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Oldhand
Joined: 01 Apr 2013 Posts: 6008 Location: Mid North Coast NSW - Australia
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Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2018 9:28 am Post subject: Sharp Low Contrast 135mm lens - your Recommendations please |
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Oldhand wrote:
I realise that perceived sharpness and contrast are intimately linked, but I am looking for a sharp but low contrast 135mm lens.
I will value your suggestions based upon your experience.
PS - doesn't have to be 135mm but those are the most common and the cheapest - 120-150mm are OK too
Thank you in advance
Tom |
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iangreenhalgh1
Joined: 18 Mar 2011 Posts: 15685
Expire: 2014-01-07
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Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2018 9:58 am Post subject: |
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iangreenhalgh1 wrote:
Something uncoated like a prewar Zeiss Sonnar 4/135 in Contax RF mount. _________________ I don't care who designed it, who made it or what country it comes from - I just enjoy using it! |
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Pancolart
Joined: 04 Feb 2008 Posts: 3693 Location: Slovenia, EU
Expire: 2013-11-18
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Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2018 10:09 am Post subject: |
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Pancolart wrote:
Enna Ennalyt 2.8/135mm perhaps. Even ISCO 3.5/135 and Schneider Xenar 3.5/135mm. _________________ ---------------------------------
The Peculiar Apparatus Of Victorian Steampunk Photography: 100+ Genuine Steampunk Camera Designs https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B92829NS |
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iangreenhalgh1
Joined: 18 Mar 2011 Posts: 15685
Expire: 2014-01-07
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Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2018 10:17 am Post subject: |
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iangreenhalgh1 wrote:
The Xenar 3.5/135 I have couldn't be described as low contrast. _________________ I don't care who designed it, who made it or what country it comes from - I just enjoy using it! |
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calvin83
Joined: 12 Apr 2009 Posts: 7554 Location: Hong Kong
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Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2018 10:34 am Post subject: |
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calvin83 wrote:
I think you can get easily get a low contrast photo from a high contrast lens with proper camera setting or do it in post? If you need a lens which flare easily, get an pre-war un-coated lens. _________________ https://lensfever.com/
https://www.instagram.com/_lens_fever/
The best lens is the one you have with you. |
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Pancolart
Joined: 04 Feb 2008 Posts: 3693 Location: Slovenia, EU
Expire: 2013-11-18
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Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2018 11:22 am Post subject: |
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Pancolart wrote:
iangreenhalgh1 wrote: |
The Xenar 3.5/135 I have couldn't be described as low contrast. |
Tried two different samples and compared to 3.5/135 Jena Sonnar for instance. Or Pentax-M SMC lenses. _________________ ---------------------------------
The Peculiar Apparatus Of Victorian Steampunk Photography: 100+ Genuine Steampunk Camera Designs https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B92829NS |
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Sjak
Joined: 29 Sep 2017 Posts: 696
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Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2018 11:40 am Post subject: |
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Sjak wrote:
iangreenhalgh1 wrote: |
Something uncoated like a prewar Zeiss Sonnar 4/135 in Contax RF mount. |
Indeed an option; my first thought was an early Jupiter-11 (Sonnar-copy) |
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iangreenhalgh1
Joined: 18 Mar 2011 Posts: 15685
Expire: 2014-01-07
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Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2018 2:11 pm Post subject: |
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iangreenhalgh1 wrote:
The Xenar should be every bit as contrasty as the Sonnar as it's the same lens design. _________________ I don't care who designed it, who made it or what country it comes from - I just enjoy using it! |
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Pancolart
Joined: 04 Feb 2008 Posts: 3693 Location: Slovenia, EU
Expire: 2013-11-18
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Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2018 2:38 pm Post subject: |
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Pancolart wrote:
iangreenhalgh1 wrote: |
The Xenar should be every bit as contrasty as the Sonnar as it's the same lens design. |
nah, where did you find that? _________________ ---------------------------------
The Peculiar Apparatus Of Victorian Steampunk Photography: 100+ Genuine Steampunk Camera Designs https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B92829NS |
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stevemark
Joined: 29 Apr 2011 Posts: 3754 Location: Switzerland
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Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2018 2:49 pm Post subject: Re: Sharp Low Contrast 135mm lens - your Recommendations ple |
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stevemark wrote:
Oldhand wrote: |
I realise that perceived sharpness and contrast are intimately linked, but I am looking for a sharp but low contrast 135mm lens.
