Well, I don't have a 2.8C yet... But I do have a 2.8A with the CZJ lens. I think the bokeh is quite good--creamy smooth at f2.8 and f4... Some gentle swirl wide open with leaves in the background. Smaller apertures are maybe a little more defined than ideal, but still pretty good.
F2.8
2011_10_14_2.8A_IMG3_DxO by
ndjedinak, on Flickr
F4
2011_10_15_2.8A_IMG10_DxO by
ndjedinak, on Flickr
F8
2011_10_14_2.8A_IMG4_DxO by
ndjedinak, on Flickr
F11
2011_10_15_2.8A_IMG12_DxO by
ndjedinak, on Flickr
What do you think, is that essentially what you see out of the 2.8C?
It's nice to see some images from this model Rolleiflex. They don't seem to turn up very often. As I understand it (and this is only from what I have read and gleaned from many different sources on the web) many examples of the A model originally had their lens elements inadvertently mis-matched, and performance subsequently suffered. I have also read that a number of them were subsequently rectified. I don't know for sure, but in any event, the A suffered from a reputation for poor sharpness as a result.
The few shots I have previously seen which were captured with the 2.8 Tessar didn't look at all bad. Although the model has a reputation as a poor performer I think that if you have a good example the image quality can be very nice. And of course, you own a Rolleiflex model that is absolutely unique because no other Flex was fitted with the 2.8 version of the Tessar.
It's an interesting comparison, because of course the A also has the earlier type shutter (or a Compur Rapid?). Either way it features the ten bladed aperture like the C (and of course the rare Biometar-equipped 2.8B). Anyone want to throw up a few images taken with a Biometar? We'd have all the early 2.8s covered in one discussion, then...
For what little my inexperienced opinion is worth, perusing back through pages of images added to the "favourite shot taken with a TLR thread" I'm always impressed by the image quality and out of focus rendition of any of the Rollei TLRs. Early; late; ten or five aperture blades; I think they can all generate fantastic images. I have a 2.8C Xenotar myself but I don't think the "bokeh" (and I struggle to use that term, lately, because of all the baggage that accompanies it) is better than the other models, it's just different, and whether it is preferable or not might depend on the subject, etc. I've seen some gorgeous images made with later 2.8 & 3.5 Es and Fs.
The one situation in which I feel the A, B & C models might be ahead of the others, could be when the out of focus area includes highlights (chrome bumpers, water reflections, and so on). If a lens is wide open then presumably they would all be equal, but a five bladed aperture lens, stopped down, will render little pentagons, which I think can sometimes be more distracting than circular OOF highlights.
In any case there's some great examples in this discussion, thanks to everyone who's added some pictures.
Regards,
Brett
