman's way of changing the f-stop or can that be done at the aperture only? Technically, I could place such a restrictive "filter" on the front or the back of the lens. Though, the back filter would need to be purchased, not DIY'd and use step down filter rings.
Here's what 100% in-focus looks like at about 18-20 meters. The photo has been cropped, but the bird is at full size. The DoF is really thin on these lenses. Like in this scene, the bird is in the middle of the DoF and the DoF is only about 8-10 inches wide. I thought, I'd ask, before I started cutting up craft foam I could be using for other things.
>>3196971Waiting is easy. Regretting you didn't wait may not be as easy. You could also save up some money in that amount of time even if it doesn't lower in price, you'll still be able to get exactly what you want and feel good about it.
