ian_watts
Ian Watts
Why? It's not as if these lenses are built by a third party or cheaper than "their current lineup". Do you think Leica would rather sell a 90 Summarit than a $6,500 Thambar.
who is going to line up for the new Thambar?
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Why? It's not as if these lenses are built by a third party or cheaper than "their current lineup". Do you think Leica would rather sell a 90 Summarit than a $6,500 Thambar.
f16sunshine
Moderator
Canabilism of sales?
Not in the land of the Red Dot.
There would be more than enough takers to re-release the true cult lenses.
Ok,... maybe not the DR but the v4 ?
They could do it... they may do it.
There are enough collectors who own the entire catalog. Those sales alone could float the project.
Any additional sales would be black ink and there would be plenty.
It’s all fun banter but so was the MM and MD and MA.... 😉
Not in the land of the Red Dot.
There would be more than enough takers to re-release the true cult lenses.
Ok,... maybe not the DR but the v4 ?
They could do it... they may do it.
There are enough collectors who own the entire catalog. Those sales alone could float the project.
Any additional sales would be black ink and there would be plenty.
It’s all fun banter but so was the MM and MD and MA.... 😉
Rob-F
Likes Leicas
The Thambar did the opposite! It was supplied with a device that covered the central area, to make the picture using only the periphery! This took advantage of the greater spherical aberration at the edges to soften the focus. When you wanted a sharp picture, you took that thing off and stopped down.
d_c
Well-known
Not that I'm an expert, but surely you could smear vaseline in the centre of a filter to get the same effect?
sebastel
coarse art umbrascriptor
who is normal?
james.liam
Well-known
Just picked up a Canon 100/2 LTM in great shape and sent it off for a CLA. It isn't the Thambar but in the rare moments (once every 5 years) I yearn for the grossly exaggerated spherical aberrations @ ƒ/2, it should be similarly replicated with a gentle application of vaseline to an inexpensive Hoya 58mm filter.
x-ray
Veteran
Back in the early 70's an elderly retired friend of mine had one he had bought new. He was kind enough to let me shoot with it. I still have the negs and will try to find them and do a scan or two in the next few days.
It's an interesting lens but one of those things most of us would use three or four times and then windup being put away or sold. I found it's best use as a portrait lens. I find it interesting there was a lack of portrait samples and a lot of marginal landscapes.
I've owned and still own several classic large format soft focus lenses. There were many portrait lenses in the 20's through the 50's. Each model had it own unique look. If you really want to see some stunning soft focus work research soft focus threads on the large format forum. Also research Cooke bi quality and knuckles soft focus portrait, Wollensak Verito, Vitax, vests Portrait, Gundlach Hyperion, Rodenstock Imagon, Kodak 12" portrait soft focus, Ilex Photoplastic and Voigtlander Universal Heliar to name just a few.
There are several methods of achieving the glow with each producing a different look.
It's an interesting lens but one of those things most of us would use three or four times and then windup being put away or sold. I found it's best use as a portrait lens. I find it interesting there was a lack of portrait samples and a lot of marginal landscapes.
I've owned and still own several classic large format soft focus lenses. There were many portrait lenses in the 20's through the 50's. Each model had it own unique look. If you really want to see some stunning soft focus work research soft focus threads on the large format forum. Also research Cooke bi quality and knuckles soft focus portrait, Wollensak Verito, Vitax, vests Portrait, Gundlach Hyperion, Rodenstock Imagon, Kodak 12" portrait soft focus, Ilex Photoplastic and Voigtlander Universal Heliar to name just a few.
There are several methods of achieving the glow with each producing a different look.
Rob-F
Likes Leicas
x-ray
Veteran
In the 60's a friend glued a nickel to the center of a skylight filter and put it on his 125mm hektor and shot it wide open. The effect was very similar to the Thambar.
jsrockit
Moderator
Come on... Leica users aren't going to do the often repeated (in this thread alone) vaseline trick. Every time one of these types of lenses comes out there is a ton of responses about vaseline. We all know this has been rereleased because it is an older lens that has gained value on the used market and Leica wants to capitalize on that...let's not pretend it is about some magical look that is worth the money.
zuiko85
Veteran
I have a plastic lens salvaged from a Polaroid One Step, about 100mm in focal length and working at an aperture of 17mm or f5.9 as mounted on a focusing unit. A soft image with a halo around subjects if used wide open. In fact it reminds me very much of the samples posted with Leica's announcement page. If I insert a f16 stop, about 6.3mm, then almost all the flare and softness disappears and the image sharpens up quite a bit.
The old One Step was a $2 purchase at a thrift store years ago and dismantled to get the first surface mirror out of it. I also saved the lens and vf optics.
Just a quick question. Didn't Leica also have a 73mm f1.9 lens at some point. Seems like I remember reading about it but can't be sure.
Never mind, I found it, ain't google wonderful.
The old One Step was a $2 purchase at a thrift store years ago and dismantled to get the first surface mirror out of it. I also saved the lens and vf optics.
Just a quick question. Didn't Leica also have a 73mm f1.9 lens at some point. Seems like I remember reading about it but can't be sure.
Never mind, I found it, ain't google wonderful.
Huss
Veteran
Lots of portrait samples here:
http://us.leica-camera.com/Photography/Leica-M/M-Lenses/Thambar-M-90-f-2.2/Images
DominikDUK
Well-known
Kazuya Sudo's examples on the Leica site are quiet beautiful and a great example of what can be done with a soft focus lens. Beautiful. The price tag of the lens unfortunately isn't :-(
Corran
Well-known
I wonder if the emphasis and prominence of east Asian photographers in the example photos are an indication of where Leica expects to sell the most lenses?
leicapixie
Well-known
A friend many years ago owned one, complete with filter.
I used it and it's not same as Vaseline, or plastic lenses.
One can replicate effect using Rodenstock Imagon.
Pentax 6x7 had one, Nikon also in 105 and 135mm.
Now I don't have US$6500 plus extra $ for filter, etc.!
I suggest an old 90mm Triplet with haze and make filter, with dot in center.
It should be mirror like not black.
Any lens that has haze, separation will with filter be close!
Its great for one usage!
I never borrowed it again, later friend sold it.
Lots of $$$! He was more happy with money!
I used it and it's not same as Vaseline, or plastic lenses.
One can replicate effect using Rodenstock Imagon.
Pentax 6x7 had one, Nikon also in 105 and 135mm.
Now I don't have US$6500 plus extra $ for filter, etc.!
I suggest an old 90mm Triplet with haze and make filter, with dot in center.
It should be mirror like not black.
Any lens that has haze, separation will with filter be close!
Its great for one usage!
I never borrowed it again, later friend sold it.
Lots of $$$! He was more happy with money!
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shiosaki
Newbie
Bille
Well-known
What a rip off.
ferider
Veteran
There is more to abberations than just a center filter.
Regarding the Thambar, I need another tele lens like a hole in my head,
Roland.
Regarding the Thambar, I need another tele lens like a hole in my head,
Roland.
x-ray
Veteran
I own an Imagon and have shot with the Thambar and they're very different. The imagon is unlike any other soft focus lens. The image is sharp with the imagon but highlights on a glow. The Thambar is soft all over and low in contrast. With the filter on and wide open the Thambar isn't particularly sharp. They're completely different.
