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iangreenhalgh1
![Level 4 Level 4](rating4.gif) Joined: 18 Mar 2011 Posts: 15679
Expire: 2014-01-07
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Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2011 3:35 pm Post subject: Mamiya-Sekor CU f1.8 75mm |
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iangreenhalgh1 wrote:
Hi folks
I spotted this lens on ebay and decided to grab it as it should make a really good macro lens, perhaps it will also quench my craving for a Jupiter-9 or similar 90mm.
I think the CU stands for 'Close Up' and this lens was used to take pictures of oscilloscope screens, hard to find much info but I found these snippets:
Quote: |
Mamiya / Sekor CU 1:1.8 f=75mm CSI3 No. 13690
It has aperture settings (eight blades) from f1.8 to f22
It has a 70mm screw mount, 55mm diopter, and no focus ring
It appears to focus at infinity only two inches from the mount |
And this from a different ebay auction:
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Mamiya Sekor CU Lens f=75mm f/1.8 From 4x5 Camera
Used Mamiya Sekor CU 75mm f:1.8 Lens is pulled from government test equipment. It was used to take close-ups of a CRT oscilloscope screen, so it's possible it would be a good candidate for macro photography. Lens is all one piece and does not come apart. Threaded/screw mount ring is located between the front and back lens elements and measures approximately 65mm in diameter (the back portion makes an exact measurement difficult). Front to back, the lens is 2-1/8". Weight is 10 oz. Sorry, no lens caps, only the lens as shown.
You will need to figure out how to mount this in a lens board with some type of manual shutter control. Please consider this an experimental lens that will need some creativity to put to use. |
Does anyone know anything about this lens? _________________ 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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iangreenhalgh1
![Level 4 Level 4](rating4.gif) Joined: 18 Mar 2011 Posts: 15679
Expire: 2014-01-07
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Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2011 3:06 am Post subject: |
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iangreenhalgh1 wrote:
I found a Japanese blog where this lens is mounted on a Graflex, as well as a couple of samples taken on an EOS 5D which look promising:
http://hanano-kaori.cocolog-nifty.com/blog/2008/11/mamiya-sekor-cu.html
I can't read Japanese obviously, but I'm guessing that was shot wide open and although it's hard to judge from the small image, those whiskers look pretty sharp, bokeh is a bit 'shaky' but it looks like it will be a useable lens for me on my EOS 10D and NEX-3.
I think this illustrates the Mamiya housing the lens was taken from:
Looks like Hanano-san mounted his lens in a Synchro-Compur to use on his Graflex:
I think this was taken with the Graflex:
I don't suppose any members here can read Japanese and tell me what Hanano-san has to say about this lens? _________________ 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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walter g
![Level 3 Level 3](rating3.gif) Joined: 20 Feb 2010 Posts: 2463 Location: NC, USA
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Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2011 3:23 am Post subject: |
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walter g wrote:
Google translate works after a fashion. He really dosen't say much about the lens itself.
http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fhanano-kaori.cocolog-nifty.com%2Fblog%2F2008%2F11%2Fmamiya-sekor-cu.html _________________
Main cameras
Panasonic G5,Nikon J1,Pentax Q10,Sony Nex 6
Minolta MC W SI 2.5/28, MD 2.8/28, MC W SG 3.5/28, MC Celtic 3.5/28, MC W HG 2.8/35, MD Celtic 2.8/35, QE 4/35, Rokkor X 2/45, MC Rokkor X PG 1.4/50, MC Rokkor X PG 1.7/50, MD Rokkor X 1.7/50, MD 2/50, MC Rokkor PF 1.7/55, MC Rokkor PF 1.9/55, Auto Tele Rokkor PG 2.8/135, MC Tele Rokkor QD 3.5/135, TC 4/135, MC Celtic 4/200, MC Tele Rokkor PE 4.5/200
MD 28-70 f3.5-4.8, MD Macro 35-70 f3.5, Md 70-210 f4, MD Rokkor X 75-200 f4.5, MD 100-200 f5.6
Nikon Nikkor 4/20, O Auto 2/35, S Auto 1.4/50..... Miranda Auto 2.8/28, Auto 2.8/35, Auto 1.4/50, Auto EC 1.4/50, Auto 1.8/50, Auto EC 1.8/50,Auto 1.9/50, Auto 3.5/135
Various Soligor,Sun,Fujita,Komura,Spitatone, etc. Lenses
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iangreenhalgh1
![Level 4 Level 4](rating4.gif) Joined: 18 Mar 2011 Posts: 15679
Expire: 2014-01-07
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Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2011 4:02 am Post subject: |
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iangreenhalgh1 wrote:
Thanks Walter. Seems he says it has severe pincushion distortion.
