Tom A. Tests his Arsenal of "Zeikon" lenses

[NIKON KIU]

I frequently use Zeiss and a couple of Russian lenses on my Nikon Rf's. As a matter of fact I have just started a small project, shooting 1or 2 rolls with each of them and downloading them on to Flickr. There was this lonley roll of 100ft of Tmax 100 sitting in the darkroom so I was looking for something to do with it! I did open a new set on our flickr' site called "Zeikon" and stuck some stuff on it already. Some was stuff I shot when I was testing the new ZM 21f4.5 against the classic 21/4,5 and some of the shots are from earlier this summer. i will upload more as I shot through the stuff (there are about 11 lenses compatible with the Nikon's in my lens drawer). There has been a promise of reasonable weather this week so that helps.
__________________
Bests to Everybody,
Tom A
http://flickr.com/photos/rapidwinder/
http://rapidwinder.com/

Folks, the best news around here can get lost amongst the many many threads and replies.
That's why you all have me

Here is Tom A's Exclusive ""Zeikon" test on his flickr site:
http://flickr.com/photos/rapidwinder/sets/72157602037183358/

From this thread:
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=641902#poststop


Cheers,

Kiu

 

[Tom A]

Weather permitting I will continue my process of shooting with all my Zeiss lenses and the couple of Russian lenses. Today I finished of a couple of re-loadable Nikon cassettes with Tmax 100 on a S3 and the Early Biogon 35f2.8. This has to be one of the heaviest built 35's of any time! Gorgeous feeling lens, but it always surprised me how the Contax users of the 40/50 and early 60's coulkd get ANY exposure right. The aperture ring shifts every time you try to focus. I have just loaded another S3 with the Planar 3.5/35mm and pray for sun tomorrow, particularly as I also loaded a S with a Tessar 28f8 on it. Tried it today, but it was a bit gray and it ended up being f8 and 1/4 sec.
I find that in most instances the Zeiss do focus pretty well with the Nikon's, at least with the 21/28/35's and the 50f2. The Sonnar 50f1.4 wide open is a bit of a hit and miss. Surprisingly enough the 85f2 Sonnar seems pretty good, although I need a bit more testing with it.
I am not trying to shoot for absolute sharpness but mainly trying to see if these lenses can be used with Nikon's for a different look.
The Sonnar 50's have an out of focus look that is very smooth. Only lens that I can compare it to is the 50f2 Planar ZM lens from Zeiss.
I need to finish another three rolls tomorrow for a process run. probably with Beutler for sharpness and tight grain.

 

[Tom A]

I added some more stuff from the Zeikon project. Yesterday I shot some stuff with the 28f8 Tessar, uncoated and uncoupled, the 35f3.5 Planar and a venerable 35/2.8 Biogon (the most impressive rear element you will ever carefully insert in to your Nikon/Contax!) as well as finished of a roll with the Sonnar 50 (an Opton-Sonnar).
I have been using Tmax 100 for this and in Beutler it daoes have a bit of snap in bright light. These old lenses are quite low contrast, particularly the Sonnar 50f1.5 and the Tessar 28. I did add 30+ shots to the Zeikon Set on my Flickr site. Will add correct tags etc tomorrow, unless the weather permits me to shot some more. Stuck an Opton Sonnar 85f2 on a Nikon SP and one of the S3's have a Menopta 53f1.8 (Brian Sweeney "shimmed" it earlier this year so it will be interesting checking it against the Sonnar's. The 2nd S3 has a J12 35f2.8 on it and IF the weather stays dry I will venture to finish these rolls as well as a couple of more with the 21/4,5 Biogon.
I still wonder how the "old-timers" kept their exposures so consistent - every time I touch the focussing ring, the aperture shifts! Maybe with really forgiving film it was easier, but Tmax is either on or off!