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Surprise lens: pre-1900 E. Krauss Anastigmat on 5D
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Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 7:57 pm
Post subject: Surprise lens: pre-1900 E. Krauss Anastigmat on 5D
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Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 7:57 pm
Post subject: Surprise lens: pre-1900 E. Krauss Anastigmat on 5D
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This certainly is my surprise lens of the year. I bought it for 15 euros, sight unseen, because I wanted to own a brass lens. You cannot go wrong with 15 euros, right?

When I received it I immediately noticed how small it was, but also that the interior was completely hazy. Fortunately, this cleaned up perfectly. Even the diaphragm is smooth and dry...

So what did I get? The name, as found on the lens, is:

Anast.-Zeiss 1:8 f-136m/m Bte Sede E. Krauss & Cie Paris No. 24017.



As per the Vademecum, this lens was designed by Zeiss and made in licence by E. Krauss in Paris. Based on the serial number the lens dates to somewhere around 1896-1898, making it my oldest lens. But by no means the worst! Imagine my disbelief when I went on a walk tonight and returned with the images below. Everything was shot wide open, with the Krauss taped to a M42 bellows, which in turn was mounted on the Canon 5D.



This experience was a real eye opener for me. Will it be the same for you?

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Last edited by Spotmatic on Mon Apr 20, 2009 9:28 pm; edited 1 time in total


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Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 8:17 pm
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Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 8:17 pm
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WOW, I'm blown away - did the lens designers sleep the 100 years since then???

But since I know you and your work a bit now, a coke bottle bottom would deliver great results in your hands... Wink Wink

Last edited by kds315* on Mon Apr 20, 2009 8:18 pm; edited 1 time in total


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Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 8:18 pm
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Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 8:18 pm
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i asking myself same quasetion. over 110 years and such pictures Shocked


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Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 8:18 pm
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Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 8:18 pm
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Dang! Never seen this superb quality from this area! Many thanks for sharing!


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Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 8:21 pm
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Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 8:21 pm
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Completely over the top! It's fascinating and rewarding to see this lens in "action". Your images are easily on a par with modern lenses, at least at these web sizes. Magnificent lens indeed! Shocked


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Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 8:28 pm
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Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 8:28 pm
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Thanks everyone! The real surprise, to me, was that the pictures really were this contrasty. I think it has everything to do with the lens being only f/8, so there are no large glass surfaces causing light scattering. Remember, guys, these pictures were shot wide open! The last picture was shot into the sun (although not directly; I used my hand as a sun shade).
The story would have been completely different with a f/2 lens of the same length, I think.

I really liked the experience and would like to use the Krauss a bit more...

@Klaus: I had a laugh because you are not the first to note that I could get good results with any lens. But I cannot make treasure out of trash, so the kudos should go to the Krauss this time Wink


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Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 8:36 pm
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Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 8:36 pm
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congrats spot! at this size, it is indeed impressive


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Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 8:44 pm
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Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 8:44 pm
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Astounding!


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Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 9:10 pm
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Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 9:10 pm
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Remember, at that times, lenses were designed for photographers. Not for reviewers Laughing


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Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 9:29 pm
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Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 9:29 pm
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no-X wrote:
Remember, at that times, lenses were designed for photographers. Not for reviewers Laughing


How true that is... Sometimes they are too busy studying MTF charts and do not realize that they could have been taking photos instead!

BTW: I have added a picture of the setup in the first post.


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Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 9:39 pm
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Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 9:39 pm
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kds315* wrote:

But since I know you and your work a bit now, a coke bottle bottom would deliver great results in your hands... Wink Wink


Yes, that is precisely the point, Spotmatic isn't a fair game, any lens would look a champion with him Smile

However Zeiss anastigmats (Zeiss invented the name but did not copyright it, so the other manufacturers copied it) have a very good reputation.


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Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 10:09 pm
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Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 10:09 pm
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I hope I perform as well at that age!
Peter, you really do make the lenses hum


patrickh


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Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 10:43 pm
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Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 10:43 pm
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[quote="Spotmatic"]Thanks everyone! The real surprise, to me, was that the pictures really were this contrasty. I think it has everything to do with the lens being only f/8

Exactly - "Moderate Aperture + Care in Computation + Precision Manufacture = High Quality"

It really does look very good indeed, and the pictures themselves are lovely to look at. Maybe we should add "+ An Eye for a Picture" to the equation !


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Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 1:26 am
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Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 1:26 am
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I'll echo the "Gee, wow!" sentiments already given.

Who'd have thought such an archaic lens would produce such lovely
and sharp results?

And that's a very elegant mount solution you've come up with, Spot. Wink


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Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 2:17 am
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Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 2:17 am
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I'm blown away by the results ! Truly inspiring results from this old lens...


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Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 8:40 am
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Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 8:40 am
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Perfect!
It is really joyfull to see some 100 years old lens performs this good.


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Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 9:13 am
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Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 9:13 am
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Amazing, I'm speechless!

I'm sure Spotmatic could use a coke bottle and would get great results Smile


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Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 5:56 pm
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Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 5:56 pm
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I had to come back and look, and I'm still blown away.

I wonder what the results would be with a polarizer? I'm betting the colors and contrast will be enriched even more, at least for some of the images.


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Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2009 12:30 pm
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Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2009 12:30 pm
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Maybe I could try a polarizer? I have enough of those here.

By the way, I have decided to make this even more fun as I have just bought a brass Voigtlander lens which, based on the serial number, was made in 1867. No idea if it will be good, as I do not have much information. It does not look like it is complete, but hopefully all elements are there. It's almost 100% sure a Petzval lens. Well, it was very cheap so I cannot complain Smile

It is this one:



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Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2009 6:12 pm
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Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2009 6:12 pm
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Wow! The pics from the first lens are amazing!
I can't belive that a more than 100 years old lens is that sharp and nice! Shocked
I'm really impressed!


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Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 5:40 am
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Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 5:40 am
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Oh GOD, just what I need... a whole new WORLD of lenses to lust after! Razz


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Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 5:12 pm
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Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 5:12 pm
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PERFECT RESULTS!!

wow -- Shocked

tf


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Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 5:53 pm
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Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 5:53 pm
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I am not that surprised by these excellent results. First some of these very old lenses are really great and second you are a fine photographer.
I am, however, also surprised by the contrast this lens delivers. This indeed is astounding!
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