ZM 25/2.8 and SPUR Orthopan UR (ISO 20): a spooky combination

[colinh]

This shot was taken with an M3 and drastically underexposed. So at least it doesn't have my usual camera shake 🙂 Then (because the film is very curled) I dropped it (several times) on the carpet... :bang:

The vigneting was caused by my hand shielding the lens from the sun - I think.

But, apart from that one can get an impression of the lens and film's potential. (This was the film used by Zeiss to demonstrate the record-breaking resolution of the ZM25 lens).

This is Strasbourg Cathedral, and a crop therefrom.

colin

 

[alexz]

Looks wonderful, at least resolution-wise. BTW, how does it handles on M bearing in mind the absense of 25mm frame ? I'll be considering wide angle in the future, 25mm/2.8 ZM, 28mm/2.8 ZM and probably even 28mm/2.8 asph Elmarit comes to mind. I keep hearign how wonderful that 25mm/2.8 ZM is at least on resolution, but the lack of 25mm frame bugs me a little...(also bearing in mind I wear obstacles...)

 

[colinh]

Oh. might have been the M2, not the M3.

With the .72 viewfinder I peer through the VF window moving left/right/up/down. Basically everything you can see that way ends up on film - but I haven't tested that thoroughly. This won't work with glasses anyway.

Of all lenses between 24 and 35 mm, it's possible that the ZM25/2.8 is the best of the lot. (well, anything's possible 🙂 - I haven't tested them all for all conceivable properties).

Zeiss sell a highly-praised external viewfinder, which I found too expensive. CV also have one which is more reasonably priced, and probably not quite as good.

Basically, if you want a pretty wide lens (as opposed to ultra-wide, extremely-wide, quite wide or a bit wide) this is the one to get.

The film is excellent too 🙂 I could make a 4x (linear) enlargement of the crop - and the grain still isn't really noticeable...


colin

 

[Terao]

Another vote here for the Biogon 25mm. It just has "something"
Shame they don't make that film in 120, it looks interesting. Time to get the pano adapter for the Mamiya 🙂

 

[colinh]

It is a great film. The slow ISO has advantages too - you can shoot wide open on a sunny day, for instance 🙂

colin

 

[tomasis]

WONDERFULL!!!! My decision to buy zeiss 25mm is streghtned now lol

 

[colinh]

Just got another example with the ZM25 on SPUR Orthopan...

and the 100% (5400 dpi) scan:

I'm assuming you can find where the crop came from 🙂

colin

 

[Trius]

Holy crap!

 

[colinh]

One time I manage to hold my wee diddly 35mm camera halfway steady, and it get's called crap. So unfair.

😉


colin


PS. I suppose I should mention that the full picture is, ummm, well, already cropped a bit.

 

[Trius]

Rotflmao!!!

 

[venchka]

OK, how much is the lens & how much is the film? Any other photos with the same film & different lenses? Just curious.

I'm with Earl. "Holy Crap!"

Always a good thing I would add. Damn shame we can't get this emulsion on 120 & 4x5 film bases.

 

[FrankS]

OK, how much is the lens & how much is the film? Any other photos with the same film & different lenses? Just curious.

I'm with Earl. "Holy Crap!"

Always a good thing I would add. Damn shame we can't get this emulsion on 120 & 4x5 film bases.

Do you think you'd see a difference? 😉

My bad.

 

[Tom A]

I agree but under a different heading" Holy Crop!" That is one sweet film. I haven't had a chance to find it here in Vancouver, but it seems wortwhile to get some shipped from Europe. Smoother tonalities than tech Pan and the fact that this was obviously shot in a rather contrasty situation, it handles that much better than TP would do,even in Technidol or a P.O.T.A type developer. I still have about 8-900 ft of Tech Pan in the freezer, but this one looks much better.

 

[colinh]

OK, how much is the lens & how much is the film? Any other photos with the same film & different lenses? Just curious.

The lens is cheap (compared to the 35 ASPH), the film is normal 🙂

I've posted often on this film (seems almost obsesive, but I don't use this film all the time) so do a search here and maybe on the Leica User Forum.

The film is the same as the ADOX CMS 20. You develop it in a specific developer from SPUR or ADOX (the developer may or may not be identical). The film is made by Agfa Gevaert in Belgium.

Another example taken with my Contax RTS II, Zeiss Planar 85/1.4:

There's a 100% crop on my leica-users-gallery.

I've put a full resolution scan on flickr - but only for "friends". (so you can't see it. I don't have any friends 🙁 )

I'm with Earl. "Holy Crap!"

Always a good thing I would add. Damn shame we can't get this emulsion on 120 & 4x5 film bases.

Yes, it's a shame. But, inpractice, not really necessary 🙂

colin

 

[colinh]

I hope you ordered the SPUR Nanospeed UR developer that goes with it!

Don't forget to try the odd shot with a tripod, cable release and high shutter speed and/or flash and all that. 🙂


colin

 

[troym]

Colin: Has another company stepped in to manufacture this film now that Agfa is defunct?

 

[ath]

ADOX CMS20 (btw. identical to SPUR Orthopan UR) is manufactured by Agfa Gevaert in Belgium, alive and kicking.

Actually this film outperforms all (?) scanners; I pointed my EOS50 with an EF 50/1,8 at an USAF chart and recorded 180lp/mm (sic!) at f/8. With tripod of course. Grain? What is grain?
Sadly the film does not deliver much headroom to burn in lights.

 

[colinh]

ADOX CMS20 (btw. identical to SPUR Orthopan UR) is manufactured by Agfa Gevaert in Belgium, alive and kicking.

The film is the same as the ADOX CMS 20. You develop it in a specific developer from SPUR or ADOX (the developer may or may not be identical). The film is made by Agfa Gevaert in Belgium.

Were you quoting me? 🙂 NB. Agfa Gevaert NV (Belgium) is not the same as Agfa Foto AG (Germany). Look at their website if you're interested in the history. NB2. Not to start any stupid rumors, Agfa Gevaert is a different company. They don't make APX films. OK?

Actually this film outperforms all (?) scanners; I pointed my EOS50 with an EF 50/1,8 at an USAF chart and recorded 180lp/mm (sic!) at f/8. With tripod of course. Grain? What is grain?

Ah well, the Zeiss Biogon ZM 25/2.8 got 400 lp/mm at f/4 (in the centre). 🙂

Sadly the film does not deliver much headroom to burn in lights.

That seems to be true - the highlights (in the hair) in the portrait above are completely blown out, whereas, as you can see from the Strasbourg Cathedral shot, underexposing doesn't seem so bad. (The negs are nearly clear!!!)


colin

 

[colinh]

I bought the Adox CMS 20 with Adotech. And I will definately try it with tripod/cable release!

OK, you read the bit about a tripod 🙂 Did you read the bit about the special developer? (I've only mentioned it a couple of times so far, and some people (not you 🙂 ) don't READ.

You need the developer that goes with it, OK?

ie. ADOX ADOTECH CMS developer.


colin