Widest Aperture Medium Format Lens

[sputn1k]

Hi RFF can anyone recomend a Wider Aperture Medium Format Lens I am looking at buying a Mamiya 654 with 80mm 1.9 for bokeh/dof type photography (sorry this isn't a 100% rf topic but have seen some posts here about this camera hope its ok). Thanks!

 

[f16sunshine]

I think that 80 f1.9 is the biggest aperture lens that is practical.
There is a 100mm f2 for the hassy system and an 80f2 for contax 645 iirc.
Relative to fl and dof the Sonnar f2.8/180mm for the P6 system is your best bet. I believe there are adapters for Mamiya 645 to use that lens.
Personally I don't see a reason as I rarely shoot below f4 with any of my Medium format cameras unless the available light requires it.

 

[sputn1k]

Thanks f16 will look into those! I only shoot wide open (even with my 1.2 35mm lens), just prefer that type of photography so after a large medium format aperture lens. cheers

 

[nikon_sam]

The Mamiya 80mm 1.9 is the fastest you'll find for medium format...
Unless you're using filters, very slow film or shooting indoors it's not very often where you'll be using it wide open...top speed on the Mamiya m645's is 1/500 or 1/1000 (for the 1000s model) The newer bodies go even higher but I'm not sure what they top at...
I have this lens and rarely use it wide open plus it's not at it's sharpest at 1.9...
Good luck in buying yours...I do love using this camera...

 

[venchka]

The Pentax 6x7 system lenses of 150/2.8 & 160/2.8 might be in the same vein. Not terribly expensive. Not sure if adapters are available.

 

[ottluuk]

You might want to read about the Norita 66 with its 80/2.

Consult Norita Council's Flickr pool for examples.

 

[evanbaines]

Remember that medium format offers less depth of field at a given f-stop than 35mm. For instance, my 6x7 cameras give just a hint shallower than two stops different dof from a 35mm lens with a comparable FOV. For instance, my 110mm 2.8 lens on the RZ gives roughly the same FOV as a 55mm lens on small format and gives just a little shallower DOF than a 55mm f/1.4 wide open at a given subject distance.

Point being, f/2 on 645 or f2.8 on 6x7 is REALLY shallow.

 

[sputn1k]

thanks for the comments and suggestions everyone. looks like i will be getting the 654/1.9 🙂

 

[Denverdad]

It sounds like you found what you were looking for. But in case you ever get the craving for larger format than 645, you should know that the standard 105mm f/2.4 lens available on the Pentax 6x7 system is a great performer. As evanbaines mentioned (and sorry, you may be aware of it already) you have to consider the format as well as the absolute f/# value when considering how shallow your DOF can be. I haven't done the math to be able to tell you whether you would get more or less of that effect compared to the 80mm/1.9 in 645, but it is my understanding that the 105mm/2.4 is the fastest lens available among the larger-than-square formats.

 

[bizarrius]

i once saw on ebay a hasselblad lens 210mm f1.2 for 75k dollars. cant seem to find it now 🙁

 

[sevo]

i once saw on ebay a hasselblad lens 210mm f1.2 for 75k dollars. cant seem to find it now 🙁

There was no such thing, at least not by Hasselblad/Zeiss. Either a one-off or something adapted by another maker...

 

[raid]

The old Franka folder comes with a Schneider 2.9 lens.

 

[sevo]

The old Franka folder comes with a Schneider 2.9 lens.

Super Ikontas came with a f/2.8 Tessar as the most expensive option. But Tessar types and Triplets (the Franka had a Radionar) are rather beyond their limits at that aperture...

 

[graywolf]

Well, there was the Schneider 150mm f/2.8 Xenotar that covered 4x5.

There were some aerial photography camera lenses that were even faster, they depended on the fact that near focus was like 5000ft to provide a usable DOF.

 

[bizarrius]

There was no such thing, at least not by Hasselblad/Zeiss. Either a one-off or something adapted by another maker...

hey i'm just saying what i saw in the bay being sold for 70k.
i saved the picture. it was a f1.3 not a f1.2 though 🙂

 

[JamesFromSydney]

Also try using extension tubes, which will give you extremely shallow DoF.

 

[sevo]

hey i'm just saying what i saw in the bay being sold for 70k.
i saved the picture. it was a f1.3 not a f1.2 though 🙂

Presumably a Kilfitt Zoomatar - they had a f/1.3 lens series. Surprising to see that it covers 6x6 (or maybe it doesn't - for some technical applications the users did not mind if id delivered a smaller circular image), given that the shorter ones were designed for 18x24 cine and only just about reach 24x36 with compromised edges. Did the seller state what maker and lens type it was?

 

[bizarrius]

it said its hasseblad mount. i was looking for the auction but i can't find it. and he seemed a legitimate seller also with alot of feedback and high score :S

 

[Todd.Hanz]

I have the 80/1.9 for my Mamiya 645, a really nice lens. Heres an example:

Todd

 

[filmtwit]

Don't forget that you can get Mamiya to Canon EOS adaptor for this lens and use it on your D5 mk II

thanks for the comments and suggestions everyone. looks like i will be getting the 654/1.9 🙂