Schneider Xenar 105mm 4.5 on Olympus E-P2

[Pherdinand]

Proof that mechanical compatibility does not mean go-for-it 😀

 

[raid]

Not really. It is good that some photographers enjoy such adventures with some lenses.

 

[Pherdinand]

Oh sure! don't get me wrong. I love tinkering with hardware. I do it for my work too, in the last 15 years. (And it often goes the same way: it's cool that it technically is possible, but the result is just a "mwah".)

 

[raid]

...but it can be a very nice "mwah"! 🙂

 

[hamradio]

So your lens now is set fixed at infinity for landscapes?

Well, I stuck the lens on a folding Land Camera body. I fixed it at infinity, fashioned a little ground glass panel for the back, and shimmed the lens/shutter out so that when the camera's focus was at infinity, the lens was focused as such too. I then 'adjusted' the RF a little and went on my way.

 

[raid]

Could you post some images taken with your set-up here?

 

[hamradio]

Those three Polaroids I posted earlier in this thread are from that camera. 🙂

 

[raid]

Of course, they are! Sorry for the question. They look really good, by the way.

 

[Nokton48]

Is the focus distance then also fixed for you so that you cannot take photos of distant objects? Is this a lens that is meant to be used with bellows? Is it a "macro lens"?

Nope it's not a "macro" lens, it is a classic Tessar-type optical formulation. Think of a Rolleiflex with Xenar, this is just -slightly- longer than that, which can be a very good thing. With an adjustable bellows, it focuses from infinity to ultra close-up. Of course, with the Sinar Normas, you also have the benefit of infinitely adjustable camera movements, as well. Putting this lens on a cheap bellows that will compact sufficiently should do everything you might require to do with a digital body. An adjustable extension tube or focusing helical of the proper minimum and maximum extension lengths would do the same thing. Basically all those adapters you have put together ARE functioning as extension tubes.

So, go forth and enjoy 😀 There is absolutely nothing "soft" about Xenars if you get a good one. I have them from 100mm to 300mm, which is the entire Schneider lineup from the time. Great general-purpose lenses.

 

[raid]

Thank you. I need to find some bellows that fits.


I once used this lens on a Nikon F2.