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Explore the world of vintage lenses through repair notes, real test shots, and detailed archive threads packed with images.

Explore the world of vintage lenses through repair notes, real test shots, and detailed archive threads packed with images.
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'51 1.5/75mm Biotar Wide open Portraits
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Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 6:34 pm
Post subject: '51 1.5/75mm Biotar Wide open Portraits
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Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 6:34 pm
Post subject: '51 1.5/75mm Biotar Wide open Portraits
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I know you guys love the crazy Bokeh Very Happy
Here are a few from yesterday evening.
I prefer the B+W.
It's amazing to me the contrast and saturation this lens brings at f1.5
It's only barely sharp in the center. Care must be used in framing as you can see in these shots (better next time).
Nice atmospheric lens on the 5D.
If anyone knows of a LTM conversion for sale please do let me know.
There are quite a few out there all custom re-mounts. I would love to have one for my RF's.
~A







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Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 6:43 pm
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Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 6:43 pm
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Shocked
I used not to be a fan of swirly bokeh, but you just may have convinced me otherwise


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Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 6:52 pm
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Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 6:52 pm
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Great bokeh and nice portraits Andy!

LTM conversion for a M42 lens is quite easy - I have some russian adaptor for that. Want one? Exakta is more difficult but also doable, there is an Exakta to M40 + M40-M39 (LTM) ring (not sure about infinity though)


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Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 7:13 pm
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Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 7:13 pm
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kuuan wrote:
Shocked
I used not to be a fan of swirly bokeh, but you just may have convinced me otherwise


Bokeh highly depend from background before a green it will be smooth. I am glad Andy you have it this is best lens what I ever had.

Great captures, nice portraits. Beautiful lady ! I am happy to you!


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Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 7:30 pm
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Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 7:30 pm
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If I look at it too long, I feel sort of sick to my stomach... It is odd how it does that too me.

I love the look, but damned if I can look at it for long.


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Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 7:40 pm
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Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 7:40 pm
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I feel sea sick ! Embarassed

Laughing Laughing Laughing

I think the images are very different. I'm not completely sold on swirlies, but having used the Helios 44-2 a bit, I am warming to it. I like the 1st B&W image the best regardless of bokeh. It is a very strong composition. Nice work.


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Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 7:58 pm
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Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 7:58 pm
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I feel envy! Twisted Evil

But... someday I will own one. Maybe this sunday, if the lens gods point me to the right table on the Doesburg fair Wink


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Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 8:05 pm
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Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 8:05 pm
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Thanks for all your comments.
The first Image is really the only one that "works" for me.
I could not see printing the other two. Printing is the final measure IMHO

@ Peter
I'm envious of you. We don't have any such fairs within 1000km of my home.
Maybe I should send you a short list for shopping Wink


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Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 8:15 pm
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Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 8:15 pm
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Thanks, but having too much choice on a fair is a bad thing too Smile I usually end up buying way too much stuff. The Biotar will be priority #1 now because I was offered a mint Pancolar 1.8/80 yesterday. Twisted Evil

But back to your photos: I like this result of optical vignetting! My 58mm f/2 Biotar shows the same swirly bokeh, and so does my Meyer 7,5cm f/1.9 Primoplan. It does not always work out, but in the right conditions the results can be fabulous.


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Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 8:38 pm
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Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 8:38 pm
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Beautiful! I guess you can't build your photo career entirely with that kind of look, but adding few of such portraits to a photo session made with some more conventional lens will certainly add a wow factor to it.


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Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 9:01 pm
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Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 9:01 pm
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pirius wrote:
Beautiful! I guess you can't build your photo career entirely with that kind of look, but adding few of such portraits to a photo session made with some more conventional lens will certainly add a wow factor to it.


Excellent point and well spoken.
This sort of look is over the top on it's own. (well, I think so).
Used sparingly or as part of an overall more conventional session it can become quite magical.

Lenses that lend heavy character are like brushes or colors that do the same.

BTW a couple stops down and the Biotar behaves quite nicely Smile


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Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 10:11 pm
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Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 10:11 pm
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Very well done, very interesting results !

