furcafe
Veteran
A beautiful lens, and a great performer too. I know that there are several versions of this lens out there, but I have never seen a definitive history of my version of this lens. I would appreciate any info RFF folks could provide
Agreed on the Amotal's imaging quality. Examples of shots w/the 2" from my flickr:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/furcafe/tags/taylortaylorhobson2inch2cookeamotalanastigmatc1948 50/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/furcafe/tags/taylortaylorhobson2inch2cookeamotalanastigmatltmc194850/
As 1 data point, my LTM example looks just like yours. I also have 3 in Foton mount & the rare lens hood.
Erik van Straten
Veteran
Can you show us that lens hood? I've never seen one. I have a well fitting black velvet lined "Chess-United USA" hood, but I don't know if it is the original one.
Erik.
furcafe
Veteran
Can you show us that lens hood? I've never seen one. I have a well fitting black velvet lined "Chess-United USA" hood, but I don't know if it is the original one.
Erik.
Here you go. It's not pretty, but it works. I think it's approximately 34mm (possibly something in imperial units, or in a non-standard pitch for cinema lenses?); I've never seen your "Chess-United" after-market hood, but it looks like the same thread pitch. It's 2 pieces, w/the front ring unscrewing to allow the use of Series VI filters, which can also be used on most of the lenses for that other great failed American RF system, the Kodak Ektra (& the 100/3.5 on the Kodak Medalist II).
Erik van Straten
Veteran
Furcafé, thanks for showing! When I see one for sale, I'll grab it.
Erik.
Erik.
Ambro51
Collector/Photographer
The Foton was used by a sports photographer during (if I recall correctly) to capture the winning run, ball in flight, of the 1947 World Series. He positioned himself in advance, and used the 4” lens. That was using the power advance.
furcafe
Veteran
1960 according to this article: https://deadspin.com/the-story-of-th...ame-1825503587
Marvin Newman worked w/Mark Kauffman, who was known to use a Foton, too, at Sports Illustrated, so maybe it was the pool "action" camera.
IIRC, Norm Goldberg (DAG's father) created a Visoflex-like attachment for the Foton for a sports photographer.
dexdog
Veteran
Can you show us that lens hood? I've never seen one. I have a well fitting black velvet lined "Chess-United USA" hood, but I don't know if it is the original one.
Erik.
Furcafe, thanks for the picture of the lens hood. I will have to look for one of these on Ebay. These hoods do not look like much, sorta like a beat up old hood on a 8mm cine/movie camera lens
dexdog
Veteran
Furcafe, I looked at your images on the first link. Wow, just wow! Great work, good compostion throughout, and I absolutely love the colors and the overall rendering of images, even those that appear from OOF areas to be taken at larger apertures. Also admit to being attracted by the retro attire of some of the women. Unfortunately, second link did not work for me, but could be my VPN and security software. Thanks for posting. I really gotta use this lens more
furcafe
Veteran
Thanks! Re: the color & OOF rendering, I think the Amotal design is 1 of the lenses responsible for the high reputation of TTH lenses in the cinema world. The 1st link is to photos taken w/the Foton versions & the 2nd is to photos taken w/the LTM version. I actually dropped a character or something from the 2nd URL (fixed now): https://www.flickr.com/photos/furcaf...matltmc194850/
dexdog
Veteran
Yep, second link now works. Thanks! Second gallery is great, too. I have used a lot of vintage lenses on both film RF and mirrorless digital cameras, mostly Sony. I don't know what it is about the Amotal design, but this lens seems to makes colors stand out/pop without being overdone or obtrusive. With digital cameras I usually dial the color down to "normal" or slightly below, instead of the standard mode, which to me appears as amped-up old time Fujicolor, i.e., too saturated.
furcafe
Veteran
Yeah, I've used the LTM Amotal on my a9, which is a nice platform for all of my vintage lenses that are too out of spec to work reliably w/the RF on my M10. Because of the lightweight barrel, it actually works well on the Sony Alphas using the Techart autofocus adapter.
dexdog
Veteran
I may have to check out the Techart adapters, i really like the a7iii, have considered buying an a9. I second your thought about mirrorless cameras performing well on outta spec lenses; I appear to have a number of those, all of which are now quite usable.
boojum
Ignoble Miscreant
This is what pisses me off. I have a highly recommended Canon 1.8 coming but am ever impressed by the "glow" of the Amotal. It may be an illusion, yes. I may be deceiving myself. But as I photograph mainly to please myself then it works, I am happy. I'll try the Canon a lot. The Amotal is attached to the film Foton which complicates it a bit. But I can shoot M8 and M9 which is within an arm's length of film and good color on its own. I have no need for the Amotal but I sure think I would like one.
People used to say that coke was God's way of telling you that you had too much money. I think it is lenses, just another addiction.
boojum
Ignoble Miscreant
Are you shooting film or digital in the second link?
furcafe
Veteran
I'm at least 5 years behind on putting public photos on Flickr, so AFAIK, the shots w/that tag are all film. Here are some more recent digital shots from my IG:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CVMFrOMNcr7/
https://www.instagram.com/p/CVWodyJNvrz/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BfoXumFlhB3/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BZ-SAH3FVom/
dexdog
Veteran
The Canon 50/1.8 is a very good lens for both B&W and color, IMO. My opinion about that Amotal is nothing more than that, an opinion. I think that in many cases, opinions on lenses is similar to preferences in wine or distilled spirits, merely an expression of what you like. For example, I like tequila, but prefer the cheap gold stuff to the silver anejo that cost a lot more. Give the Canon 50mm f 1.8 a try, you might like it.
boojum
Ignoble Miscreant
Thanks for the links, I guess. LOL This is how we lost the farm. ;o)
There does seem to be something special about the lens. I have to shoot a bunch with the Canon 1.8 when it gets here. Thanks.
boojum
Ignoble Miscreant
I am going to run that lens ragged. For <US$200 delivered from Japan and rated as Exec+++++ from a seller with a 100% rating I think I may have made out alright. It was highly recommended to me by someone who knows lenses. The worst possible outcome is that I bought a good 50mm. I believe I have done better. But I may have to be lashed to the mast like Ulysses to resist the siren song of the Amotal. I'll work the 50mm 1.8 hard. And no rush on an Amotal. They seem to be slow moving and there will always be another.
And FWIW, I sure appreciate all the help the members have so freely offered. This is terra incognita for me and I have no compass. Your guidance is invaluable. Thanks to all of you.
boojum
Ignoble Miscreant
I'm jonesing for an Amotal again and I have just gone through your photos and notice that they, and those taken by others, seem to look like cinema color, shading and definition. I know cinema gooses the audio a bit in the voice range. Do cinema lenses slightly emphasize colors in the flesh tone range? Can it be done with all the various skin tones? Is there some spillover from THC cinema lenses into photo lenses? Does anyone know?
boojum
Ignoble Miscreant
Has anyone information on the Leica L-mount to Leica M-mount or LTM conversion adapter?