Voigtlander Nokton M 50/1.5 Photos

[joeswe]

Actually I started using a 6x9 field camera about half a year ago to shoot some cityscapes and architecture, so I guess that made me more sensitive for this kind of things 😀 ... Now, I don't have a fancy picture editor (I really prefer the darkroom over the whole computerized workflow), so I just use an older version of Photoshop Elements that was bundled with a scanner. There is a tool to correct camera distortion that gives you a very fine grid and lets you correct barrel/pincushion distortion, "tilt", "swing" and also vignette at the same time, which is quite handy. I guess the related tool in the pro version of photoshop is even more sophisticated, but so far the PSE version did the trick for me.
John

 

[joeswe]

I agree with your opinion on distortion of lenses. I find it remarkable that old lenses like the Summar 50mm, Hektor 50mm and Elmar 50mm have no distortion al all (but lots of other optical faults), but that most modern lenses suffer more or less from it (although they are corrected for the other optical faults). It is as if modern designers accept a certain degree of distortion of their lenses.

Erik.

Erik, I feel exactly the same way. Seems that lack of distortion was a higher rated design goal in the old days? Of course it helps that some simple lens designs like the tessar were more or less free from distortion to begin with. But even the more ambitious Wetzlar/Midland designs of old times like the Lux 35 (a friend borrowed me his copy once, I would love to own one!) are remarkably free of distortion. A notable exception comes to my mind, which is the Lux 50 Mk II (1960s design) that does allow for some barrel distortion to be visible, but I tend to forgive this particular lens all of its shortcomings in exchange for its virtues ... 😀 Maybe with the general omnipresence of SLR retrofocus designs from the 60s on photogs became more tolerant of distortion. And nowadays distortion can be easily corrected in-camera, so its probably not top priority anymore when designing a lens.

Just for comparison of distortion (not really a comparison, as the subject distance is different), this is a shot with the Lux 50 Mk II, the barrel distortion is clearly visible but again not too bad, as the composition of the image is heavily center-weighted, so to speak.
John


[url=https://www.flickr.com/

 

[Erik van Straten]

Thank you, John, very interesting material. I will try "camera corrections".


Erik.

 

[Erik van Straten]

Here's the shot corrected, but now I miss the spontanity of the original shot ...

Erik.

 

[Erik van Straten]

Leica M3, Nokton-M 50mm f/1.5, Tmax400.

Erik.

 

[f16sunshine]

Hi Erik

Once again I really like your results with tmax400. Do you mind sharing your development method?
The gentle glowing tones you have in the reflection in this image are so nice.

 

[Erik van Straten]

Hi Erik

I really like your results with tmax400. Do you mind sharing your development method?

Thank you Andy,

Exposure: 200 ISO; developer: Perceptol (Ilford); solution: 1 part developer 2 parts water; temperature: 23 degrees C.; time: 11 minutes; agitation: every 30 seconds.

Erik.

 

[Erik van Straten]

Leica M3, Nokton-M 50mm f/1.5, Tmax400.

Erik.

 

[Erik van Straten]

Leica MP, Nokton-M 50mm f/1.5, Tmax400.

Erik.

 

[helen.HH]

just SPLENDID Erik , lovely moment !

 

[Erik van Straten]

Leica MP, Nokton-M 50mm f/1.5, Tmax400.

Erik.

 

[KEH]

Votive candles, WDC. Shot at f2.8.

Kirk

 

[TennesseJones]

Erik these are all lovely.
And it makes me want one of these lenses.....

Leica MP, Nokton-M 50mm f/1.5, Tmax400.

Erik.

 

[Erik van Straten]

Thank you, James. It is a great lens.

Leica M5, Nokton-M 50mm f/1.5, Tmax400.

Erik.

 

[Bingley]

Leica MP, Nokton-M 50mm f/1.5, Tmax400.

Erik.

Your most recent posts with this lens are great, Erik, but this one is especially nice.

 

[Erik van Straten]

Thank you, Steve!

Leica M5, Nokton-M 50mm f/1.5, Tmax400.

Erik.

 

[maggieo]

M9-P and Nokton 50/1.5


Natasha Romanov, April 03, 2015 by Maggie Osterberg, on Flickr


TV Dinner Table, April 03, 2015 by Maggie Osterberg, on Flickr


Fierce Scooter, April 04, 2015 by Maggie Osterberg, on Flickr

 

[Cocal]

2014♣043 by ruggeroranzani_RR, on Flickr
Voigtlander Bessa R3M, Voigtlander Nokton 50 f/1,5 ASPH; Kodak 400TX, Fomadon Excel (stock) 7' 20°C. Scan from negative film.

 

[Tom A]

M-Nokton 50mm f1.5, Leica M2. Kodak Double X and Harvey 777 developer.
Velocette Motocycle - industrial Art at its best.

 

[budajoe69]

A few from here n there…love the M mount 50mm Nokton 1.5, silver, of course 😉

P5110106 by speedy snail photography, on Flickr

P5110104 2 by speedy snail photography, on Flickr

P5110086 by speedy snail photography, on Flickr

P5110110 by speedy snail photography, on Flickr

P5110125 by speedy snail photography, on Flickr