I have that Biotar, and I don't get these effects, or not quite that extreme. I should use it more.

And you have a lovely model !


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Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 10:22 pm
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Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 10:22 pm
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hi sunshine! congrats for your new model
you should check if a lens element is missing or reversed Rolling Eyes


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Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 10:30 pm
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Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 10:30 pm
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I like the first one the best, too, but you could have taken these with a
Kodak Starmite and she would still be a babe! Laughing


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Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 10:54 pm
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Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 10:54 pm
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Yea...definitely crazy bokeh! Smile

Last edited by WallyJr74 on Thu Aug 20, 2009 10:56 pm; edited 1 time in total


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Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 10:55 pm
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Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 10:55 pm
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Number 3 is magic for me. The bokeh complements the pose perfectly. Im gonna have to get the 2/50. Hope it acts similarly. Beautiful woman by the way, they always help.


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Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 11:00 pm
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Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 11:00 pm
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The bokeh is an additional value in these pics -- nothing to be worried about

I have to say -- MAGIC PICTURES!!

tf


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Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 11:23 pm
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Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 11:23 pm
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Pic #1 is fantastic, the characteristics of the lens and composition just work. This is superb for head & shoulder portraits.

It will take me a while to acquire the taste for full body with swirly bokeh as in 2 and 3, unfortunately. But if I ever find one within my budget, you know what I will do.

Thanks for the pics Andy.


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Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 4:31 am
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Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 4:31 am
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luisalegria wrote:
.........
I have that Biotar, and I don't get these effects, or not quite that extreme. I should use it more.
........


could it be that it is the right mix of highlights in the background which does it?
I am way to inexperienced, really still a beginner, and there is only one lens which I know quite well be now, the Tak 50/1.4. I like it's very smooth bokeh if there are no highlights in the background but that also could be a bit boring, if there are many highlights it's bokeh becomes too erratic for my taste, but if there is just the right dosage of a bit of highlights that bit of erratic mixed with the smooth may look very appealing


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Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 12:59 pm
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Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 12:59 pm
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kuuan wrote:
could it be that it is the right mix of highlights in the background which does it?


I am not an expert but I think it is a combination of several ingredients:
- lenses
- aperture
- distance from object
- distance from background
- background
- highlights

With some given circumstances you have to make the right choice of lens.
Or you have a lens and have to find a suitable background Wink


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Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 1:44 pm
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Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 1:44 pm
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Great ones Andy.

Actually my preferred one would be #2 if only the grils'face would be in focus (I know it's hard to do it at 1.5, just a slight movement of your model and bang...).

It seems that I have to put at work my two Biotars 75 Wink


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Posted: Wed Dec 09, 2009 10:20 am
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Posted: Wed Dec 09, 2009 10:20 am
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@F16Sunshine...

Your BW image really blows me away.. really great!

It's the reason for me why i searched this lens.. what a phantastic effect..

Now i found one for a very, very good price and here is the gem..




The lens must be serviced on Fotoservice Olbrich in Goerlitz, but after this, it would be like new..

Thanks for showing this spectacular images.. i love them.

Cheers
Henry

Last edited by hinnerker on Wed Dec 09, 2009 1:13 pm; edited 3 times in total


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Posted: Wed Dec 09, 2009 12:15 pm
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Posted: Wed Dec 09, 2009 12:15 pm
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Congrats Henry! I look forward your portrait shoots!


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Posted: Wed Dec 09, 2009 12:22 pm
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Posted: Wed Dec 09, 2009 12:22 pm
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Loving the first shot Cool


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Posted: Thu Dec 17, 2009 3:14 pm
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Posted: Thu Dec 17, 2009 3:14 pm
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Today it arrives from servicing.. what a lens.

Mine is from 1954 and i love the surrealistic way, this lens paints.. whow.

First, a quickn dirty shot of some plastic flowers standing around in the flat..

have a look on the right side of the OOF Area.. it seemed there is a person in the image.. its only light, light, light and reflections....

i like it to have ghosts in my pictures Very Happy




Seemed that ALADIN is coming out of his oil lamp

Some Portrait - shots will follow..

cheers
Henry
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