Elmo Projection 1.2/50: always closer

alex ph · Joined: 16 Mar 2013 Posts: 1674

An Elmo projection 1.2/50 lens put on Sony Nex keeps a notable central sharpness but does not cover an APS-C completly and swirls on edges. For this reason it remains a "character lens", even though in some way less queer than Ro-109-1A, Som Berthiot or Benoist Berthiot with similar parameters.

The lack of diaphragm in its case cannot be compensated with a cardboard snap-on ring, as it would vignette the image even more. But it still looks not bad.

The shots are taken WO and tweaked a bit: mostly exposure is reduced and contrast boosted.

#1 At MFD on a custom helical adapter

#2 Further

#3 Close to infinity, to reach the rainbow

#4 Back to close up

#5 OOF gradual dissolution

#6 Explicit swirl

#7 Pure bokeh

Lloydy · Expire: 2022-01-01

It's certainly a 'character lens' - but a very good one, it has plenty of character.

Wink

alex ph · Joined: 16 Mar 2013 Posts: 1674

calvin83 · Joined: 12 Apr 2009 Posts: 7584 Location: Hong Kong

If you made cardboard snap-on ring in different shapes, you have a budget Petzval Art Lens. Friends

kds315* · Expire: 2021-03-09

Crazy Leica Fox · Joined: 29 Apr 2017 Posts: 73

My favorites are #3 and #6.

#3 is like what Instagram "influencers" try to achieve with their fancy apps but can never quite reach.

alex ph · Joined: 16 Mar 2013 Posts: 1674

Thank you fellows!

Crazy Leica Fox, do you think the future of Instagram is more and more users with mirrorless cams and strange lenses?

Calvin, I made a simple cardboard aperture ring with a baroque shape. I think, the lens speed beacame kind of f2.8 with it. To my surprise, the ring does not vignette the lens more than when it is WO.

Here is a couple of shots WO and with the ring on, which changes a bit the bokeh and the DOF.

#1 WO

#2 Ring on

#3 WO

#4 Ring on

Besides, this lens is also very good at infinity in the central part of the frame.

#5 Here is an example

#6 WO unprocessed, 100% crop from the previous

#7 Twilight rendering is also nice, unless you catch a circular stray reflection on the sensor

jamaeolus · Expire: 2015-08-20

These photos tickle me....

kiddo · Joined: 29 Jun 2018 Posts: 1273

Where did you place the cardboard in? Front lens or inside the group? On m4/3 might turn to be sharp all across the image lens ; btw ,what is the baroque shape cardboard? Thanks

alex ph · Joined: 16 Mar 2013 Posts: 1674

Jamaeolus, nice to hear!

Kiddo, it is as simple as that: just a piece of thin cardboard in front of the lens, which is not even black. I commonly use quickly made ones on various projection lenses, leaving a small "ear" on the ring to easily pull it out the barrel. This time the "ear" got too short, so some paper dust is formed, coming from my atempts to catch the ring.

kiddo · Joined: 29 Jun 2018 Posts: 1273

Interesting, I've read that on colorplan, best place would be berween the third and fourth elements,,not on front of the lens;

alex ph · Joined: 16 Mar 2013 Posts: 1674

I have no doubts that optically speaking this would be more correct. Just you need machinery and skills to do it. A small paper circle made of useless package cardboard is a quicker solution. It might change bokeh and DOF in a less evident manner, but it still does.

calvin83 · Joined: 12 Apr 2009 Posts: 7584 Location: Hong Kong

kiddo · Joined: 29 Jun 2018 Posts: 1273

Would a round ring instead baroque one, make any difference? What about mounting it on the mount side of the lens (as there are some lenses that have their diaphragm on the back)

alex ph · Joined: 16 Mar 2013 Posts: 1674

Would try it with different light sources.

As long as the flange distance of this particular lens is very short, and I need to fix it in the adapter in a way that it is almost completely inside the tube and amost touching the sensor, there is very little space for a back aperture ring. That might be done, I think, but of a more solid material than the poor cardboard spreading paper dust here and there. If I stumble upon a well adapted material, I would be tempted to test.

The aperture shape, even of such snap-on rings, normally changes the bokeh.

jamaeolus · Expire: 2015-08-20

An aperture that is very close to sensor will probably give more pronounced vignetting.

Crazy Leica Fox · Joined: 29 Apr 2017 Posts: 73

alex ph · Joined: 16 Mar 2013 Posts: 1674

alex ph · Joined: 16 Mar 2013 Posts: 1674

#1

#2

alex ph · Joined: 16 Mar 2013 Posts: 1674

Some low light urban shots, including some better showing the bokeh shape with the cardboard aperture on and off, and one which shows the flare (always on Sony Nex).

#1

#2

#3 Cosmic flare

Bokeh variations

#4 WO

#5 With aperture ring on

#6 At MFD or almost with my setup

#7 Just bokeh with the snap on aperture ring

alex ph · Joined: 16 Mar 2013 Posts: 1674

Ingredients

#1

#2