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Cyclop - The One-Eyed Monster
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PostPosted: Tue Aug 17, 2010 5:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
woodrim wrote:
Thanks Mal and Martyn. I had mentioned earlier in this thread that I didn't observe any CA in test shots sent to me by my friend who still has my lens. I find that quite amazing given the f/1.5 opening. I get plenty of CA from lenses much slower, some even considerably newer.

I did pick up on the earlier discussion about fabricating an iris. I too would like to experiment some with that approach. I'd like to find the best compromise iris size for depth/bokeh. I think someone mentioned installing it inside the lens. If it's possible to easily open the lens I would think that a better approach. I'm assuming that you held your tin foil in front of the lens. If that approach is all we have to work with, I would think a black lens cap, cut for the opening, would work well as the iris, although I can't get past thinking it is better to be inside and behind the front element.


Hiya,

Yes, the lack of CA is certainly worthy of comment. If I can find some sunshine, a few very high contrast edge shots should demonstrate how good/bad it is.

As for my homemade iris, it was literally a sheet of foil with a heart shaped hole, held over the front of the lens with an elastic band Smile

I am sure, if I researched it, the area of the hole that is needed for a particular "f" number should be easy to obtain. As to the position of the "aperture", it's an interesting point. Do lens manufacturers put the iris where they do because of optical considerations? Or is it purely to prevent dirt and/or damage to the delicate iris blades? Again, our more technically literate members can no doubt say.

One thought that had occurred to me was indeed a black plastic exterior cap with a failry large hole and then a set of inserts for that hole, to give the various "f" stops. Of course, for everyday use, I can't see more than two or three inserts being needed, once experimentation had shown which ones gave the "nicest" effect.


PostPosted: Wed Aug 18, 2010 11:46 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Did you put the iris in front of the lens or back?

I already lost around 11 biddings of cyclops, they are not that cheap these days any more.


PostPosted: Wed Aug 18, 2010 12:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
fourmix wrote:
I've tested the illumniation mods with this "lens".
It's funny to see people in a the dark Laughing


R they like dark shadows surround by green backgrounds ?


PostPosted: Wed Aug 18, 2010 12:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
egidio: Where are you looking? You might do better looking locally than on ebay.

Martyn put the makeshift diaphragm on the front. I'm not entirely sure, but I don't think it would work well on the rear.

Martyn: Without a diaphragm I would think the lens construction to be rather simple. Have you found any way to take it apart? Many lenses just unscrew.


PostPosted: Wed Aug 18, 2010 1:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
By the way, how does that laser marker work? I didn't realize that's what it was. Mine will come with one too. I'm wondering what I might use it for... is it better than those little pen lasers people use for presentations?


PostPosted: Wed Aug 18, 2010 1:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
woodrim wrote:
egidio: Where are you looking? You might do better looking locally than on ebay.

Martyn put the makeshift diaphragm on the front. I'm not entirely sure, but I don't think it would work well on the rear.

Martyn: Without a diaphragm I would think the lens construction to be rather simple. Have you found any way to take it apart? Many lenses just unscrew.


I found it very difficult to get one. In the end I had to buy a pair. Still cost me 123EUR inc shipping for the two though Sad However, I think these are great lenses Smile

Yes, my aperture was just a piece of cooking foil held over the front of the lens with an elastic band.

I haven't tried to take a screwdriver to the lens because others report that the screw heads are very delicate. Until it goes wrong in some way, I'm leaving it alone. It's absolutely pristine inside. I don't think any part of the barrel unscrews though. I reckon a proper lens spanner would be needed.


PostPosted: Wed Aug 18, 2010 1:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
woodrim wrote:
By the way, how does that laser marker work? I didn't realize that's what it was. Mine will come with one too. I'm wondering what I might use it for... is it better than those little pen lasers people use for presentations?


I haven't really tried the laser. It takes three AA batteries. The compartment is very tight and rechargeables don't seem to fit. There is a switch where your index finger goes and, with normal alkaline cells, you can see that there is an illuminated red laser diode inside the lower lens unit. However, it is very dim. I thought about this and I suppose the last thing you want to do with a night sight is start doing the hollywood thing and painting your target with a very visible red dot! As long as it is bright enough to illimunate the target I suppose thats good enough? Anyway, I haven't actually tried it out at night yet. There is a thumb screw at the bottom for vertical adjustment and the laser lens is focusable, so perhaps the idea is to project a face(?) sized illuminated circle on your target so that you can see it through the night sight, but it isn't visible to the naked eye?

Not being in the military, can't really offer any more I'm afraid. Sorry Smile

<edit>
OK, tried it out in my garage and it does exactly as I thought. Good guess Smile Can't wait to try this out in the proper dark tonight. Laser lens must be focusable to get the right sized "dot" at the distance you are interested in. Shows up VERY bright in the night sight, but isn't visible to my naked eye at all.


PostPosted: Wed Aug 18, 2010 3:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
woodrim wrote:
egidio: Where are you looking? You might do better looking locally than on ebay.

Martyn put the makeshift diaphragm on the front. I'm not entirely sure, but I don't think it would work well on the rear.

Martyn: Without a diaphragm I would think the lens construction to be rather simple. Have you found any way to take it apart? Many lenses just unscrew.


ebay.de, ebay.eu mostly, on local market it is like 100-250eur. I'll still try to get one cheaper (around 30-40eur) on ebay even if I'd have to wait 2 years. I'm still broke student


PostPosted: Wed Aug 18, 2010 3:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
egidio wrote:
woodrim wrote:
egidio: Where are you looking? You might do better looking locally than on ebay.

Martyn put the makeshift diaphragm on the front. I'm not entirely sure, but I don't think it would work well on the rear.

Martyn: Without a diaphragm I would think the lens construction to be rather simple. Have you found any way to take it apart? Many lenses just unscrew.


ebay.de, ebay.eu mostly, on local market it is like 100-250eur. I'll still try to get one cheaper (around 30-40eur) on ebay even if I'd have to wait 2 years. I'm still broke student


I'm sure one will come along. I think these things go through phases and the ebay interest will gradually die away and prices will drop. Good luck!


PostPosted: Sat Aug 28, 2010 10:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Nowhere near enough time to test yet, but here's some early samples Smile













PostPosted: Sun Aug 29, 2010 2:13 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Nice job focusing that monster. It actually looks quite sharp in that center sweet spot. Hope to have mine in about two weeks.


PostPosted: Sun Aug 29, 2010 7:39 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Looks like a quite poor Helios 40 copy to me. Bokeh is alike, but IQ much worse.


PostPosted: Sun Aug 29, 2010 8:52 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
vulko wrote:
Looks like a quite poor Helios 40 copy to me. Bokeh is alike, but IQ much worse.


Well, you should remember that this lens IS a poor copy of the Helios 40, as I doubt they'd use the best lenses in their night vision devices Wink Also, bear in mind that all these shots were handheld at f1.5 with very shallow depth of field Smile


PostPosted: Sun Aug 29, 2010 12:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
ManualFocus-G wrote:
Nowhere near enough time to test yet, but here's some early samples Smile



Excellent shots. You've done well there mr g.

#4 seems sharp right the way across, but the bokeh in #1 has a slightly disturbing look? Can't see very much swirliness either. I look forward to lots more samples Smile


PostPosted: Sun Aug 29, 2010 2:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
The results can be pleasing if you nail the focus right Smile



PostPosted: Sun Aug 29, 2010 3:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
vulko wrote:
Looks like a quite poor Helios 40 copy to me. Bokeh is alike, but IQ much worse.


Can you be specific? We understand that the focus depth will be shallow, but if bokeh is same, then what makes the poor IQ?


PostPosted: Sun Aug 29, 2010 3:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
ManualFocus-G wrote:
vulko wrote:
Looks like a quite poor Helios 40 copy to me. Bokeh is alike, but IQ much worse.


Well, you should remember that this lens IS a poor copy of the Helios 40, as I doubt they'd use the best lenses in their night vision devices Wink Also, bear in mind that all these shots were handheld at f1.5 with very shallow depth of field Smile


Speculation about the lenses? What is actually known about the Cyclop design in comparison to the 40-2? Is it merely the absence of an aperture mechanism or is there more? Does anyone have both lenses where they could make comparisons between the two at fully open?


PostPosted: Sun Aug 29, 2010 3:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Spotmatic wrote:
The results can be pleasing if you nail the focus right Smile


Spotmatic: You have had very good success with this challenging lens. Are there things you can share with the rest of us as how to best use the lens? Distance, angle, subject?


PostPosted: Mon Aug 30, 2010 6:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Saw this thread yesterday and decided to take my Cyclop out with my Pentax K200D. This one was my favourite:



PostPosted: Mon Aug 30, 2010 7:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Was that taken at a long distance and cropped? I'm thinking the depth of field would be much more shallow otherwise.


PostPosted: Mon Aug 30, 2010 7:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
woodrim wrote:
Spotmatic wrote:
The results can be pleasing if you nail the focus right Smile


Spotmatic: You have had very good success with this challenging lens. Are there things you can share with the rest of us as how to best use the lens? Distance, angle, subject?


Of course. Personally, I would not want to use this lens beyond portrait/torso distances. There is not much point to use it at or near infinity because the results will not be great (near infinity the lens shows its weak borders easily). Also, keep the subject dead center in the frame. The center is the sharpest part of this lens.

Apart from this, you'll also need sheer luck to focus this beast. I usually use Live View on my K-7 to nail the focus perfectly.

Last edited by Spotmatic on Mon Aug 30, 2010 8:12 pm; edited 1 time in total


PostPosted: Mon Aug 30, 2010 7:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
ovim wrote:
Saw this thread yesterday and decided to take my Cyclop out with my Pentax K200D. This one was my favourite:



Gorgeous! You really did nail the focus on this one Smile


PostPosted: Mon Aug 30, 2010 7:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Thank you, Spotmatic. One might wonder why we even bother to use such a lens. Myself, I think it's the limitations and the challenges that draw me to it. I eagerly await receiving this lens.

The picture from ovim seems the exception given the full subject in focus. The picture of the old man by ManualFocus-G is also excellent use of the lens. This picture by Martyn shows the lens' forte, but then to expand on that begins the challenge...


PostPosted: Mon Aug 30, 2010 8:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Thanks Martyn! The image was slightly cropped and some minor pp added.


PostPosted: Sun Sep 05, 2010 12:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
woodrim wrote:
vulko wrote:
Looks like a quite poor Helios 40 copy to me. Bokeh is alike, but IQ much worse.


Can you be specific? We understand that the focus depth will be shallow, but if bokeh is same, then what makes the poor IQ?


Otherwise this cyclop wouldn't be so cheap, would it?
Any 100% crops here available?
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