Projection lenses

[Toby]

I have a bunch of others. One that I like is the Zeiss Kipronar 140mm f1.9. The Kipronars are the cheapest of the three Zeiss series, but I do like the rendering more than with the more expensive lenses, which are a bit too smooth for my taste. The first four are with the Kipronar, for which I paid the princely sum of $70...

Next is one with the Meopta Meostigmat 35mm f1.3 (which only covers 1.5x crop frame)

Next is the Meopta Meostigmat 50mm f1.0, which covers FF but unfortunately only focuses to about 20cm, even on the Sony E mount.

Next is one using a Rokkor 75mm f2.5 projection lens that I found at a local secondhand shop for $20.

Next is a Zeiss Triplet (yes, that is the name), which I reversed, since it was too smooth for my tastes the right way round (85mm f2.8 IIRC)

Next two are with a Taylor and Hobson 3 inch f1.8 lens...but...I got it when I still had my Nikon, and the flange distance was a killer, so I used only the front element group, making it something like a 135mm f3.5 effective lens with a lot of aberration. However this particular lens has quite an interesting rendering used that way. I like it anyway--you be the judge.

[Bruno Schroder]

Exceptional rendering, the Angenieux 65. Thanks for posting, Toby.

[Akira]

Hi, Toby, welcome to NG!

All images are amazing, but the last two by the front elements of T&H 3inch/f1.8 are the most impressive.  The combination of the sharpness and the shallow DOF is just stunning!

[Toby]

I do love the T&H front element rig. Sharpness drops drastically off axis, but otherwise it wouldn't have that bokeh. So you need some element more or less in the center for sharpness. A bit frustrating for composition sometimes, but hey, no traction without friction...Here are a few others with that lens, just for fun.

[beryllium10]

These are amazing photos.  Hard to choose among them, but I like the late-autumn feel of the maple leaves, and the way the background of the white flower photo seems to be in motion.

Cheers,   John

[golunvolo]

Impressive use. Great and different results. Thanks for sharing them!

[Dr Klaus Schmitt]

Excellent stuff Toby, also thanks to your very clever post-processing and micro contrast enrichment to get those nice bubbles!!

The Angenieux indeed is a killer (it is a f1.4 btw), I found one too in France, quite a pleasure to use (aside with my old 80mm Hermagis lens with similar rendering), both Petzvals. W/o your elaborate post processing results look like this for that Angenieux: https://www.flickr.com/photos/kds315/albums/72157693619188954

Those TTH front elements as Akira alfready mentioned are very impressive indeed!!

I have good news for you, the Meopta f1.0/50mm can be worked into a very useful lens for not much cost, even allowing for infinity!!
See here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/kds315/albums/72157689252505212 If you like to have this done, send me your lens and I have it done for you!

[John Geerts]

Excellent stuff Toby, also thanks to your very clever post-processing and micro contrast enrichment to get those nice bubbles!!

Yes, agree, impressive work.

[timh]

Amazing images. Difficult to choose a favourite, they are all wonderful!

[Toby]

Hi Klaus!
Thank you for that offer on the 50mm f1.0. I might take you up on it when I finish some big changes that will be happening for me in the next few months.

Yes, the Angenieux is f1.4. I also have a 95-100mm f1.2 (Type 86) of which I posted some stuff earlier in the thread. These are two of my favorite lenses overall for certain things.

I do post-process, using something called Focus Magic (or sometimes Piccure+ but the former is better IMO), then on to Topaz Detail and Topaz Clarity, aside from more mundane corrections.

Thanks for the link to your pix from the Angenieux. I have to say that I think my lens is a bit more "spinto" as the Italians say. I'm posting a couple SOOC that I took yesterday, so you can see what they look like "native."

I had a Type 75 and I have another slightly longer Type 65 that give results more like what you got. I've also found two more Type 65s (cheap!)--a 90-95mm and a 100-105mm that should be at home now and which I look forward to trying out to see what degree of swirl they have.

[Dr Klaus Schmitt]

Meyer Kinon 75mm uncoated projection lens (Petzval scheme) from 1904 (store demo lens, never ment to be sold then)
on Panasonic GH4. Contrast enhanced by 50%.

[BruceSD]

.
Lately I've been playing with an Wollensak 3" (75mm) f/1.9 Oscillo-Raptar lens that I adapted.

Here's 3 photos I took with it in the last few days...

[Toby]

I love the Oscillo Raptar. One tip I have is to reverse it, at which point it gets really wild. You may want to stop down to around f2.5 or even f3.5 to tame to bokeh. Here are a couple of examples of the lens reversed. First here is wide open, then at f 3.5, then a couple of others

[BruceSD]

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Thanks Toby.   Great advice, I'll give it a try...

[Dr Klaus Schmitt]

This is about PROJECTION lenses, Oscillo Raptars etc. are normal (well, specialized) taking lenses with aperture, not projection lenses...

Nevertheless, nice shots Bruce!