CZJ Biotar 50mm f1.4

kymarto · Posted: Mon Jun 19, 2023 3:50 am Post subject: CZJ Biotar 50mm f1.4

I'm not buying many lenses these days, but this is one I have wanted for a long time. Found one very cheap with a few threads of fungus. Works fine. It covers very nearly full frame, and full frame completely close up where I tend to use it. I quite like the character, which is reminiscent of the 75mm f1.5, but the field curvature is perhaps even more pronounced. First shots
#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

#6

#7

#8

#9

caspert79 · Joined: 31 Oct 2010 Posts: 3221 Location: The Netherlands

Turns every picture into a work of art ðŸ‘

pabeu · Joined: 25 Apr 2018 Posts: 72

Nice pictures!

Would to be also interesting to see the lens itself as I understand is a quite uncommon beast.

Thank you.
Pablo.

kathala · Joined: 13 May 2022 Posts: 142

Happy to see this rare classic has found a new owner who knows how to create something great with it!
Personally, I find this 5omm much more striking than the 75mm Smile

cbass · Joined: 27 Jul 2019 Posts: 450

With bokeh like that who needs drugs.

simple.joy · Joined: 30 May 2022 Posts: 644

kymarto · Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2023 5:20 pm Post subject:

Gatorengineer64 · Joined: 26 Oct 2017 Posts: 283

I have never been good at figuring out crop factors going between formats I think this lens shoots something like a 140 on FF on a Pentaflex. I am fortunate enough to have the Biotar 75 and was wondering how this lens compares to it as far as equivalent focal length on full frame.

kymarto · Posted: Thu Jun 22, 2023 3:02 pm Post subject:

I don't get the question. It acts like any other 50 on FF, same AOV, 46.8 degrees diagonal, to the 75mm's 32.2 degrees

Gatorengineer64 · Joined: 26 Oct 2017 Posts: 283

Thanks, my question was awkward, but your response answered it.

Alex Kraus · Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2023 7:16 pm Post subject:

Very intersting bokeh! Most the time lenses with such type of bokeh suffer a bit from lack of resolution of fine structures in the plane of focus.
Your lens however produces very pronounced edge contrasts (sharpness) in the plane of focus. Did your run Topaz Sharpen over the images? (There is nothing wrong with that in my eyes. What counts is the result!)

kds315* · Expire: 2021-03-09

Yep a great lens it is, have several now, all adapted to my cameras. Does not cover the sensor completely, but I can live with that Wink

Here a few shots I made then in autumn: https://www.flickr.com/photos/kds315/albums/72157672400003047

That favorite one I call "My hommage to Caspar David Friedrich"