Nikkor SLR lenses vs Retina Schneider Lenses

6

68degrees

Well-known
Local time
4:47 AM
Joined
Dec 11, 2012
Messages
882
Generally speaking which lenses are better. The Nikkor lenses for 35mm SLRs or the Schneider Kreutznach that came on Kodak Retinas?
 
Nikon made a rather large variety of 50mm lenses, with a wide variety of speeds and specializations, over a long period of time.

You'd probably have to be a bit more specific about what Nikons and how you define better.
 
I suppose it would also depend on which Retina series you are considering. The big problem with such a comparison is that the Retina rangefinder line ended during an era when many companies were taking advantage of electronic computers to refine their calculations and improve their lenses. There are also the limitations to the lenses imposed by the leaf shutter to consider. If you were to compare Schneider's M42 lenses to Nikon's SLR lenses you would be putting them on a more level playing ground.

As is Nikon SLR lenses had the advantage of being made later with new technology and used with a much less limiting lens mount. Which is why I'd say Nikon wins hands down. But it's not a fair comparison really.
 
imo, this is really apples and oranges. the retina 35, 45 and 85 are so small you can swallow them by accident! for what they are, they produce fabulous images, many available on other threads for your viewing pleasure. but they are slow--only the 50, at 1.9, is faster than 2.8. but i really enjoyed my collection both on film and on mirrorless digi with adapter. i actually loved the IQ and the character of the lenses, as well as their size.

slr lenses are, well, slr lenses! theyre faster, and benefit from technology. theyre also much much bigger and, imo, lose that special character.
tony
 
Apples and oranges.

Nikon made LOTs of lenses. I wouldn't doubt that the fancy AF G glass is better on a technical level but what is more important, to me, is how you use your camera and how much the difference in "quality" matters. Some people like those old uncoated Leica lenses, you know.

I have a Nikon and a few lenses and a Retina IIIc (I just ordered a IIIC :) ) and truthfully, I prefer the Retina because it is the camera that is there.


Untitled by Michael_Sergio_Barnes, on Flickr

To be fair this was low-light, f2.0 @ 1/15th of a second. With better light, it is even better:


Bronica Girl by Michael_Sergio_Barnes, on Flickr

I believe this was taken at f2.8 @ 1/60th of a second.
 
So you would like to use Retina lenses on a Nikon?
If you where talking about the Retina Reflex lenses made by Schneider-Kreuznach and Rodenstock it is possible!

You cn use a DKL to Nikon adapter and use all these lenses:

28 mm
— Schneider-Kreuznach Retina-Curtagon 4.0/28 - Retina III S RF coupling

30 mm
— Rodenstock Retina-Eurygon 2.8/30

35 mm
— Voigtländer Skoparex 3,4/35
— Schneider-Kreuznach Retina-Curtagon 2.8/35 - Retina III S RF coupling

— Rodenstock Retina-Eurygon 4.0/35

40mm
— Voigtländer Skopagon 2,0/40

45mm
— Schneider-Kreuznach Retinar-Xenar 2,8/45

50 mm
— Voigtländer Color-Lanthar 2,8/50
— Voigtländer Color-Skopar (X) 2,8/50
— Voigtländer Septon 2,0/50
— Rodenstock Retina-Ysarex 2.8/50 - Retina III S RF coupling

— Schneider-Kreuznach Retina-Xenar 2.8/50 - Retina III S RF coupling
— Rodenstock Retina-Heligon 1.9/50 - Retina III S RF coupling
— Schneider-Kreuznach Retina-Xenon 1.9/50 - Retina III S RF coupling

85 mm
— Rodenstock Retina-Rotelar 4.0/85 - Retina III S RF coupling

— Schneider-Kreuznach Retina-Tele-Arton 4.0/85 - Retina III S RF coupling


90 mm
— Voigtländer Dynarex 3,4/90
— Schneider-Kreuznach Retina-Tele-Arton 4.0/90

100mm
— Voigtländer Dynarex 4,8/100

135 mm
— Voigtländer Super-Dynarex 4,0/135
— Rodenstock Retina-Rotelar 4.0/135 - Retina III S RF coupling

— Schneider-Kreuznach Retina-Tele-Xenar 4.0/135 - Retina III S RF coupling


200mm
— Voigtländer Super-Dynarex 4,0/200
— Schneider-Kreuznach Retina-Tele-Xenar 5,6/200

350mm
— Voigtländer Super-Dynarex 5,6 350

Zoom
— Voigtländer Zoomar 2,8/36-82

Some of them are realy fantasic - but all of them apear slow nowadays!
The DKL Mount which was used on the Retina Reflex series and the Retina III S RF and allso an the Voigtländer Bessamatic/Ultramatic was to small for faster lenses! If they had gone for the 0 size Compur like they did on the Voigtländer Prominent insted of the 00 size Compur....

But the lenses are great and if you can catch them cheap it is worth to give them a try - I use mine on the Sony NEX as well as on my Bessamatics and Retina III S

There has been a Braun Paxette Reflex with the DKL mount too, but I don´t know much about the cam and their lenses!
 
Retina Schneider lens adapters

Retina Schneider lens adapters

Greetings,

Could someone direct me to a thread on the forum where I can get information on adapters to use the Kodak Retina lenses on either a Nikon (film) body or a 4/3 digital body? The Sony NEX is mentioned....others come to mind?

I'm mainly interested in the Retina Curtagon 2.8/35 and/or the Curtagon 4.0/28.


Many thanks!
 
flyloandslo said:
Greetings,

Could someone direct me to a thread on the forum where I can get information on adapters to use the Kodak Retina lenses on either a Nikon (film) body or a 4/3 digital body? The Sony NEX is mentioned....others come to mind?

I'm mainly interested in the Retina Curtagon 2.8/35 and/or the Curtagon 4.0/28.


Many thanks!
Click to expand...

http://www.ebay.de/itm/110504245090?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

Information about it would be hard to get, because not a lot of people use DKL lenses on a Nikon - but it's possible with out an infinity lens!
 
68degrees said:
they do don't they.
Click to expand...

If you're talking about the 'old lens' look, I have a non-Ai Nikkor-S Auto 35mm f/2.8 that, wide open down to about f/5.6, supplies that quite nicely. All lens designs seem to get more sharp/contrasty/clinical or whatever as time and technology advance*.

s-a

* For some value of 'advance'.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom