This is the beginning of a thread on what I call “Impressionistic” or “mood” lenses, many of them old styles of lenses being revived and manufactured. Some of our posters here have an interest in lenses like these, including Jakov Minić, Akira, myself, and others.
Not an historian, but it looks like interest in this type of lens came from the Carl Zeis Jena Biotar 58mm f/2 lens from the 1920s. This lens became famous for its sharpness and its extreme bokeh, when shot wide open. Often used on the micro 4/3 systems, it was available mainly in M42 mounts, but apparently also in Exacta and Paktina mounts. It has 6 lens elements and a minimum focusing distance of 60 cm (23.6 inches). The original Biotar had a black finish, but subsequently silver and other finishes were offered.
The Biotar is an example of what is called a Double-Gauss Lens, which involves:
“… two back-to-back Gauss lenses (a design with a positive meniscus lens of the object side and a negative meniscus lens on the image side) making two positive meniscus lenses on the outside with two negative meniscus lenses inside them. The symmetry of the system and the splitting of the optical power into many elements reduces the optical aberrations within the system.” --’ Wikipedia.
The Biotar has been systematically copied by other manufacturers, most notably the Russians, who mass-produced this style lens with copies like the Helios 44 58mm f/1 and others, most often with the M42 mount, or with a M39 thread, especially for the Zenit cameras.
These lenses have become legendary for what is called their “swirling bokeh. The lenses are very flare prone, quite heavy, and must be stopped down for normal photography. However, that is not how it is generally used these days. Instead, it is most often used wide open under sunny conditions, which does wild things with specular highlights and light, in general.
Perhaps the most common forms of these lenses are copies of the Zeiss Boitar 58mm f/2 made in Russia by KMZ, MMZ, and Jupiter from 1958 until the late 1990s, in particular the Helios M44-2 and the Helios-44M, both with 8 aperture blades, and a range of f/2 – f/16. Both models function similarly, although the 44M is heavier and more solidly built. To reduce flare, a hood of some type is usually required.
The Zenit MC Helios 40-2 85mm lens with M42 mount, also Russian Made, is also a popular lens that displays similar light effects to those noted above. It takes a 67mm filter and lens hood.
The recent reissue by Lomography of the New Petzval Art Lens, a copy of a Viennese lens from 1840, is currently interesting filmmakers and photographers because of its sharpness and the swirly bokeh effect mentioned above. The Petzval has a focal length of 85mm, f/2.2 – f/16 and a 44mm image circle. It weighs 0.68 kg (24 ounces). A Nikon mount is available.
Another lens with similar characteristics is the FUJINON 55mm f/1.8 lens with a 42mm Screw Mount, often available on Ebay for a reasonable price.
And Lensbaby has recently released the Lens Baby Velvet 56mm f/1.6 for Nikon and Canon mounts, which is a sturdy lens, again, exhibiting the special bokeh, etc. we are looking at here.
Another lens worth considering is the CRT-Nikkor (Nikkor-O) 55mm f/1.2, which also can do wonderful things with light and focus.
I am not an expert on these lenses, but I have all except the Petzval (which I am resisting), and am gradually learning how to use them as I find the time. .
I thought this trend deserves its own general thread, so here it is.
Here is a sample photo on the Nikon D810 and the Lensbaby 56mm f/1.6 giving (not the best) example (I am just learning!) of what we might be after. Since I am a sharpness freak, I have to kind of hold my nose and shoot. I am also VERY interested in photographic impressionism, so I would like to learn this, if I can.
