p.6 #3 · What exactly does a lens' "rendering" mean?
To me lens' rendering is its unique fingerprint. The nuances that differentiate it from other lenses. Different characteristics may make one lens render a certain way...or give it a certain drawing style.
While it may seem vague and subjective, so does saying that you like a photographers style....or saying someone is beautiful. You'll often find discussions about what defines a person's style and why you like it. Beauty can be intellectual, physical, etc. It doesn't mean that it's a worthless word and shouldn't be used in discussion.
If you find a lens that renders in a fashion you find pleasing, it's a simple way to communicate with others and possibly find other lenses that render similarly. Could you imagine someone posting "Can you suggest a 50mm lens that has similar bokeh, LoCa, sharpness, color, contrast, field curvature, CA, etc, etc, etc." Or saying simply I really like my xxxx 50mm lens, can anyone suggest a 85mm lens that renders similarly or has a similar drawing style? As others have noted, it's not necessarily synonymous with cost or expense. And I can't imagine the term is going to disappear (again as others have noted.)
As with any topic though...you are going to have diverse opinions. But assuming the OP was trying to identify what is meant by rendering. (As in the topic of the thread "What exactly does a lens' "rendering" mean?) Having a bunch of people who don't use the term and say it's vague, subjective, or meaningless doesn't really answer the OP question. Other than letting them know that at least some people don't think is has any value in discussion.
p.6 #7 · What exactly does a lens' "rendering" mean?
Late to the party, but trmpet guy, tsdevine & jman (et al) are on board with my perspective @ rendering & drawing style.
Lens A renders more CA than Lens B
Lens B renders colors with more saturation than Lens C
Lens C renders less contrast than Lens D
Lens D renders more central sharpness than Lens E
Lens E renders corners sharper than Lens F
Lens F renders smoother bokeh than Lens G
Lens G renders more distortion than Lens H
Lens H renders more vignetting than Lens I
Lens I renders more flare than Lens J
And the list goes on ...
Optics are always a culmination of factors and series of compromises, with some of them being diametrically opposing in design. How a lens is designed to accomplish this myriad of characteristics and attributes varies with each lens, FL and design.
Now, for some ... they couldn't give a rat's patootie about the differences between lens drawing style or rendering. For others, they can spot the difference from a country mile.
Personally, when I want smooth tonal transitions, I have certain glass that I grab. When I want contrasty tonal transitions, I choose other lenses. The same can go for central sharpness vs. edge performance, etc.
Rendering or drawing style is simply a way of indicating the encompassing culmination of a lens' combined characteristics and attributes ... good, bad or indifferent, depending on your perspective and preference.
For me, the variance in a lens drawing style is akin to the variance in a painter's brushes. Some painters do their work with only one brush that they can use universally. Others have a myriad of brushes, each suited to different tasks with their own sets of pro's & con's for utilization. In that regard each brush has a different "drawing style" or "rendering" ... so it goes with glass ... choose your preference, choose your poison.
p.6 #14 · What exactly does a lens' "rendering" mean?
Masterful effort there Peter!!
Cartier-Bresson was a small format shooter I believe.
Formats can also impact the look, not sure how it fits in with the forum's definition of rendering style. Here are some large format shots from yesteryear before Henri's time (US civil war), shot in 8"x10" I believe (Makes the the term full frame sound silly. ).
Absolutely love the look. I know some guys try and reproduce this with stitching.
