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Taylor Hobson Cooke Anastigmat Special Lens 12.5 mm f/2.5
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PostPosted: Mon Aug 26, 2024 3:52 pm    Post subject: Taylor Hobson Cooke Anastigmat Special Lens 12.5 mm f/2.5 Reply with quote

I stumbled upon this lens a while ago, but due to its limits in terms of use case, I've not used it a lot. I've been familar with Taylor-Hobson, own and love a couple of their lenses (particularly the Ental II) and while many of their cine offerings seem somewhat overpriced today, there are still a couple of lesser known interesting lenses well worth of giving a try.

When I recently found out that another forum member (e6filmuser) has got one of these small lenses as well, I decided to get it out again and also upload the little I know here in the forum. Perhaps someone else has some more details as well, so we can assemble all of that in one place. So far I haven't been able to fint much on it.

Here's how it looks like:





The name is interesting:

Cooke Anastigmat Special Lens 12 1/2 MM f/2.5, Mady by Taylor Hobson

It's small size factor, shape and seemingly optimization for macro photography immediately reminded me of the great Carl Zeiss Luminar series and just like a couple of those, it also seems to be based on a very simple lens design. It's hard to say for sure, just judging by reflections, but I think that it is a Triplet (as the name probably suggests as well - I'm not sure about how consistent these terms were used at the time...). With its focal length of 12.5 mm and a wide open aperture of f/2.5 it certainly seems to have been designed for high magnification macro applications. I'm not sure about the coverage, but it seems to cover full frame at what I assume to be the intended magnification factors.

The thread of the lens does seem to be a non-metric standard. Because I have some retaining rings from other Taylor-Hobson lenses, I'm pretty sure it's a
1.25” 24TPI thread. That thread seems close enough to fit onto a M32x1 mm adapter, but it's not an exact fit, so it might impact lens performance negatively... I'm not sure yet.

I'm not sure how old this lens is, but I would guess it's pretty old, judging by its appearance. Perhaps the markings/company name etc. might give some indication - I'm not well-versed enough in the lore of the UK optical industry to know for sure.

Because I haven't used this lens a lot, I don't have any verdict on its abilities... it seems pretty capable though, particularly when it's stopped down slightly. And of course, at 12.5 mm it's possible to get extremely close without a lot of extension, which is really fun.

Here are some samples:

Graphite or flight by simple.joy, on Flickr



(FOV around 7 mm)



(FOV around 8 mm)

I don't have a lot of lenses to compare it with directly, because of its short focal length. The closest is probably a Carl Zeiss Luminar 16 mm and I'm currently not able to use either one of the lenses as effectively as it would be necessary for a good comparison. Perhaps I'll get to it in the future.

If you know anything about this unusual little lens, please let me know - I'd be curious to get a better understanding about its history, construction and original application!


PostPosted: Mon Aug 26, 2024 4:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Nice images, surprising quality!


PostPosted: Mon Aug 26, 2024 6:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have used this lens only once, having searched for it for years.Smile

I used it mounted on my Sony A7r but here it is shown on the A7r3.

The constituent items enabling it to be used on the E mount are:

M32x1 to M42x1 step down, made by RAFCAMERA

52mm to 42mm step down

57mm to 52mm step down

Sony E to 57mm (very tight fit)

Slime mould Trichia persimilis









Last edited by e6filmuser on Tue Aug 27, 2024 5:55 am; edited 1 time in total


PostPosted: Mon Aug 26, 2024 7:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Pretty amazing specs for so old lens!

So wide! 12-1/2 MM So fast! f/2.5 That wide and fast probaby for LF camera! What is not amazing?


PostPosted: Mon Aug 26, 2024 8:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

visualopsins wrote:
Pretty amazing specs for so old lens!

So wide! 12-1/2 MM


It' NOT wide at all. Yes, it has 12.5 mm focal length (which determines the size of the projection of a given object). Its angle of view however is more or less that of a normal lens, maybe even less. At infinity it would NEVER cover 24x36mm, let alone Large Format (LF).

visualopsins wrote:
So fast! f/2.5 That wide and fast probaby for LF camera! What is not amazing?

The speed of a lens is determined by the ratio of its focal length divided by the diameter of its effective opening.

