Lomography, a company known for its creative and experimental photography products, has launched a Kickstarter campaign for its latest invention: the Nour Triplet 64mm f/2 Bokeh Control Art Lens. This lens is designed to give photographers and videographers the ability to control the spherical aberration of their images, resulting in three distinct bokeh effects: Soft, Classic, and Soap Bubble.
What is Spherical Aberration and How Does It Affect Bokeh?
Spherical aberration is a type of optical distortion that occurs when light rays from a point source do not converge at a single focal point. This causes the image to appear blurred or fuzzy, especially near the edges. Spherical aberration can also affect the shape and quality of the out-of-focus areas of an image, also known as bokeh.
Bokeh is a term derived from the Japanese word “boke”, which means “blur” or “haze”. Bokeh refers to the aesthetic quality of the blur produced by a lens, such as the smoothness, color, and shape of the light points. Bokeh can enhance the mood and atmosphere of an image, as well as draw attention to the main subject.
Different lenses have different levels and types of spherical aberration, which can create different bokeh effects. Some lenses have minimal spherical aberration, resulting in sharp images with smooth and uniform bokeh. Some lenses have moderate spherical aberration, resulting in soft images with slightly swirled bokeh. Some lenses have high spherical aberration, resulting in dreamy images with bubble-shaped bokeh.
How Does the Nour Triplet Lens Control Bokeh?
The Nour Triplet Lens is inspired by the historical and scientific work of Hasan Ibn al-Haytham, who was one of the first to study and document the phenomenon of spherical aberration. The lens is handcrafted from brass and features a unique design that allows users to adjust the level of spherical aberration by turning a control knob on the lens barrel.
The lens has three settings for bokeh control: Soft, Classic, and Soap Bubble. Each setting produces a different level of spherical aberration and a different bokeh effect. The Soft setting creates a gentle blur with a slight swirl, ideal for creating timeless and ethereal scenes. The Classic setting creates a sharp contrast between the subject and the background, ideal for highlighting details and emotions. The Soap Bubble setting creates a mesmerizing separation between the subject and the background, ideal for adding drama and texture.
The lens also features a dual aperture mechanism that consists of an iris-style aperture ring and a special-shaped drop-in aperture plate at the rear of the lens. The iris-style aperture ring allows users to adjust the amount of light entering the lens, while the drop-in aperture plate allows users to change the shape of the bokeh. The lens comes with six different drop-in aperture plates that create various shapes such as stars, hearts, diamonds, circles, triangles, and squares.
The lens has a versatile 64mm focal length that is suitable for various genres of photography and videography, such as portraits, landscapes, street scenes, still life, and more. The lens has a minimum focusing distance of 0.6 meters and a field of view of 37 degrees. The lens is compatible with Canon RF, Nikon Z, and Sony E mount cameras.
What are the Benefits of Using the Nour Triplet Lens?
The Nour Triplet Lens is designed to offer creative control and artistic expression to photographers and videographers who want to experiment with different bokeh effects. The lens allows users to switch between three distinct styles of bokeh with a simple twist of a knob, without having to change lenses or use filters. The lens also allows users to customize their bokeh with different shapes using the drop-in aperture plates.
The lens can create stunning images and videos that showcase the mood and personality of the subject and the scene. The lens can also create powerful transitions between different bokeh effects by adjusting the control knob during shooting. The lens can help users achieve their creative vision and tell their stories in a unique way.
How Can You Get Your Hands on the Nour Triplet Lens?
The Nour Triplet Lens is currently available for pre-order on Kickstarter until November 3rd, 2023. The lens has two color options: brass or black aluminum. The early-bird price for the aluminum version is $335 USD (about 24% off retail price), while the early-bird price for the brass version is $410 USD (about 25% off retail price). The expected delivery date is before December 24th, 2023.
The Kickstarter campaign also offers various rewards and bundles for backers who pledge higher amounts or multiple lenses. Some of these rewards include Lomography film packs, Lomography camera straps, Lomography tote bags, Lomography t-shirts, Lomography notebooks, Lomography pins, Lomography stickers, Lomography postcards, and more.
If you are interested in getting your own Nour Triplet Lens, you can visit the Kickstarter page and make your pledge. You can also check out some sample images and videos taken with the lens on the page, as well as learn more about the history and science behind the lens.
