Yet another old zoom: Benoist-Berthiot Variastar 80-105

alex ph · Joined: 16 Mar 2013 Posts: 1571

I've got another old projector zoom which is Benoist-Berthiot Variastar 80-105mm. It comes from Sodisfom, one of French machines which looks quite a bit like many Germans from the 1960s (Leitz, Leisegang and some others), an all-metal model with a large radiator bar. The lens has a more modern aspect than Zoom Decar 85-150 some of you didn't appreciate, as for its IQ. No "starwars" style, and the construction is a metal-plastic hybrid.

As compared to Zoom Decar, the Variastar has a better sharpness and IQ across the field. It has a good general contrast and a low microcintrast. That makes it render BW in a pretty nostalgic way. I've already tried a fix length projector lens from Benoist Berthiot, and appreciated its cinematographic rendering. The zoom has something similar with that.

Here are some samples taken with Sony APS-C, at extremes focal ends, with colours and contrast boosted:

#1 Long end

#2 Wide end

#3 Wide end, showing how it bears contrast light

#4 Conversion into BW

#5 Another BW sample

alex ph · Joined: 16 Mar 2013 Posts: 1571

And here are some more shots from a river bank, in fading light.

Out-of-camera images were lacking contrast, but are easily tweaked. Some vignetting present on FF, adding character. The rendering is generally pretty close to film, as I already noticed, common to Benoist Berthiot projector lenses I tested. At ISO 1600 the image has some nice grain.

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5