Bronica lens testing Nikkor 75 p, 75 HC, Zenzanon 80mm and 100mm

[shawn]

Not sure if anyone is interested but.... I burned a roll in my EC TL II comparing the Nikkor 75 P, 75-H.C and the Zenzanon 80mm and 100mms. Everything on a tripod, using mirror lock up. Same exposures across the lenses.

Fomapan 400 developed in HC-110 at 100:1 stand. Scanned on my S1R with Sigma 105 at ISO 100 F11 for 1 second each. Negative Lab pro converted images the same way.

Can only put in 3 pics per post so this will take a few posts...

Nikkor P 75 @2.8
P1013829 by Shawn F, on Flickr

Nikkor HC 75 @2.8
P1013831 by Shawn F, on Flickr

Zenzanon 80 @ 2.8
P1013834 by Shawn F, on Flickr


My take going side by side in LR is the HC is sharper overall (esp into the corners) and has a little more contrast than the other two. The P vignettes the most, then the HC with the Zenzanon having the least.

 

[shawn]

This is the Zenzanon 100mm at f2.8

P1013836 by Shawn F, on Flickr

and at f5.6

P1013837 by Shawn F, on Flickr

 

[shawn]

Nikkor P 75 @f5.6
P1013830 by Shawn F, on Flickr

Nikkor HC 75 @f5.6

P1013832 by Shawn F, on Flickr

Zenzanon 80 @f5.6

P1013835 by Shawn F, on Flickr

At 5.6 the HC might be *slightly* sharper than the other two (little more so against the P on the sides) and still has a touch more contrast. Splitting hairs though.

 

[shawn]

These were for closer in trying to see the separation and background but the lighting threw it off so it is harder to see differences. The HC is still sharper than the P though now the 80 seems sharpest overall though the slight exposure difference might play a roll there.

The HC bokeh isn't quite as nervous as the P and the 80 definitely has less DOF as expected.

Nikkor P 75 @2.8 1/60
P1013838 by Shawn F, on Flickr

Nikkor HC 75 @f2.8 1/60
P1013839 by Shawn F, on Flickr

Zenzanon 80mm @f2.4 1/60
P1013840 by Shawn F, on Flickr

 

[shawn]

Zoomed in in LR

 

[Retro-Grouch]

Exactly my experience; the HC is a fair amount better than the P. In the "real world" (whatever that is), both are good lenses. The 100, however, rocks. Even mine, with a slight amount of haze around one edge, has become my go-to Bronica lens. Thanks for posting these!

 

[trix4ever]

So I went to check which lens I had on my EC and it's a 75mm f2.8 nikkor p c, how does that relate to these lenses?

 

[shawn]

I don’t have that lens but I think it is a multicoated version of the P lens with the same optical formula.

 

[trix4ever]

Thank you. I just found a post from Jason Schneider that states exactly that.

 

[shawn]

Exactly my experience; the HC is a fair amount better than the P. In the "real world" (whatever that is), both are good lenses. The 100, however, rocks. Even mine, with a slight amount of haze around one edge, has become my go-to Bronica lens. Thanks for posting these!

Totally agree about the 100mm. When viewed at same size as the 75HC @2.8 it is sharper (though the focal length will play a roll there) and it vignettes less. My last roll in the EC TLII was all the 100mm and I really like how it renders.





Forgot to mention I didn't apply any sharpening to these files.

 

[AgBr]

I have to mostly agree here. I don't have the Nikkor HC to compare, but I do have the Zenzanon 75mm 2.8 and I think it is better than the Nikkor 75mm P-C. When I bought into the system it was for the Nikkor lenses and none of them have disappointed me. To be fair the Zenzanon lenses are just as good if not better.