Freakscene
Obscure member
I'm interested in the aperture feel given that moving the aperture moves an element block.
boojum
Ignoble Miscreant
I just looked at this stream again. Look at those reds. M9 + SBS gives reds turned up to 11 but still believable. That's a clever trick. And it does deep reds well, too. It is a happy marriage.
<posted image has been deleted as it was taken with a lens other than the SBS. my error>
This red will have to be a substitute, The Captain Conner, "Shelf Queen" of the Astoria drydock.
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Chris has released details of the Floating Lens Block invention, and is essentially making it "open Source" for others to use in their design.
skyllaney.com
Floating Lens Block Technology
What is FLB? FLB stands for Floating Lens Block. It is a mechanical movement system designed and developed by Skyllaney Opto-Mechanics for Omnar Lenses. The FLB system ensures focal plane stability…
skyllaney.com
dexdog
Veteran
I am surprised by the decision to go open source.Chris has released details of the Floating Lens Block invention, and is essentially making it "open Source" for others to use in their design.
Floating Lens Block Technology
What is FLB? FLB stands for Floating Lens Block. It is a mechanical movement system designed and developed by Skyllaney Opto-Mechanics for Omnar Lenses. The FLB system ensures focal plane stability…
That's some serious detail.
That degree of precision and the cost of manufacturing will likely limit this tech to cinema applications, one would think.
That degree of precision and the cost of manufacturing will likely limit this tech to cinema applications, one would think.
This new lens is priced a bit more than a Leica Summicron 50/2. Considering the extra complexity of the mount, and low production volume- amazing. Chris is passionate about his work, truly enjoys it and is "Hands On" in the extreme. He is making his mark on the industry with this new invention, and I think that is why he is in this business.
boojum
Ignoble Miscreant
Chris has released details of the Floating Lens Block invention, and is essentially making it "open Source" for others to use in their design.
Floating Lens Block Technology
What is FLB? FLB stands for Floating Lens Block. It is a mechanical movement system designed and developed by Skyllaney Opto-Mechanics for Omnar Lenses. The FLB system ensures focal plane stability…
A tip of the hat to Chris.
brusby
Well-known
I wish them well with the new innovation. Sounds like they've put plenty of time, thought and effort into things and I hope they succeed.
With 0.005" tolerances required in the manufacture, it seems like a challenging task.
With 0.005" tolerances required in the manufacture, it seems like a challenging task.
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The tolerance values is "metric", not inches. To give an idea - the core of glass for a single-mode optical fiber is ~9um. Looked it up- the "average" width of human hair is ~75um.
ultra-fine machining tolerances of ±0.005 mm (5 µm)
Freakscene
Obscure member
The FLB fixes focus shift but it won’t fix focus breathing. This lens type won’t work for cinema.
The concept also includes moving front or rear groups only which change focal length of the lens. Exploring this for change in FOV with distance would be interesting.
Rollin
Member
I asked someone who has the version that is to be released and he said "smooth is the answer."
Slumgullion
Well-known
This is amazing accomplishment! I want to support new makers entering the space, but I'm left scratching my head a bit about some of the industrial design choices. These aren't just nit-picks (they kind of are), but many lens design choices have been vetted by designers/the market-at-large over the last many decades.
Okokok...my nit-picks:
1. Why is aperture ring so narrow/skinny? It looks awkward to use. A lens from the 50's (like the 8-element) has that narrow style ring and it is the worst part of its design. Thankfully, we are 70 years past that and most designers have moved on.
2. Why aren't the aperture stops evenly spaced?
3. The knurling on the focus ring looks fantastic, but it is too wide. It has a focus tab. The focus ring could be narrower (assuming most will use the tab anyway) and it would give room for a wider aperture ring.
I'm not all gripes:
1. The font choices are waaaay better than the lens that Brian and Sandy are lucky to own. So, they are making improvements. In fact, the lens looks massively better/more stylish than the first Skyllaney Bertele.
2. I think having a tab and knurled ring are a great decision (it could just be implemented better).
3. The exercise to design a floating group coupled to the aperture to counteract focus shift is so cool. I shoot mostly film, so this is relevant to me. I don't have the option for live view.
I get that bringing a lens to market is an unbelievably difficult/expensive task. I, myself, will never accomplish something of this scope in my lifetime. I don't mean to poo-poo the hard work, it's just that this lens could be even better.
Okokok...my nit-picks:
1. Why is aperture ring so narrow/skinny? It looks awkward to use. A lens from the 50's (like the 8-element) has that narrow style ring and it is the worst part of its design. Thankfully, we are 70 years past that and most designers have moved on.
2. Why aren't the aperture stops evenly spaced?
3. The knurling on the focus ring looks fantastic, but it is too wide. It has a focus tab. The focus ring could be narrower (assuming most will use the tab anyway) and it would give room for a wider aperture ring.
I'm not all gripes:
1. The font choices are waaaay better than the lens that Brian and Sandy are lucky to own. So, they are making improvements. In fact, the lens looks massively better/more stylish than the first Skyllaney Bertele.