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When i need a "low contrast" MF 135mm lens, it's usually for portraits. For this purpose i often use the Canon nFD 2/135mm, sometimes also the Nikkor AiS 2/135mm, wide open of course. My sample of the Canon is easier to focus than the Nikkor, and that's the main reason why i usually take the Canon.
Stephan _________________ www.artaphot.ch |
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Sciolist
Joined: 29 Mar 2017 Posts: 1445 Location: Scotland
Expire: 2021-04-16
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Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2018 2:49 pm Post subject: Re: Sharp Low Contrast 135mm lens - your Recommendations ple |
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Sciolist wrote:
Oldhand wrote: |
I realise that perceived sharpness and contrast are intimately linked, but I am looking for a sharp but low contrast 135mm lens.
I will value your suggestions based upon your experience.
PS - doesn't have to be 135mm but those are the most common and the cheapest - 120-150mm are OK too
Thank you in advance
Tom |
I'm not being sarcastic, but you could always look for something that is scratched up, or has a scuff on the front element. I think contrast goes before any inherent sharpness. Happy to be corrected on that assumption.
Not a very exacting approach, but easy on the pocket. |
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calvin83
Joined: 12 Apr 2009 Posts: 7554 Location: Hong Kong
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Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2018 3:03 pm Post subject: |
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calvin83 wrote:
Tele-Xenar 135/3.5 is different to Sonnar 135/3.5. The glass used on the 4-element Sonnar is much more than the 5-element Tele-Xenar. _________________ https://lensfever.com/
https://www.instagram.com/_lens_fever/
The best lens is the one you have with you.
Last edited by calvin83 on Wed Feb 21, 2018 3:52 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Anatol_M
Joined: 23 Dec 2017 Posts: 34
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Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2018 3:48 pm Post subject: |
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Anatol_M wrote:
How about Jupiter-37A? Definitely not the lens with the most contrast, but sharp as a Sonnar clone should be, and really cheap as well. |
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std
Joined: 09 Feb 2010 Posts: 1827 Location: Bulgaria
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Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2018 9:35 pm Post subject: |
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std wrote:
4/135 sonnar will do .. and if you want something even more low contrast 4/135 Triotar _________________ Stefan
My lens list:
SLR MD: Rokkor 1,7/50 Exakta: Kilfitt-Makro-Kilar E 3.5/4cm; CZJ 2/50 Pancolar;M42: CZJ 2.8/50 Tessar; Mir-1B 2.8/37; Jupiter-9 2/85 T-mount: Tamron 5.9/200; Tamron 6.9/300; Tamron 7.5/400 C-mount: Cosmicar 1.8/50 Y/S: Sun 3.5/38-90, Sun 4/70-210 RF Contax RF: Jupiter-8 2/50; Contax G:CZ 2,8/21 Biogon T; CZ 2,8/28 Biogon T; CZ 2/35 Planar T; CZ 2/45 Planar T; CZ 2,8/90 Sonnar T |
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Oldhand
Joined: 01 Apr 2013 Posts: 6008 Location: Mid North Coast NSW - Australia
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Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2018 10:40 pm Post subject: |
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Oldhand wrote:
Thank you everyone for your feedback - it is appreciated.
I will let you know what I decide upon.
Tom |
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jamaeolus
Joined: 19 Mar 2014 Posts: 2929 Location: Eugene
Expire: 2015-08-20
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Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2018 1:29 am Post subject: |
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jamaeolus wrote:
Triotar gets my vote. _________________ photos are moments frozen in time |
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stevemark
Joined: 29 Apr 2011 Posts: 3754 Location: Switzerland
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Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2018 10:54 am Post subject: Re: Sharp Low Contrast 135mm lens - your Recommendations ple |
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stevemark wrote:
Sciolist wrote: |
I'm not being sarcastic, but you could always look for something that is scratched up, or has a scuff on the front element. I think contrast goes before any inherent sharpness. Happy to be corrected on that assumption.
Not a very exacting approach, but easy on the pocket. |
A scratch or two doesn't change a lot ... i have a nFD 1.8/85mm where the central 5x5mm on the front lens are badly scratched. At f1.8 - f2.8 i can't see any difference, at f4 or f5.6 there is a slight reduction of the contrast, and from f8 on contrast ist visibly lowered.
A reversible method (apart from using soft filters) would be smearing a bit of Vaseline on the front lens. Works pretty well after a few trials ...
Stephan _________________ www.artaphot.ch |
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Macca
Joined: 20 Mar 2012 Posts: 248 Location: Glasgow, Scotland.
