Reversed front element: what other mods to explore?

[ERICWESTPHELING]

I have been browsing the forum posts for several years now and I've seen hints of Brian Sweeney's famous Sonnar mods that have always left me wondering what all was possible...

Does anyone have information about non-traditional modifications that you may have seen or undertaken with a Zeiss 50mm 1.5 Sonnar or Summarit 50mm 1.5?

I've named these two lenses specifically because they have a base "character" that fits well with most of my subject matter and personal style.

I recently have seen some very dramatic results from reversing the front element on a Helios-44 and this got me thinking along these lines again:

http://www.verybiglobo.com/extremely-swirly-bokeh-short-tutorial/

Is there something like this that can be done with the Sonnar/Summarit that yields interesting results?

In the past I have worked with very taught Dior stockings behind the rear element, and I currently use the Tiffen Hollywood Black magic 1/2 filter, and it adds a lovely glow.

However there is something very magical and clearly "far-out" about what I've seen from the reversed Helios, and I am generally not a fan of swirl!

Do you have any suggestions about things to explore?

Thank you for your time!
Best,
-Eric Westpheling

 

[Monday317]

I have been browsing the forum posts for several years now and I've seen hints of Brian Sweeney's famous Sonnar mods that have always left me wondering what all was possible...

Does anyone have information about non-traditional modifications that you may have seen or undertaken with a Zeiss 50mm 1.5 Sonnar or Summarit 50mm 1.5?

I've named these two lenses specifically because they have a base "character" that fits well with most of my subject matter and personal style.

I recently have seen some very dramatic results from reversing the front element on a Helios-44 and this got me thinking along these lines again:

http://www.verybiglobo.com/extremely-swirly-bokeh-short-tutorial/

Is there something like this that can be done with the Sonnar/Summarit that yields interesting results?

In the past I have worked with very taught Dior stockings behind the rear element, and I currently use the Tiffen Hollywood Black magic 1/2 filter, and it adds a lovely glow.

However there is something very magical and clearly "far-out" about what I've seen from the reversed Helios, and I am generally not a fan of swirl!

Do you have any suggestions about things to explore?

Thank you for your time!
Best,
-Eric Westpheling

I can't say directly about trying to reverse the front element on your lens, sounds risky with Leica glass.

That said, I have a Zeiss Ercona I fitted with a 105mm f/3.5 Tessar that normally focuses no closer than about 1 meter. Now 105mm on this 6 x 9 folder is nearly spot-on for an ideal normal lens length (where f=the diagonal of the format size), in this case 108mm. I wanted to find a way to get a bit closer for decent portraits and read that adding a +1 diopter closeup filter (I use a Series 6 adapter and filters/hood) would allow head and shoulders, if not bust shots to be made. The one I use does pretty good and seems to add some swirl to the bokeh--which I dislike! :bang:

Perhaps a similar approach would work for you?

 

[ERICWESTPHELING]

An old beat up summarit only runs $3-400, so theres minimal risk, plus I'd have a lens tech do the work.

I also am not a huge fan of swirl but I like some of the glow/streak effects in some examples I've seen.

What happened to Brian Sweeney? He mentioned custom mixing elements from different age Sonnar lenses to create something special, I can't find the post now but he appears to have gone offline indefinitely?

 

[mdarnton]

I wouldn't normally comment, but since this is an RF forum, you should remember that if you try this with an RF lens it isn't going to focus the same anymore. OK for things that will be used on SLR or digital cameras with live focus on-board, but not traditional RFs.

Probably it's unnecessary to say it. . . . but just in case.