Five sample photos from my Contessa 35

[Rich Silfver]

Sorry, I managed to delete the thread I posted yesterday with these photos when I went in to do an edit. (My apologies to the people that had posted comments on it).


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So...got the first roll back that I put through my new-old Contessa 35.

I'm still a bit on the fence about the lens. It does not appear to be as sharp as my recently tested Sonnar 50/1.5 (on my Contax IIIa) - and definetly not as sharp as my Summicron 50. I also had to boost the contrast a bit in post-processing in order to get it to where I prefer it. I normally do so but the results from this lens required more work in that area than I normally find to be necessary.

Some of the photos had a yellow Zeiss filter on it.
Putting another roll through the camera and will use the hood on it this time (something I didn't do on the first test roll).

Here's the camera used:

And..on to some sample photos from the first test roll:
#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

 

[JimG]

Rich, Get off that fence these are great shots. I think you scored a great camera & lens. Jim

 

[stet]

Rich, these shots look as great as the camera. The tones and crispness in the two street photos are outstanding. Did you have the filter on for the first and last photos, and did you boost the contrast already on those? They're a little grayer, but still look good.

 

[Rich Silfver]

Rich, Get off that fence these are great shots. I think you scored a great camera & lens. Jim

I'm not 100% there yet Jim. The scans were pretty flat and I had to do some selective sharpening and contrast boost that goes beyond what I normally have to do. I will put it down to it being the first test roll through the camera and the fact that the lab might have had a bad day (and/or my scanning capabilities that day).

We'll see what the next test roll will look like.

 

[Rich Silfver]

Rich, these shots look as great as the camera. The tones and crispness in the two street photos are outstanding. Did you have the filter on for the first and last photos, and did you boost the contrast already on those? They're a little grayer, but still look good.

Filter used on: 1, 3 and 4
No filter on: 2 and 5

 

[jlw]

I really like the look of the way you've scanned and posted these. Makes me feel as if I should get my Contessa out!

May I ask what film/process you're using? My past experience with my Contessa is that the Tessar doesn't really have much of a "look" -- basically sharp, contrasty, and personality-free. Your shots seem more atmospheric somehow...

 

[Rich Silfver]

May I ask what film/process you're using? My past experience with my Contessa is that the Tessar doesn't really have much of a "look" -- basically sharp, contrasty, and personality-free. Your shots seem more atmospheric somehow...

The film was Tri-X 400. Scanned on an Epson 3200 flatbed scanner at 1600 dpi.
In photoshop I;
- adjusted levels, contrast and brightness,
- applied some unsharpening (about 115, 0.3 and 4 at the final image size),
- did some dodging in some areas I wanted to bring out more,
- applied a duo-tone,
- did some spotting with the clone-stamp to get rid of dust, etc.

Post-processing time: about 5 minutes per scan.

I posted the photos over at pnet as well in the Classic Camera section and someone mentioned something that I had also noted - that the lens seems to have a very nice and creamy bokeh.

 

[Swissmadepix]

Good Day Rich..

I'm what one could consider a "bottom feeder" when it comes to RF cameras, since I have neither the knowledge nor the means to afford to digress on the merits of this or that lens (Canonet QL17 GIII loaded with BW400CN is the only RF I have right now).

Nevertheless - if I read you correctly - no filter was used for the portrait of your lovely model. Furthermore, in my limited experience, most of the adjustments in PS you mentioned have been standard with the scans my lab provides (apart from duotone). In conclusion....

..not only did you get a VERY snazzy-looking camera, but the lens delivers very smooth and pleasing potraits. The skin texture in #2 is exquisite, the bokeh flawless and in #3 you have a very nice handling of DOF. My best guess is that this lens wants to be used wide open.

R.

 

[Solinar]

Sorry, I managed to delete the thread I posted yesterday with these photos when I went in to do an edit. (My apologies to the people that had posted comments on it).

That's kewl with me. I know can say that I have had a post deleted on the RFF. I posted some comments over at photo.net.

 

[Rich Silfver]

Good Day Rich..
Nevertheless - if I read you correctly - no filter was used for the portrait of your lovely model.

Sorry, should have numbered the photos (I didn't include the photo of the actual camera when I refered to the photos above). I've numbered them now. The photo of the lovely model was taken with a yellow filter on the lens.

 

[Swissmadepix]

Oups - my bad. Did not read the deleted thread - hence the confusion.

That mishap actually makes me understand why you are on "the fence" re: contrast.

That said, I still like a lot how it behaves when wide open. I'm definitely looking forward to the results from the second roll.

Reto

 

[Flyfisher Tom]

and someone mentioned something that I had also noted - that the lens seems to have a very nice and creamy bokeh.

I agree. The two street shots are wonderful.

If the end product is a 10, what would you have rated the unprocessed/PS'd originals relative to what we are seeing?

Keep up the good work, I really enjoy your unofficial tests of classic cameras

best,

 

[Rich Silfver]

If the end product is a 10, what would you have rated the unprocessed/PS'd originals relative to what we are seeing?

Tom,

to answer your question with a picture, this is how photo #1 came out from the scanner:

 

[stet]

wow, that's a heck of a difference. Was this the filter that came with the kit?

I never did use my yellow filter much, because it always made things too gray for me. And I like low-contrast. But maybe that's the filter I have.

Good PS work, though. All the final images are winners.

 

[Rich Silfver]

wow, that's a heck of a difference. Was this the filter that came with the kit?

Yup, it came with three original Zeiss Ikon filters.
So far I've only been able to lose one of them...

 

[wlewisiii]

Hi Rich,

I think that those are some very good and very typically Tessar shots. Not sure why your scans look like that - what film is it and what developer does your lab use?

Like Floyd, I mostly shoot color in mine - I love the way Reala looks through a Tessar - and haven't found any problems with the images. I do have a nearly finished roll of ERA in it right now but no software for my scanner so I'll have to get it scanned at Walgreens after I soup it.

William

 

[FrankS]

These results look way softer and creamier than typical Tessar shots, but perhaps the model's skin really is perfect! Rich, I really like your style of shots.

 

[SteveM(PA)]

What Frank said. Some really skillful shooting Rich. And how cool would it be to see someone out on the streets using a Contessa.

 

[Avotius]

I think you got some great shots here, quite a jem of a camera, I also like the tone you added to the photos, very effective