If this lens has a focal length of 12.5mm, and a speed of 2.5, the effective diameter at f2.5 will be 5mm. Since this lens will be used as a macro/micro lens (and thus much further away from the film/sensor, compared to a use near infinity), the perceived diameter of the aperture opening will be even smaller (much smaller indeed). Such small diameters will cause quite a bit of diffraction, even if the lens is used wide open. That's why such lenses have to be fast.

If you look at such macro/micro lenses, they usually are f2. Stopping them down to e. g. f5,6 or f8 at an image/object ratio of 20:1 will cause massive issues with diffraction. That's why - these days - most serious photographers are into stacking when doing real macro work ... shoot wide open to limit diffraction, and stack several (or even dozens) of images to get depth-of-field ...

I have been using the Canon FD 3.5/20mm Macro lens occasionally, just for fun, and no stacking involved. Using it at about 20:1 and f8 (to get at least some depth-of-field), its effective resolution is limited to about 1 megapixel ... (due to diffraction, not because the lens is bad!!). See image below:



Above: Tiny crystal of monazite, which used to be the most important source of rare earth elements such as lanthanum, cerium and neodymium. Usually found as dull brown opaque masses, the mineral can form beautiful shiny crystals such as this one found in the Val Nalps near San Gottadro in Switzerland.

S


PostPosted: Mon Aug 26, 2024 9:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

stevemark wrote:


It' NOT wide at all. Yes, it has 12.5 mm focal length (which determines the size of the projection of a given object). Its angle of view however is more or less that of a normal lens, maybe even less. At infinity it would NEVER cover 24x36mm, let alone Large Format (LF).

visualopsins wrote:
So fast! f/2.5 That wide and fast probaby for LF camera! What is not amazing?

The speed of a lens is determined by the ratio of its focal length divided by the diameter of its effective opening.

If this lens has a focal length of 12.5mm, and a speed of 2.5, the effective diameter at f2.5 will be 5mm. Since this lens will be used as a macro/micro lens (and thus much further away from the film/sensor, compared to a use near infinity), the perceived diameter of the aperture opening will be even smaller (much smaller indeed). Such small diameters will cause quite a bit of diffraction, even if the lens is used wide open. That's why such lenses have to be fast.


Thanks for clarifying and agreed - it's not at all like a wide angle lens for infinity work. Seems very, very different.

stevemark wrote:

If you look at such macro/micro lenses, they usually are f2. Stopping them down to e. g. f5,6 or f8 at an image/object ratio of 20:1 will cause massive issues with diffraction. That's why - these days - most serious photographers are into stacking when doing real macro work ... shoot wide open to limit diffraction, and stack several (or even dozens) of images to get depth-of-field ...

I have been using the Canon FD 3.5/20mm Macro lens occasionally, just for fun, and no stacking involved. Using it at about 20:1 and f8 (to get at least some depth-of-field), its effective resolution is limited to about 1 megapixel ... (due to diffraction, not because the lens is bad!!). See image below:



Above: Tiny crystal of monazite, which used to be the most important source of rare earth elements such as lanthanum, cerium and neodymium. Usually found as dull brown opaque masses, the mineral can form beautiful shiny crystals such as this one found in the Val Nalps near San Gottadro in Switzerland.

S


Nice shot! That Canon lens is still considered a very good one. It beats the MP-E 65 mm clearly at certain magnifications, even though it's so small.


caspert79 wrote:
Nice images, surprising quality!


Thanks a lot! I don't think it does hold up compared to more modern specialized high magnifcation macro lenses, but it has great coverage and very even performance. If it's as old as I suspect, it's quite a good lens indeed.


e6filmuser wrote:

I used it mounted on my Sony A7r but here it is shown on the A7r3.

The constituent items enabling it to be used on the E mount are:

M32x1 to M42x1 step down, made by RAFCAMERA

52mm to 42mm step down

57mm to 52mm step down

Sony E to 57mm (very tight fit)



Thanks a lot for the additional information and showing your solution for adapting this lens. Of course I'm using it on my bellows so mine is slightly different.


e6filmuser wrote:
I have used this lens only once, having searched for it for years.Smile



Wait... are you saying you knew about that lens beforehand? If so, from where? Are you aware of any spec sheets or mentions of this lens in any kind of literature, price list etc.?


PostPosted: Mon Aug 26, 2024 10:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

simple.joy wrote:

Wait... are you saying you knew about that lens beforehand? If so, from where? Are you aware of any spec sheets or mentions of this lens in any kind of literature, price list etc.?


