Theory and practice

[Ronald M]

My biggest suprise was a 125 Hector I cobbled to a Pentax as a test. I was my first Leica lens and I had no body. I did a roll of transpaencies with the 125 intermixed with Pentax stuff, all bought new and in good condition. The stories were true about Leica and the Hector pics were simply a cut above the Pentax. Sold all the Pentax inside 3 months, 3 bodies and 15 lenses.


The next revelation was old Nikkor lenses on my D700 Nikon. They are generally outstanding. I have 24, 35, 50, 105 all single coated. The wides loose in the very corners unless you stop well down, but new Nikkor glass is not much better. Normal and wides are full of distortion unlike my Leica glass.

I am supprised how well full frame digi works in general, but high rez scans from Leica film have a look I like better than digi.

Leicas brass cassettes are outstanding and I get no stray marks on film anymore.

Water and air filters are you best friends in the darkroom. Took me 40 years to learn because I am sometime a little slow.

 

[bmattock]

I still take photos with old copier lenses duct-taped to SLR bodies. No aperture, fixed focus (macro, usually) and so on, but I like the results from time to time.

I used to share that kind of stuff, now I don't bother. Most photographers have been completely warped and their thought patterns perverted by Adams and his ilk - the f/64 'straight photography' bastiches who destroyed William Mortensen. There is nothing wrong with what they prefer, but there is likewise nothing wrong with pictorialism either, which is what you're basically describing, Roger.

I like a nice sharp lens, and I like great accurate color rendition and high contrast punchy lenses. But I also like Rapid Rectilinear lenses and Petzval lenses and all the others - I like 'em all. I do not worship on the altar of razor-sharpness.

 

[Al Kaplan]

If you're willing to do a bit of "cobbling" look for older single coated lenses made for 35mm motion picture cameras. The wides aren't likely to cover full frame 35mm but the 50mm and longer Angenieux lenses will. Some were available in Leica rangefinder coupled mount as well as Exacta bayonet and Pentax thread. Look for 50mm f/1.5 (rare), 90mm f/2.5 (fairly common) and 90mm f/1.8 (rare) in addition to the line-up of f/2 lenses. They also had a number of 0.95 lenses.

I also miss my 125/2.3 and 150/2.3 Astro Berlin Tachars, a 4 element all air spaced design. I foolishly traded off the 125, and the 150 was stolen a few years later.

Then there was the Spiratone Portragon consisting of a +10 close-up lens mounted in a focusing mount. The focal length was 100mm and I think it was f/4.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Then there was the Spiratone Portragon consisting of a +10 close-up lens mounted in a focusing mount. The focal length was 100mm and I think it was f/4.

I had one of those too. Currently I have a Thambar, a Dreamagon, a couple of Lensbabies and a Subjectiv, all soft focus. Interesting, for the right subject.

This thread has also spawned one on Mortensen and Pictorialism.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Al Kaplan]

Some people just might be getting tired of aspheric apochromats. The math mavens have proved that the lenses can be designed, the lens companies have mastered the complexities of grinding the convoluted shapes required, glass manufacturers have achieved refractive indexes undreamed of a generation ago, coatings deliver superb contrast, while the only people who can afford buying these state of the art optics are now breaking in their eyeballs on their third set of bifocals and still can't see clearly.

Maybe it's just a matter of the older lenses doing a better job of portraying the world the way we really see it?

http://thepriceofsilver.blogspot.com

 

[danmitch]

In theory, so-called "Pro-Labs" should do a better job of developing my film without dust and scratches than I can manage at home with a few basic bits (and two kids running around)!

Unfortunately this is not the case!

 

[dee]

... and a humble Rokkor 135 / f 3.5 - on four thirds - should not work , but does - '' free '' 270mm tele !

 

[dee]

There is something hidden here ... as a mildly Autistic Interior Designer , I kinda didn't get the '' rules '' . Certainly I see solutions which others talk about endlessly , yet miss ...
it's like it gets too intellectual and they are not really looking , feeling the space , often imposing , rather than translating [ ramble alert ] I can't do sketches or approx - it has to be worked out precisly and in proportion - like a hand drawn 3dee visual ! LOL

It's the same with taking pics - my considered snapshots - I just do what feels right , which is a form of freedom maybe ? Not dee'liberate , but as result of a brain glitch - seems to work in both areas ...