2. I think having a tab and knurled ring are a great decision (it could just be implemented better).
3. The exercise to design a floating group coupled to the aperture to counteract focus shift is so cool. I shoot mostly film, so this is relevant to me. I don't have the option for live view.
I get that bringing a lens to market is an unbelievably difficult/expensive task. I, myself, will never accomplish something of this scope in my lifetime. I don't mean to poo-poo the hard work, it's just that this lens could be even better.
1. Why is aperture ring so narrow/skinny? It looks awkward to use. A lens from the 50's (like the 8-element) has that narrow style ring and it is the worst part of its design. Thankfully, we are 70 years past that and most designers have moved on.
Probably because the aperture ring needs to couple to extra underlying mechanisms, that have to be "squeezed" in.
2. Why aren't the aperture stops evenly spaced?
a. I looked at this a long time ago for J-8 vs J-8M. "I seemed to think" The diameter of the aperture mechanism would increase for the slots used to open/close the blades. The throw from F2 to F22 is longer on the J8M.
b. The change in movement of the FLB is not linear.
3. The knurling on the focus ring looks fantastic, but it is too wide. It has a focus tab. The focus ring could be narrower (assuming most will use the tab anyway) and it would give room for a wider aperture ring.
a. The Cerakote Paint finish becomes uneven with very fine knurling..
Rollin
Member
Wow! Just noticed the Bertele is live on the website: Omnar Bertele 5cm f/2 MC FLB - Omnar Lenses
boojum
Ignoble Miscreant
When I ordered my FLB from Skyllaney/Omnar I was not expecting a perfect lens. What I had in mind was a damned good lens, very likely the best variant of Herr Doktor Bertele's original design. I am very happy with my current SBS. For the skin tones alone it is remarkable. For what it does with the Roy G. Biv color spectrum it is delightful. I have a really, really nice '57 KMZ J8, and that sweet '42 CZJ 1.5, but the SBS is just like an old pair of loafers, it just seems right and seems to fit just right. I know that these are vapor-headed descriptions. But what they come from is when I look at a photo with the SBS on an M9, M240 or the X2D I can say, "Yeah, that's right." And while the SBS does give a 100% accurate image it also, somehow, turns it up to 11. Chris knows some magic.
So while I really have zero need for the FLB it is attractive. And it shoots the Sonnar "F2 or F8" bug. And then there is the pride of ownership. This is arguably the best ever Bertele Sonnar. And into the bargain I am able to do what little I can to encourage and help a small, super dedicated company make their dreams come true and bring their product to market.
The only downside that I see is waiting for that damned lens to get here. ;o) When it does I will probably be the happiest guy in the world and surrounding territories. I will let you know shortly after it arrives, for sure. I am very lucky.
So while I really have zero need for the FLB it is attractive. And it shoots the Sonnar "F2 or F8" bug. And then there is the pride of ownership. This is arguably the best ever Bertele Sonnar. And into the bargain I am able to do what little I can to encourage and help a small, super dedicated company make their dreams come true and bring their product to market.
The only downside that I see is waiting for that damned lens to get here. ;o) When it does I will probably be the happiest guy in the world and surrounding territories. I will let you know shortly after it arrives, for sure. I am very lucky.
brusby
Well-known
Just a word of caution. For anyone whose objective is good photographs, be wary of pride of ownership. It can be detrimental to objectivity. I know from experience in both the photo and audio worlds. It's something I'm always trying to overcome.
boojum
Ignoble Miscreant
Agreed. I know this lens will not turn the proverbial sow's ear into a silk purse. Nor will it get me first prize in the beauty contest, not even a second or third. But after letting go of the orange 2CV I have to have something I can be really proud of owning. ;o)
Plus it is the SBS without the Sonnar fault. I was speaking with another member and I could get by fine on a long trip with an M9, the FLB, the Amotal and the 35mm Ultron 1.7. It is not the chisel that makes the sculptor. What is nice is reducing error by one. None of us want to get by on the plastic kit lenses other than as an experiment.
I'm very proud to have been asked for input to the design of this lens, and watching it come to market over the past five years. The real achievement, work, and sacrifice to bring it to market is all on Chris. I know the trials and tribulations behind it, Skyllaney exists because of his perseverance.
As an Engineer working in the Optics Division for over 45 years, I would have liked to have him on my team. I imagine that Ludwig Bertele would feel the same way.
As an Engineer working in the Optics Division for over 45 years, I would have liked to have him on my team. I imagine that Ludwig Bertele would feel the same way.
brusby
Well-known
I'm really happy to see this new lens and I love great technology as much if not more than anyone. So, I'm not denigrating it or anyone who uses it. In fact, just the opposite. I'm pulling for it and for all the great images it is hopefully capable of.
But, I have a real soft spot for nice images made with less than perfect tools. To me, it's really fun and challenging to go out equipped with only an early 50mm or 3.5cm Elmar f3.5 to see if I can come up with something interesting.
All the best with the new lens. 'Really looking forward to see some beautiful images made with it.
But, I have a real soft spot for nice images made with less than perfect tools. To me, it's really fun and challenging to go out equipped with only an early 50mm or 3.5cm Elmar f3.5 to see if I can come up with something interesting.
All the best with the new lens. 'Really looking forward to see some beautiful images made with it.