Very low contrast old lenses

[OurManInTangier]

Can anyone give me some help in my search for some old Leica lenses that are extremely low contrast...or a viable alternative.

I'm looking to try and find a 28mm, 35mm and 50mm set of lenses that I can use to get masses of detail in the highlights and shadows whilst shooting contre-jour.

Any help would be greatly appreciated
Thanks

 

[FPjohn]

Summar

Summar

A haze free version of a Summar might be a good place to start for a 50mm. A Summaron f3.5 and f5.6 for 35mm and 28mm.

The f2.8 Canon 35mm is a fine alternative to a Summaron.

IMHO of course.

yours
FPJ

 

[former member]

The Summarit is Low Contrast.

Second the opinion on the Canon 35/2.8 as low contrast, lower than my 35/2.8 Summaron.

 

[raid]

I would add the Elmar 5cm 3.5 since it is lower contrast.

 

[OurManInTangier]

I've been an idiot and forgotten all about the old Canon 35mm f2.8 thats been lying in a drawer for a year or so! That's 35mm sorted anyway!

I've heard about the Elmar being very low in contrast and this could be what I'm looking for, I just need to find somewhere with one for sale at a fair price.

I have no idea about a 28mm lens though???

 

[former member]

I have one 28mm lens in an RF mount. It is low-contrast, nothing to write home about. It is also for the Retina IIIS: 28mm F4 Curtagon. But what other RF mount can you find 28mm lenses for $30?

 

[raid]

The 28mm lenses that I own are sharp and contrasty. The Canon 28mm 3.5 may be moderate in contrast. I don't have any Leica 28mm lenses but my 28mm Rokkor-M is like a Leica lens. You may need to get the Hektor 28mm 8.0 [?????] or the Orion 28mm lens for slightly lower contrast.

 

[OurManInTangier]

These lenses are primarily for a landscape project I'll be starting at the end of the summer so I may stcik with just a 50mm and a 35mm...though there is plenty of time to find a candidate for the 28mm role.

Unfortunately I'm looking to replace my CV Ultron 28mm 1.9 too as its about to give up the ghost completely after some serious use, talking of buying; I notice that there is an 50mm Elmar for sale in the classifieds which I could be tempted with if there's a deal to be had by buying the 50mm Summicron the seller also has up for sale...unfortunately he only has one post here at RFF and I'm dubious after the recent threads about such things.

Ah well, I'll keep my eyes open.

Thanks all for the info so far

 

[charjohncarter]

Make a list, I love low contrast lenses. I wish I knew which ones had 'it' before I bought. I like the Isolette Apotar, and the one my folder that is called First Six, I also like my 90mm Elmar from around 1952??. I have been critical of my 35mm Canon Serenar in the past but I don't get rid of it because of the low contrast. I have also noticed that the lenses on my Kodak Duaflex IV and on my Kodak Brownie Hawkeye Flash are low contrast. I hope someone else adds to the list. This is the Apotar at work, horse is in the shade and the background is full sun (albeit: late in the day):

 

[telenous]

Hektor 28mm f/6.3, Elmar 35mm f/3.5, and Elmar 50mm f/3.5 . It's what Ravilious used (currently discussed in another thread) to get low contrast negs, at least insofar as the lenses contribute to that effect.

.

 

[charjohncarter]

Great telenous, I have one of those lenses, and I forgot to include.

 

[Bingley]

These lenses are primarily for a landscape project I'll be starting at the end of the summer so I may stcik with just a 50mm and a 35mm...though there is plenty of time to find a candidate for the 28mm role.

Slightly OT, but are you familiar w/ the work of a British landscape photographer working in Northants who used/uses the name "GeeBee"? He used to have a website, but it seems to have disappeared. He had a series of gorgeous images of Northamptonshire countryside taken w/ a IIIf and a Summitar.

Back on topic, the 50 Elmar is good suggestion, albeit slower than the other recommendations above (which may not matter for landscapes). Leica started coating these lenses after WWII, so pre-war would probably have the lowest contrast.

 

[charjohncarter]

I hope this is the thread telenous, was refering to:

http://www.jamesravilious.com/

 

[Bingley]

I found the link to GeeBeePhoto mentioned above: http://www.geebeephoto.com/

Worth checking out. His Summitar shots are there.

 

[raid]

If you want to see "3D" work, then this photographer can deliver it. What a great website. Thanks for the link.

 

[sanmich]

These landscapes are great.
I guess an orange filter was not far from the lens....(maybe wrong guess?)

Back to topic:
by "contre-jour", do you intend "directly into the sun"?
Because if you do, your main problem with older lenses won't exactly be the shadows...

 

[Beemermark]

I second the Summarit. Low contrast but sharp wide open. At F4 it's a very decent performer and rivals most anything. But wide open it's the perfect portrait lens.

 

[Trius]

I found the link to GeeBeePhoto mentioned above: http://www.geebeephoto.com/

Worth checking out. His Summitar shots are there.

That would be Graham Battison, a helluva nice guy. He has the good sense to not only shoot Leica, but CV and ... OM. 😀

 

[kermaier]

The Canon RF 28/3.5 gives medium contrast, but I wouldn't say low contrast.

::Ari

 

[raid]

The Canon RF 28/3.5 gives medium contrast, but I wouldn't say low contrast.

::Ari

That's what I also said: "The Canon 28mm 3.5 may be moderate in contrast." 😀