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Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2018 12:05 pm Post subject: |
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Macca wrote:
Hi.Not sure if you purpose is for portrait mainly but my Stenheil Munchen Tele Quinar VL 135mm 2.8 has both qualities, sharp but not overly contrasty and very kind to older skin.
It`s one of the few lenses my good lady will let me point at her these days lol. The Meyer Orestor 100m 2.8 is also very good at this if you want a shorter FL and neither the Volna 3 (80mm 2. or Biometar(120mm 2. Medium Format lenses are overly contrasty on 35mm. _________________ Sony A7iii.
CZ Distagon 15mm 2.8,Loxia 25mm 2.4,RE Auto Topcor 35mm 2.8,Contax Zeiss 35mm1.4,Minolta M Rokkor 40mm f2, Jupiter 3 50mm 1.5, Kuribayashi CC Petri Orikkor 50mm 2,Topcor S 50mm f2,Topcor RE GN 50mm 1.8,RE Auto Topcor 58mm 1.4, Helios 44m 2,Steinheil Munchen Auto Quinon 55m 1.9,Olympus auto g zuiko 60mm f1.5 ,KMZ PO2-2M 75mm F2,Jupiter 9 85mm f2(Arsenal Kiev),RE Auto Topcor 85mm 1.8,Leica Elmarit 90mm 2.8 R, RE Auto Topcor 100mm 2.8,Meyer Orestor 100mm 2.8,,F.B.R.105mm 2.4, RE Auto Topcor 135mm 3.5,Leica Elmarit R 135mm 2.8,Steinheil Munchen Quinar VL 135mm 2.8,Contax Zeiss 100-300mm 4.5-5.6, Vernon Edonar 350mm 5.5 |
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iangreenhalgh1
Joined: 18 Mar 2011 Posts: 15685
Expire: 2014-01-07
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Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2018 1:33 pm Post subject: |
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iangreenhalgh1 wrote:
Sonnar 4/135 and Xenar 4/135 are the same design, that was what I was talking about. _________________ I don't care who designed it, who made it or what country it comes from - I just enjoy using it! |
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calvin83
Joined: 12 Apr 2009 Posts: 7554 Location: Hong Kong
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Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2018 2:39 pm Post subject: |
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calvin83 wrote:
According to data from my old book, the F4 Tele-Xenar in DKL have similar design with the F3.5 version in other mount, both of them are 5e/4g design. Moreover, I can confirm the rear element(s) of the Tele-Xenar is much smaller than the Sonnar. _________________ https://lensfever.com/
https://www.instagram.com/_lens_fever/
The best lens is the one you have with you. |
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iangreenhalgh1
Joined: 18 Mar 2011 Posts: 15685
Expire: 2014-01-07
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Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2018 5:16 pm Post subject: |
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iangreenhalgh1 wrote:
That's the later DKL version, the earlier f4 version for cameras such as the Diax is identical to the contemporary f4 Sonnar design. _________________ I don't care who designed it, who made it or what country it comes from - I just enjoy using it! |
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calvin83
Joined: 12 Apr 2009 Posts: 7554 Location: Hong Kong
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Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2018 5:47 pm Post subject: |
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calvin83 wrote:
That is interesting. Let me check if I can find more info on this. _________________ https://lensfever.com/
https://www.instagram.com/_lens_fever/
The best lens is the one you have with you. |
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papasito
Joined: 09 Jan 2015 Posts: 1658
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Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2018 7:59 pm Post subject: |
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papasito wrote:
The Mamiya TL/DTL 135/2,8
Very, very good sharpness and low to medium contrast (low at F/2,8 - 3,4).
And especial touch is for me, the IQ of the Voigtlander Skopar F. 3,5/105 mm. Very low contrast and nice sharpness
(very prone to flare) |
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Badr12
Joined: 06 Apr 2014 Posts: 81
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Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2018 10:58 pm Post subject: |
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Badr12 wrote:
Takumar 135 2.5 (made in Taiwan, K mount) fits the criteria + cheap
Couldn't find a raw image but this is after adding contrast resized
DSC03514.jpg by drbadr12, on Flickr |
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Oldhand
Joined: 01 Apr 2013 Posts: 6008 Location: Mid North Coast NSW - Australia
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Posted: Fri Feb 23, 2018 5:39 am Post subject: |
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Oldhand wrote:
Thank you all once again for those additional suggestions.
I will look closely at them and check out the results as posted as well as Flickr etc to see which might best suit.
I appreciate your thoughts
Tom |
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