Albinar ADG 135mm f/2.8 varisoft lens

Nesster · Expire: 2014-02-20

Testing out the Albinar ADG 135mm f/2.8 macro focus lens - a similar one was sold as a Sears also. The lens has a 'macro zone' where the front of the lens rotates out in addition to the normal focusing collar. This was sold as a 'macro' feature that goes to 1:5 maximum magnification.

Of course the real use of this control is as a variable softness control - cranking it out adds spherical aberration. They probably would have made more money selling these as varisoft lenses - and they certainly would be worth more than the $9.99 I spent (In my defense, I got a 52mm rubber hood and a Hoya filter in the bargain).

This flower shot at the normal setting f/2.8.

flowers softest f/2.8 by Nesster, on Flickr

This flower shot is at the 1:5 setting f/2.8.

flowers softest f/2.8 by Nesster, on Flickr

Fertility rabbit at softest setting f/5.6

Fertility Rabbit Softest by Nesster, on Flickr

Fertility rabbit at mid-soft (1:6) setting f/5.6

Fertility Rabbit Softer by Nesster, on Flickr

Fertility rabbit straight f/5.6

Fertility Rabbit Straight by Nesster, on Flickr

Minolfan · Joined: 30 Dec 2008 Posts: 3437 Location: Netherlands

Nice lens to play with. The softness is more created buy losing contrast then sharpness?

Nesster · Expire: 2014-02-20

My understanding is the spherical aberrations start to take over - e.g. the white daisies in the flower pic take on a glow. Probably affects contrast as well. With the rabbit I'm thinking the spherical aberration makes the whole pic look rounder...

These weren't optimal test shots - I was shooting Ferrania 400 in a Nikon FE, really testing out the camera (I'd put in some new light seal) before daughter takes it. But I figured why not test these out (the Soligor T4 vs Nikkor 105 test, with a Folding Pocket Brownie, did NOT come out at all)...

I'll try this with the digital cam some time, maybe the effect will be more pronounced.

Here's some talk about the Sears version:
http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/51676-sears-mod-no-202-magic.html