Looks like I'm on my own with this one and will need to experiment somewhat.
I think I might have a nice mount just suited to this lens. _________________ 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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walter g
![Level 3 Level 3](rating3.gif) Joined: 20 Feb 2010 Posts: 2463 Location: NC, USA
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Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2011 5:28 am Post subject: |
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walter g wrote:
Looking foward to the test results. Really cool looking lens either way. ![Very Happy](images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif) _________________
Main cameras
Panasonic G5,Nikon J1,Pentax Q10,Sony Nex 6
Minolta MC W SI 2.5/28, MD 2.8/28, MC W SG 3.5/28, MC Celtic 3.5/28, MC W HG 2.8/35, MD Celtic 2.8/35, QE 4/35, Rokkor X 2/45, MC Rokkor X PG 1.4/50, MC Rokkor X PG 1.7/50, MD Rokkor X 1.7/50, MD 2/50, MC Rokkor PF 1.7/55, MC Rokkor PF 1.9/55, Auto Tele Rokkor PG 2.8/135, MC Tele Rokkor QD 3.5/135, TC 4/135, MC Celtic 4/200, MC Tele Rokkor PE 4.5/200
MD 28-70 f3.5-4.8, MD Macro 35-70 f3.5, Md 70-210 f4, MD Rokkor X 75-200 f4.5, MD 100-200 f5.6
Nikon Nikkor 4/20, O Auto 2/35, S Auto 1.4/50..... Miranda Auto 2.8/28, Auto 2.8/35, Auto 1.4/50, Auto EC 1.4/50, Auto 1.8/50, Auto EC 1.8/50,Auto 1.9/50, Auto 3.5/135
Various Soligor,Sun,Fujita,Komura,Spitatone, etc. Lenses
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Sevo
![Level 3 Level 3](rating3.gif) Joined: 22 Aug 2008 Posts: 1189 Location: Frankfurt, Germany
Expire: 2012-12-03
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Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2011 7:01 am Post subject: |
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Sevo wrote:
These lenses were part of big, box-like Mamiya/Polaroid CRT oscilloscope (probably medical, as non-photographic sellers usually have plenty of hospital surplus gear) recording cameras. Not rare - one big surplus dealer had hundreds - and correspondingly cheap (when Polaroid spare rollers were more expensive than today, people even bought them for Polaroid back parts and trashed the lens).
They do pincushion by intention - CRTs weren't flat back in the day, the lens compensates for that. _________________ Sevo |
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iangreenhalgh1
![Level 4 Level 4](rating4.gif) Joined: 18 Mar 2011 Posts: 15679
Expire: 2014-01-07
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Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2011 10:45 am Post subject: |
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iangreenhalgh1 wrote:
Thanks for that info Sevo, I guess the pincushion can be corrected in Photoshop. I'm mainly interested in this lens for macro work on bellows. _________________ 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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iangreenhalgh1
![Level 4 Level 4](rating4.gif) Joined: 18 Mar 2011 Posts: 15679
Expire: 2014-01-07
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Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2011 12:18 am Post subject: |
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iangreenhalgh1 wrote:
Well I tried the lens on my EOS, it's been raining all the time here so I only managed a couple of shots in the backyard. Back focal distance seems to be around 50mm so it will be tricky to mount for EOS, but it looks promising to my eyes, bokeh is very smooth and it seems quite sharp wide open, amazing build quality, and this one is so mint it looks like it's never been used. Think this will make a good macro lens at least, could be good for portraits too with the smooth oof rendering.
![](http://forum.mflenses.com/userpix/20119/4077_CRW_3258crop_1.jpg) _________________ 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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tikkathree
![Level 3 Level 3](rating3.gif) Joined: 19 Jun 2010 Posts: 755 Location: Lovely Suffolk in Great Britain
Expire: 2012-12-28
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Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2011 5:58 am Post subject: |
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tikkathree wrote:
Wow, that looks interesting, and more interesting for you than for me I think. Good luck with it. _________________ I used to think digital was fun but then I discovered film, then I found old lenses and then, eventually I found rangefinders.