Developped by Horace William Lee of TTH in 1933. Lens section below.



Refractive index of the positive front lens between 1.57 and 1.6, that of the rear positive lens >1.57.

S


PostPosted: Mon Aug 26, 2024 10:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

stevemark wrote:
simple.joy wrote:

Wait... are you saying you knew about that lens beforehand? If so, from where? Are you aware of any spec sheets or mentions of this lens in any kind of literature, price list etc.?


Developped by Horace William Lee of TTH in 1933. Lens section below.



Refractive index of the positive front lens between 1.57 and 1.6, that of the rear positive lens >1.57.

S


Thank you very much! I tried looking up the patent mentioned on the lens, but it was either some very general patent or my search results flawed.


PostPosted: Tue Aug 27, 2024 4:34 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I wonder what the metallic device around that front element is.
Lens above sort of reminds me of the old Macro-Nikkor series- tiny lenses of fairly large maximum aperture...


-D.S.


PostPosted: Tue Aug 27, 2024 5:22 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Doc Sharptail wrote:
I wonder what the metallic device around that front element is.
Lens above sort of reminds me of the old Macro-Nikkor series- tiny lenses of fairly large maximum aperture...


-D.S.


Do you mean the aperture ring?


PostPosted: Tue Aug 27, 2024 5:39 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

e6filmuser wrote:
I have used this lens only once, having searched for it for years.Smile

I used it mounted on my Sony A7r but here it is shown on the A7r3.

The constituent items enabling it to be used on the E mount are:

M32x1 to M42x1 step down, made by RAFCAMERA

52mm to 42mm step down

57mm to 52mm step down

Sony E to 57mm (very tight fit)









Here are some images of a slime mould Trichia persimilis from the above setup but A7r, not A7r3:


Taylor Taylor Hobson Cooke Anastigmat 12.5mm at f11, on A7R, 35mm from sensor, FOV 10mm wide. Twin TTL flash.




Crosseye stereo.




This was with the back of the lens ca 35mm from the sensor, the first session being 45mm away:




Last edited by e6filmuser on Tue Aug 27, 2024 5:59 am; edited 3 times in total


PostPosted: Tue Aug 27, 2024 5:51 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

On the Olympus EM-1, FOV ca 4mm wide, f11, triple flash:

Slime mould Trichia decipiens

Crosseye stereo.



That gives similar results to my best macro lenses.


PostPosted: Tue Aug 27, 2024 6:34 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Sllme moulds, as above. The pink one is Arcyria denudata.

Olympus EM-1, Taylor Taylor Hobson Cooke Anastigmat 12.5mm, FOV, 4mm at f16. (I would not use f16 except in special cases).

In each case the first image is my 2016 processing and the second version one I did today. All my images uploaded previously from this lens are also 2016 processing. so maybe a little more detail could have been shown.













This is a tiny Ascomycete fungus.




PostPosted: Tue Aug 27, 2024 8:48 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

e6filmuser wrote:
On the Olympus EM-1, FOV ca 4mm wide, f11, triple flash:

Slime mould Trichia decipiens

Crosseye stereo.



That gives similar results to my best macro lenses.


Very nice shots!

I've managed to compare it to my Zeiss Luminar 16 mm f/2.5

It's not a scientific test, but from a quick glance, I would say that it mirrors my assumption: The Taylor Hobson Cooke Anastigmat Special 12.5 mm f/2.5 isn't up to the Luminar in terms of sharpness and detail, but it does seem to have more even performance (I've heard the Luminar 16 mm being critizied for its performance at the edges) across the frame and a bigger image circle.

Cooke Anastigmat Special 12.5 mm:


Luminar 16 mm:


And here's a crop showing the difference in detail/sharpness:

Cooke Anastigmat Special 12.5 mm:


Luminar 16 mm:


Both lenses are likely optimized for even higher magnifications, but it's always interesting to see how lenses fare when they're pushed slightly.


PostPosted: Tue Aug 27, 2024 11:09 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Great shots, and what a level of detail!


PostPosted: Tue Aug 27, 2024 12:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Like the stereo. I would've removed the specular lights.
What's the magnification on those shots? Put a ruler in front of it and let us now.


PostPosted: Tue Aug 27, 2024 12:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Himself wrote:
Like the stereo. I would've removed the specular lights.
What's the magnification on those shots? Put a ruler in front of it and let us now.


