ISCO - Gottingen Edixa - Westanar 150mm f/4.5

woodrim · Joined: 14 Jan 2010 Posts: 4060 Location: Charleston

In a recent post I was somewhat critical of slow lenses, stating that I would much rather have the faster lens if only for viewfinder brightness. Now with that said, I've just purchased this lens. I have not seen mention of the 150mm Westanar, so the apparent rarity factor along with the fact that I do not have a 150mm led to my interest. I do not have it yet, but will have the usual fun of trying it out once it arrives.

indianadinos · Expire: 2011-12-05

Nice find ... Awaiting some sample pictures ...

woodrim · Joined: 14 Jan 2010 Posts: 4060 Location: Charleston

I should have also mentioned that this lens is M42, but I think that is implied by the "Edixa".

woodrim · Joined: 14 Jan 2010 Posts: 4060 Location: Charleston

This lens and two others arrived today. I took the ISCO out first because I've never had one and I was very curious about it. I don't think it has been reviewed here before. Nice round diaphragm, but took all pictures today wide open. It has a reasonable MFD for the focal length - maybe about four feet - I'll have to measure.

It seems sharper than what I expected. Most pictures I took were in focus, so it didn't present any difficulty focusing. Contrast seems good as do colors. Bokeh is busy, but maybe to be expected from a slow f4.5 lens. I immediately went to the purple flowers as they have been a real CA challenge for my lenses. This lens did amazingly well with blue/purple fringing only in the more extreme views; with most images there was little present. I have done no CA correction on these images.

I would normally steer away from a lens this slow, but went for this one because of its rarity and intregue. I will likely keep it not only because it is the only one I have at this focal length, but I actually like it. I look forward to taking it out on a real photo tour. And maybe some portraits.

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martyn_bannister · Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 1151

I love my twin-tele tamron 135mm f4.5 too. Who needs fast lenses?

woodrim · Joined: 14 Jan 2010 Posts: 4060 Location: Charleston

Got out to do more meaningful pictures. I do like this lens although I don't think it's as good as my better 135mm lenses and my best 200mm, but it does fit well in between.

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RioRico · Posted: Thu May 26, 2011 5:21 pm Post subject:

Nice bird! Smile

I must acquire a 150 one of these days. Slow or fast, that doesn't matter. The closest I have now is a Wollensak Enlarging Raptar 162/4.5 on tubes+bellows. Of course I could always put the SuperTakumar 50/1.4 on a 3x TC to make a 150/4.2, but that just wouldn't be the same. Nice find, there!

ManualFocus-G · Expire: 2014-11-24

Lovely sharp shots and good colours from this interesting old lens. I guess slower lenses don't always suffer the same CA problems as fast lenses.

Another lens in this range is the much maligned Super Takumar 150mm. I must take it out some time...I only bought it for the same reason as you...I didn't have a 150mm prime Laughing

Nordentro · Expire: 2015-01-29

Wow, #7! Look at the Humble?!?!

I didn't see it first because of the interesting bokeh Very Happy

Love the bokeh, a real painter Wink

I have the silver version of this lens, untested, but you inspired me to take it out for a walk know!

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

Looks a nice lens and so rare ! I like best lady pictures , great series!

woodrim · Joined: 14 Jan 2010 Posts: 4060 Location: Charleston

woodrim · Joined: 14 Jan 2010 Posts: 4060 Location: Charleston

Since I have a Sony camera, I also participate occasionally in the Dyxum forums. They have various photo themes and one is a challenge started a short while back called "the day prime thread", where participants are challenged to use prime lenses equaling the focal length of that day count. It is as simple as counting days since startingthe thread - yesterday was the 150th day and I seem to be alone with that focal length. As you can imagine, the 135th day had a lot of contributors. The photos must be taken with that focal length and on that day, so there lies the challenge. After doing all the work, I've decided to share them here too. I missed the focus on the portraits at the end, so now call them soft portraits.

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Pancolart · Expire: 2013-11-18

Design looks very similar to Rollei Rolleinars Smile

. While Westanar 4/180mm is one of my favorites I must also try this focal some day.

mo · Expire: 2016-07-30

I finally just paid for the silver version of this lens. From what I see here with your images woodrim it should be a very nice lens. Smile

woodrim · Joined: 14 Jan 2010 Posts: 4060 Location: Charleston

Nice, congratulations. A slow lens, for sure, but good otherwise. I tend to like the older versions of lenses. Perhaps that's just a sympathy thing since I too am getting older. This black one I have is quite smart looking and a better build than the 135mm I recently picked up. Pleaseshre your images and feel free to add onto this thread if you wish.

mo · Expire: 2016-07-30

I will when it gets here,I too like the look of these old lenses and that they take good pictures is a bonus.

woodrim · Joined: 14 Jan 2010 Posts: 4060 Location: Charleston

It has been a long time since I first posted about this lens. I took it out yesterday evening because it was the 150th day of the year. We've been getting a visitor every evening since first making the mistake of feeding him.