EOS 5DII, loadsalenses
Canon G9 IR conv,
MF: TLR, 645 and folders
35mm: Oly OM Pro bodies 1, 2, 3 and 4; Soviet RF kit |
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iangreenhalgh1
![Level 4 Level 4](rating4.gif) Joined: 18 Mar 2011 Posts: 15679
Expire: 2014-01-07
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Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2011 10:52 am Post subject: |
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iangreenhalgh1 wrote:
Aye, the rendering is unusual, definitely looking forward to playing with it further. _________________ 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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pdccameras
![Level 3 Level 3](rating3.gif) Joined: 23 Aug 2009 Posts: 825 Location: Putnam, CT
Expire: 2014-08-11
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Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2011 12:12 pm Post subject: |
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pdccameras wrote:
Interesting lens and images, Ian. If the lens indeed came out of a piece of medical equipment: ultrasound, CAT scanner, etc., it was probably designed with high resolution at a close focus distance and a very flat field. It obviously can cover Polaroid pack film, which was 10.8 × 8.3 cm; 4.25 × 3.25 inch, so you could achieve some cool effects by using this lens as a tilt/shift lens - especially if you add some kind of a "water house" stop or other diaphragm.
Check out this inexpensive (under $10 us) DIY tilt/shift adapter.
http://content.photojojo.com/diy/plungercam-diy-tilt-shift-lens/
Enjoy your cool lens.
Paul _________________ Canon 5D Mii, Canon 40D, Canon 350D IR, Sony A7 Mii, Sony Alpha-6000, a ton of lenses: AF & MF and too many cameras to count, all formats: 110 - 4x5. |
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iangreenhalgh1
![Level 4 Level 4](rating4.gif) Joined: 18 Mar 2011 Posts: 15679
Expire: 2014-01-07
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Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2011 3:27 pm Post subject: |
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iangreenhalgh1 wrote:
Actually, it has an 8-bladed aperture, forms perfect hexagons so oof highlights could be interesting.
I have thought of using it for tilt/shift but the register is a bit short for that, I am looking at using one of my other MF/LF lenses instead, prime candidate being one of my two Ross Xpress f4 5inch lenses.
I bought a bunch of plungers on sale at 50p each recently, I use em for lens hoods and some of my wierder lens conversions, often come in raher handy!
Thanks for the suggestions Paul. _________________ 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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iangreenhalgh1
![Level 4 Level 4](rating4.gif) Joined: 18 Mar 2011 Posts: 15679
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Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2011 10:30 pm Post subject: |
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iangreenhalgh1 wrote:
Managed a few more shots today, these are all wide open:
![](http://forum.mflenses.com/userpix/20119/4077_DSC00637b_1.jpg) _________________ 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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iangreenhalgh1
![Level 4 Level 4](rating4.gif) Joined: 18 Mar 2011 Posts: 15679
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Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2011 10:49 pm Post subject: |
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iangreenhalgh1 wrote:
Some more, mostly f4, a couple at 5.6.
![](http://forum.mflenses.com/userpix/20119/4077_DSC00641_1.jpg) _________________ 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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Attila
![Level 4 Level 4](rating4.gif) Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Posts: 57865 Location: Hungary
Expire: 2025-11-18
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Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2011 11:14 pm Post subject: |
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Attila wrote:
I don't think this is good Ian. _________________ -------------------------------
Items on sale on Ebay
Sony NEX-7 Carl Zeiss Planar 85mm f1.4, Minolta MD 35mm f1.8, Konica 135mm f2.5, Minolta MD 50mm f1.2, Minolta MD 250mm f5.6, Carl Zeiss Sonnar 180mm f2.8
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iangreenhalgh1
![Level 4 Level 4](rating4.gif) Joined: 18 Mar 2011 Posts: 15679
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Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2011 11:32 pm Post subject: |
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iangreenhalgh1 wrote:
It's not very sharp but I think with the right subject the unusual rendering could be useful. _________________ 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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Attila
![Level 4 Level 4](rating4.gif) Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Posts: 57865 Location: Hungary
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Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2011 11:35 pm Post subject: |
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Attila wrote:
You have some 'crappy' noname lens compare them I am curious. That for sure I not like at all soft focus lenses. I had Fuji 85mm f4 2 times. I always sold them result never amazed me. _________________ -------------------------------
Items on sale on Ebay
