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Carl Zeiss Jena 135/3.5 MC ... love it, but ...
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PostPosted: Mon May 02, 2011 5:54 am    Post subject: Carl Zeiss Jena 135/3.5 MC ... love it, but ... Reply with quote

I just want to share some test photos from my CZJ 135/3.5 MC.

I love it instantly. The color, the bokeh and the 'dynamic range' in the shadow area. I didn't know if this 'dynamic range' is due to the lack of contrast or not, but I like it Smile

After seeing the lens test done by our friend BRunner in this post :

http://forum.mflenses.com/communist-135mm-sonnars-comparison-t33719.html

it seems that this lens really has lower contrast, compared to the older silver 135/4.

The one thing that a little bit disappoint me is its sharpness.
Its not sharp enough. Is it because I am too demanding or I got a bad copy Smile

The photos were taken using 5DmkII, Standard picture style with default setting (4,0,0,0). On some of them I added the sharpness & saturation to (5,0,1,0).


PostPosted: Mon May 02, 2011 6:16 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The bokeh is gorgeous .. Smile
Is it typical "Sonnar" bokeh?











PostPosted: Mon May 02, 2011 7:53 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Congratulations! Another Sonnar owner Smile Looks sharp enough to me. Perhaps take some pictures of something flat where everything will be in focus if you are worried, but to me, it's the character that's important with this lens Smile


PostPosted: Mon May 02, 2011 8:04 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks, Graham.

Very sorry, I had problem with the internet connection. I'll post the rest of the photos later when the connection is back to normal again. Sad


PostPosted: Mon May 02, 2011 8:47 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

OK, its back to normal again ... Smile

By the way, I also like the closer MFD of this lens.

Some color test.

Pic style Standard with setting (4,0,1,0)






PostPosted: Mon May 02, 2011 8:49 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Portrait test ....

I like the low contrast tone ... Smile




This one using Cloudy white balance .... looks too red ...



PostPosted: Mon May 02, 2011 8:58 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Cat shot test .... Very Happy






Misfocus ... shutter speed 1/200sec, Standard pic tyle (4,0,0,0), shot as JPEG.



100% crop





100% crop



shutter speed 1/3200sec


100% crop



PostPosted: Mon May 02, 2011 9:05 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

One more bokeh sample ...



PostPosted: Mon May 02, 2011 11:18 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Are you sure that the sharpness issue isn't just camera shake during exposure?

Because some images looks sharp enough I think.

/T


PostPosted: Mon May 02, 2011 11:44 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Looks ok to me. Try develop from RAW in DPP with disabled noise reduction and instead of "Sharpness" use "Unsharp mask" with parameters 1,10,1.


PostPosted: Mon May 02, 2011 2:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The pics are good, nice images. Sharpness, good too. They are into the normal good IQ of the CZJ 3,5/135 lens.

Your lens is one of the best 135 mm lenses in M42 mount.

But the same good IQ you will find with other very good 135 mm lenses.

With other mounts perhaps you can wait better performance, vg. leica, Zeiss, Canon, etc.

Did you try for sharpness to use a tripod or monopod so?

Rino


PostPosted: Mon May 02, 2011 6:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

hello, perhaps, may have a dirty element. The most common is oil vappor unseen but causes loss of contrast. The mine has more contrast.


PostPosted: Mon May 02, 2011 8:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thank you All for the comments and advices. I will do as suggested and try another tests.

My previous 135/3.5 lens is a cheap Olympus. Its very sharp when I did first simple test (hand held, just like what I did with this lovely czj). And from lot of forum I had impression that CZJ 135 is sharp lens. So thats why I'm questioning about its sharpness.
I'll another test soon.