Which 135mm Took This Picture?

[doubs43]

The attached image was taken with a IIIb Leica and a 135mm lens. The film was Ilford FP-4 developed in straight D-76. What you see represents about 40% of the full negative.

Your choice of 135mm lenses are: Hektor, Nikkor, Canon, Elmar, Culminar. (I own four of the lenses now and have owned the fifth.)

I've added another picture taken with the same lens on the same roll of film. This one is full-frame.

One guess only, please.

Walker

 

[Tom Harrell]

I'm voting it was the Nikkor!

 

[Skinny McGee]

early uncoated elmar

 

[jonasv]

the elmar?

 

[Oldprof]

The picture has that "Leica glow" so it must have been taken with the Canon 135mm lens. 😀

 

[raid]

I am guessing here; the old Elmar? The photos separate the person from the background very well, so I do not think it is the Hektor with max aperture 4.5 I am not sure whether anybody has posted here a comparisons test for these 90mm lenses. I have never used the Culminar 135mm/4 but I had one and I sold it last year.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

I also own the Culminar, but have not scanned the test negatives I've shot with it yet.

I'm stumped. There are so many characteristics that I'm not familiar with with this focal length. The bokeh on the second one looks like an Elmar, but there's "something" missing in the first from the second and viceversa. It really looks like a mix of old Nikon and Leica...so I'm leaning towards the Culimar (German optic formula).

 

[raid]

Gabriel: I am also suspicious that it is not what I initially thought of. I did one test with the Steinheil 90mm lens but I goofed and the flash was not working properly during the test. Then I sold it. It is rather inexpensive though.

 

[Oldprof]

... I'm stumped ...

This is the way that all lens quality discussions should be structured ... force people to look at pictures and guess which of five or more lenses were used. I think it would reveal that most people, most of the time, can't arrive at the correct answer. Reminds me of a blind wine tasting in Paris I once read about. The French judges unwittingly graded some California wines as being better than their more expensive French counterparts. So much of the blather about wines and lenses is pure B.S.

 

[raid]

This is the way that all lens quality discussions should be structured ... force people to look at pictures and guess which of five or more lenses were used. I think it would reveal that most people, most of the time, can't arrive at the correct answer. Reminds me of a blind wine tasting in Paris I once read about. The French judges unwittingly graded some California wines as being better than their more expensive French counterparts. So much of the blather about wines and lenses is pure B.S.

With the 50mm lens tests that I have been doing, many people here correctly pointed out some of the correct lenses or at least they identified some characteristics of some lenses and they narrowed down the choices.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Me spellin' bad. Did I say Culimar? Culminar.

The point is well taken, though. Often you'll see biases come out in the cola taste tests. I think these shootout tests are great exercises. It's one blend of gear and photography. Like Optics Aesthetics Appreciation 101

 

[Oldprof]

With the 50mm lens tests that I have been doing, many people here correctly pointed out some of the correct lenses or at least they identified some characteristics of some lenses and they narrowed down the choices.

Raid, was the discussion structured as a true blind test with multiple choices of answers? I will have to go back and look at those threads.

 

[raid]

Raid, was the discussion structured as a true blind test with multiple choices of answers? I will have to go back and look at those threads.

The thread was titled Test of Twelve 50mm Lenses. The results for the color photos were given as blind, with twelve photos at a certain aperture setting, and with twelve lens names given in no particular order. Later on, I went back and added [as edit] the correct list of lenses. I was informed by some people that the guessing was too difficult, so I then posted the B&W results in the same thread but this time in blocks of four lenses each. Again, I did not give the correct listing until a few days later when several people had given it a shot.

 

[doubs43]

I'm voting it was the Nikkor!

Tom, you nailed it. It was an early "Made in Occupied Japan" chrome Nikkor that took those shots. Alas, in a moment of madness I sold or traded it and have regretted it ever since. The pictures were taken in October, 1972, when I was living in Topeka, KS.

Every time I scan pictures taken with Ilford FP-4, I'm impressed by the quality of the film in D-76. A good combination IMO.

Thanks to each of you who took the time to look and venture a guess.

Walker

 

[doubs43]

This is the way that all lens quality discussions should be structured ... force people to look at pictures and guess which of five or more lenses were used. I think it would reveal that most people, most of the time, can't arrive at the correct answer. Reminds me of a blind wine tasting in Paris I once read about. The French judges unwittingly graded some California wines as being better than their more expensive French counterparts. So much of the blather about wines and lenses is pure B.S.

OldProf, I have to laugh at that because of a story my father told me. It took place in the 1930's I believe when half a dozen local Farmers and farm hands gathered at a store one evening and began debating the "taste" of various brands of cigarettes. It got rather raucus so each of them put up a nickle and were blindfolded. Then they were given a puff or two of several different brands of cigarettes. Not only couldn't they accurately tell the difference between them but one fellow was given an unlit cigarette and swore it smoked like a Chesterfield!!

Walker

 

[raid]

I witnessed a tasting test for Coke vs. Pepsi, with another drink thrown in to confuse people. Participants in the test were staunchy followers of either Coca Cola or Pepsi Cola. It was not possible to conclude [statistically] that people were able to correctly identify the brand they had just drunk.

 

[raid]

As for the 135mm Nikkor lens, I still have mine and it is here to stay.

 

[doubs43]

As for the 135mm Nikkor lens, I still have mine and it is here to stay.

That's being very wise, Raid. Don't ever let it go. They are well made and the optics are top-drawer. You can't go wrong with it.

Walker

 

[raid]

Walker: My lens is in mintish condition and it has all the original shiny covers and the hood. It is a great lens for portraits. Here is a color photo from an earlier thread. I took this photo of my daughter when we were visiting the Great Somy Mountains in Tennessee. This photo in particular made me keep this lens. I had the lens for sale here in the RFF for $250 a while ago.

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=17752