tunalegs
Pretended Artist
I admit, I have never really given the Schneider Xenon 1.9/50mm much attention. I have two, both late-model examples in the compact barrel, one in M42, and one in Exakta bayonet. I've only used them a handful of times. The compact barrels, while attractive, are not particularly ergonomic in use. As well, on the Exakta I prefer the 2/50 Pancolar, and in M42 I have an endless variety of fast fifties to choose from.
The Xenon occupies a rather strange place in our "collective photographer's consciousness", it is held in high regard as a user lens, and yet it gives a very old-fashioned sort of rendering but avoids being labelled as a gimmick or effect lens (unlike say, contemporaries like the Biotar and Primoplan).
tree by Berang Berang, on Flickr
Untitled by Berang Berang, on Flickr
I think you can see what I mean. It gives an old-fashioned feeling, but it doesn't beat you over the head with it. This may be why the Xenon gets little notice among those looking for "bubbles" and "swirls" despite giving both those effects - and though its sharpness, contrast, and speed were remarkable in the 40s and 50s, by the 60s the Japanese were doing as well, or better, for less money and pairing those lenses with cameras far more popular than what was coming of Germany by then. The legacy of which is that while the Xenon is generally held in high regard for those qualities now, it gets relatively little notice when all those fine Japanese lenses are so accessible and cheap, and when its German contemporaries offer much more pronounced nostalgic rendering.
In any event, I'd love to see photos taken with Xenons - post them here.
The Xenon occupies a rather strange place in our "collective photographer's consciousness", it is held in high regard as a user lens, and yet it gives a very old-fashioned sort of rendering but avoids being labelled as a gimmick or effect lens (unlike say, contemporaries like the Biotar and Primoplan).
tree by Berang Berang, on Flickr
Untitled by Berang Berang, on Flickr
I think you can see what I mean. It gives an old-fashioned feeling, but it doesn't beat you over the head with it. This may be why the Xenon gets little notice among those looking for "bubbles" and "swirls" despite giving both those effects - and though its sharpness, contrast, and speed were remarkable in the 40s and 50s, by the 60s the Japanese were doing as well, or better, for less money and pairing those lenses with cameras far more popular than what was coming of Germany by then. The legacy of which is that while the Xenon is generally held in high regard for those qualities now, it gets relatively little notice when all those fine Japanese lenses are so accessible and cheap, and when its German contemporaries offer much more pronounced nostalgic rendering.
In any event, I'd love to see photos taken with Xenons - post them here.
CharlesDAMorgan
Veteran
I have one with my Kodak Retina Reflex III - not a camera I use much but the lens is gorgeous (as is the 35mm Curtagon - an absolute gem). It has a beautiful rendering and as you say it doesn't hit you over the head with its out of focus areas, which have real charm. A really nice bit of optics!
Mr_Flibble
In Tabulas Argenteas Refero
I have a couple of Xenons on Welta Weltini, Retina and one in Leica LTM.
The Summarit is a close copy of the Xenon as well.
But alas, none for SLRs.
7 Elements, 10 air-to-glass surfaces. They tend to be a bit glowy in high contrast or stray light situations.
The Summarit is a close copy of the Xenon as well.
But alas, none for SLRs.
7 Elements, 10 air-to-glass surfaces. They tend to be a bit glowy in high contrast or stray light situations.
peterm1
Veteran
My favorite Schneider Xenon is a 105mm f3.5 which presents very nice people photos.
Cafe Study 29 by Life in Shadows, on Flickr
Cafe Study 27 by Life in Shadows, on Flickr
Cafe Study 26 by Life in Shadows, on Flickr
Cafe Study 29 by Life in Shadows, on FlickrCafe Study 27 by Life in Shadows, on FlickrCafe Study 26 by Life in Shadows, on Flickr
raydm6
Yay! Cameras! 🙈🙉🙊┌( ಠ_ಠ)┘ [◉"]
I found a Kodak Retina Reflex III w/50mm f1.9 Schneider Retina-Xenon with case in great shape for about $30 USD at a consignment shop. I sent it off with lens to Chris Sherlock @Retina Rescue as it needed a CLA. Glad to spend the money to save the camera as it it a beautifully constructed.
Here are a few shots from my 1st roll:
Portrait Photography - Wellesley Center by rdc154, on Flickr
Rt. 16 - Wellesley Center by rdc154, on Flickr
Here are a few shots from my 1st roll:
Portrait Photography - Wellesley Center by rdc154, on FlickrRt. 16 - Wellesley Center by rdc154, on Flickr
tunalegs
Pretended Artist
Nice work.
I think it also bears mentioning that when it was introduced, the Xenon 50mm lenses were the only "fast 50s" available for SLRs, as everything else above f/2.8 was 55-58mm. Although Exaktas were packaged with Biotars or Tessars, the Xenon was the lens to have in the 1950s, and performed as well as anything Leitz or Zeiss had on the market at that time.
I think it also bears mentioning that when it was introduced, the Xenon 50mm lenses were the only "fast 50s" available for SLRs, as everything else above f/2.8 was 55-58mm. Although Exaktas were packaged with Biotars or Tessars, the Xenon was the lens to have in the 1950s, and performed as well as anything Leitz or Zeiss had on the market at that time.
tunalegs
Pretended Artist
Some new images, from a new-to-me Xenon. This is an older version with 20 (?) aperture blades. I think the performance of this lens is impressive.
markjwyatt
Well-known
markjwyatt
Well-known
I took my Kodak Retina Reflex IV to the Griffith Observatory. I was testing out some Schneider-Kreuznach lenses I acquired (at the observatory mainly the 50mm f2.8 Xenar and an 85mm f4 Tele-Arton). We went inside so I threw the Xenon on for some available light pictures. Here is a thermal selfie.
Thermal Selfie Wth Cool Retina Reflex IV by Mark Wyatt, on Flickr
The Retina IV is not the most pleasant camera to shoot with, but I am constantly pleased with the crispness and contrast of the Schneider-Kreuznach optics, so I end up using it (I do fit the lenses to a Fujifilm XT-2 and some M42 cameras also, but there are compromises).
Thermal Selfie Wth Cool Retina Reflex IV by Mark Wyatt, on Flickr
The Retina IV is not the most pleasant camera to shoot with, but I am constantly pleased with the crispness and contrast of the Schneider-Kreuznach optics, so I end up using it (I do fit the lenses to a Fujifilm XT-2 and some M42 cameras also, but there are compromises).
markjwyatt
Well-known
Here are a few of available light shots with the Xenon:
planetarium by Mark Wyatt, on Flickr
Feel My Relativity by Mark Wyatt, on Flickr
sphere by Mark Wyatt, on Flickr
planetarium by Mark Wyatt, on Flickr
Feel My Relativity by Mark Wyatt, on Flickr
sphere by Mark Wyatt, on Flickr