Sony NEX-7 Carl Zeiss Planar 85mm f1.4, Minolta MD 35mm f1.8, Konica 135mm f2.5, Minolta MD 50mm f1.2, Minolta MD 250mm f5.6, Carl Zeiss Sonnar 180mm f2.8
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iangreenhalgh1
![Level 4 Level 4](rating4.gif) Joined: 18 Mar 2011 Posts: 15679
Expire: 2014-01-07
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Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2011 11:46 pm Post subject: |
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iangreenhalgh1 wrote:
I do indeed have a few crappy lenses. I was interested in this lens for macro work but obviously, too soft, I do think it can perhaps be a good portrait lens though. Hope we get some sunshine soon, hard to take good shots with the terrible weather we are having. _________________ 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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Attila
![Level 4 Level 4](rating4.gif) Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Posts: 57865 Location: Hungary
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Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2011 11:57 pm Post subject: |
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Attila wrote:
iangreenhalgh1 wrote: |
I do indeed have a few crappy lenses. I was interested in this lens for macro work but obviously, too soft, I do think it can perhaps be a good portrait lens though. Hope we get some sunshine soon, hard to take good shots with the terrible weather we are having. |
I look forward shoots in better wheather, good light can help a lot. _________________ -------------------------------
Items on sale on Ebay
Sony NEX-7 Carl Zeiss Planar 85mm f1.4, Minolta MD 35mm f1.8, Konica 135mm f2.5, Minolta MD 50mm f1.2, Minolta MD 250mm f5.6, Carl Zeiss Sonnar 180mm f2.8
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iangreenhalgh1
![Level 4 Level 4](rating4.gif) Joined: 18 Mar 2011 Posts: 15679
Expire: 2014-01-07
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Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2011 1:20 am Post subject: |
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iangreenhalgh1 wrote:
Yes, and I think one major difference will be the ability to stop down the lens to f8 and f11, it might perform rather differently at those apertures than wide open at 1.8. All the shots with it so far have needed the contrast increasign, but I think this could be more due to the lighting than the lens, it is coated, has amber coloured coatings.
I am wondering what optical design this lens employs, it appears to be symmetrical as there are front and back cells that unscrew so it can be mounted in a large shutter, so I wonder what it is, Dialyte perhaps?
Are Mamiya still in existence? Maybe I can email them for info on this unusual optic? _________________ 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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ColSebastianMoran
Joined: 29 Dec 2011 Posts: 5
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Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2011 5:53 pm Post subject: Mamiya Sekor CU 75mm lens |
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ColSebastianMoran wrote:
Ian, thanks for posting about this lens.
I have one, exactly like yours, and intend to put it on a DSLR and try it as a macro lens.
Looks like this lens produces high quality images for subjects ranging from a blossom to a face to things a bit larger. Do you have any idea what magnification is the sweet spot for this lens? And, for subjects a few inches across, how is the distortion? _________________ IRL: Richard Karash |
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iangreenhalgh1
![Level 4 Level 4](rating4.gif) Joined: 18 Mar 2011 Posts: 15679
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Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2011 9:01 pm Post subject: |
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iangreenhalgh1 wrote:
Hiya
I haven't tried this lens again since I posted this thread, need to do so!
I'm afraid I know almost nothing about it, just that it was used in an oscilloscope camera that used polaroid film. _________________ 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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ColSebastianMoran
Joined: 29 Dec 2011 Posts: 5
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Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2011 3:58 am Post subject: |
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ColSebastianMoran wrote:
Your photos look pretty good to me. I have experimented quite a bit with the X-Ray Heligons which produce interesting, but very stylized renderings of macro subjects with Nikon F-mount adapters. This Mamiya CU lens seems to give clear and sharp renditions for flowers and head-shots on your EOS camera.
Thinking about this design choices behind this lens: Why is it f/1.8? The build quality is superb; it's not a cheap lens. I think this is a high quality fast lens for recording dim oscilloscope traces onto Polaroid film. Thinking about the sizes of oscilloscope screens vs. Polaroid film, I think this lens is probably designed to be optimal at around 1:2. That would be a big flower blossom onto MF film or a matchbook onto APS-C.
I think it might be an excellent, shallow depth of field, macro lens for flowers. If it gives a sharp image with smooth out of focus backgrounds, that would be interesting.
The photos of the cat from Japan are probably quite far off from the optimum conjugates for this lens. _________________ IRL: Richard Karash |
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