21 f/4.5 Biogon-C too contrasty?

[kzphoto]

I've been shooting this lens off and on for about 2 months now. I can't help but notice that my shadows go black really fast. Is this typical of this lens? Underexposure is tamed -- Everything is incident metered at +2/3 stop.

What gives?

 

[Tim Gray]

What film are you shooting on?

Apparently I shoot mine with almost 100% B&W film. It's certainly not a low contrast lens, but I can't say I've really had any problems with it in terms of shadow exposure. Nothing like your first shot.

 

[kzphoto]

I am shooing Kodak Portra 400 rated at 250. This film works great in my other cameras but in my M4 + this lens, I get this weird deep shadow contrast.

 

[Tim Gray]

Is it something to do with the scanning?

I will say that near the edges of my frames, shadow detail does tend to go down the tubes with this lens since it vignettes so much.

Here's two (of my 3 color shots with this lens) on Portra 400NC-3, shot at 400. Probably incident metered.


the grill by ezwal, on Flickr


. by ezwal, on Flickr

 

[kzphoto]

Could be the scans, but I doubt it. They're from a mini lab that I operate. I do the scanning/processing myself.

I'll put another roll through this lens. Maybe the shutter on my M4 is running fast!

 

[Tim Gray]

Hmm. Sounds like you know what you are doing then with the scanning. Can't think of any thing else...

 

[Luna]

Looking at my shots, I can't find one that matches what you are experiencing unless I intentionally underexposed.

 

[kzphoto]

Looking at my negs now, some look really under exposed. Something is amiss with the camera I think. Maybe a CLA is in order.