Who are you asking? Mine have FOV between 4mm and 10mm wide. No room for a ruler! Goimng back to 2016 might prove to be difficult!


PostPosted: Tue Aug 27, 2024 3:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

e6filmuser wrote:
Doc Sharptail wrote:
I wonder what the metallic device around that front element is.
Lens above sort of reminds me of the old Macro-Nikkor series- tiny lenses of fairly large maximum aperture...


-D.S.


Do you mean the aperture ring?


I mean the round sheet metal disc with 4 holes in it that appears to have the front element mounted in it~ if that's the aperture ring (?), pardon me.

-D.S.


PostPosted: Tue Aug 27, 2024 4:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Doc Sharptail wrote:
e6filmuser wrote:
Doc Sharptail wrote:
I wonder what the metallic device around that front element is.
Lens above sort of reminds me of the old Macro-Nikkor series- tiny lenses of fairly large maximum aperture...


-D.S.


Do you mean the aperture ring?


I mean the round sheet metal disc with 4 holes in it that appears to have the front element mounted in it~ if that's the aperture ring (?), pardon me.

-D.S.


That's the front of the lens. If you look at the front of any lens it i likely to have such pits. They are for the tips of 2 prongs of a tool for unscrewing it.


PostPosted: Tue Aug 27, 2024 5:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

THAT is some sharpness! I am WOWed! <3


PostPosted: Tue Aug 27, 2024 7:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

stevemark wrote:
visualopsins wrote:
Pretty amazing specs for so old lens!

So wide! 12-1/2 MM


It' NOT wide at all. Yes, it has 12.5 mm focal length (which determines the size of the projection of a given object). Its angle of view however is more or less that of a normal lens, maybe even less. At infinity it would NEVER cover 24x36mm, let alone Large Format (LF).

visualopsins wrote:
So fast! f/2.5 That wide and fast probaby for LF camera! What is not amazing?

The speed of a lens is determined by the ratio of its focal length divided by the diameter of its effective opening.

If this lens has a focal length of 12.5mm, and a speed of 2.5, the effective diameter at f2.5 will be 5mm. Since this lens will be used as a macro/micro lens (and thus much further away from the film/sensor, compared to a use near infinity), the perceived diameter of the aperture opening will be even smaller (much smaller indeed). Such small diameters will cause quite a bit of diffraction, even if the lens is used wide open. That's why such lenses have to be fast.

If you look at such macro/micro lenses, they usually are f2. Stopping them down to e. g. f5,6 or f8 at an image/object ratio of 20:1 will cause massive issues with diffraction. That's why - these days - most serious photographers are into stacking when doing real macro work ... shoot wide open to limit diffraction, and stack several (or even dozens) of images to get depth-of-field ...

I have been using the Canon FD 3.5/20mm Macro lens occasionally, just for fun, and no stacking involved. Using it at about 20:1 and f8 (to get at least some depth-of-field), its effective resolution is limited to about 1 megapixel ... (due to diffraction, not because the lens is bad!!). See image below:

pic

Above: Tiny crystal of monazite, which used to be the most important source of rare earth elements such as lanthanum, cerium and neodymium. Usually found as dull brown opaque masses, the mineral can form beautiful shiny crystals such as this one found in the Val Nalps near San Gottadro in Switzerland.

S


Angle of view (photography)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angle_of_view_(photography)#Derivation_of_the_angle-of-view_formula

Quote:
Derivation of the angle-of-view formula

Consider a rectilinear lens in a camera used to photograph an object at a distance S 1 {\displaystyle S_{1}}, and forming an image that just barely fits in the dimension, d {\displaystyle d}, of the frame (the film or image sensor). Treat the lens as if it were a pinhole at distance S 2 {\displaystyle S_{2}} from the image plane (technically, the center of perspective of a rectilinear lens is at the center of its entrance pupil):


PostPosted: Wed Aug 28, 2024 12:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Re: the above remarks about not covering a full frame sensor. My images have not been cropped and they were shot at f8 or f11.

e6filmuser wrote:


Here are some images of a slime mould Trichia persimilis from the above setup but A7r, not A7r3:


Taylor Taylor Hobson Cooke Anastigmat 12.5mm at f11, on A7R, 35mm from sensor, FOV 10mm wide. Twin TTL flash.




Crosseye stereo.




This was with the back of the lens ca 35mm from the sensor, the first session being 45mm away:




I would add that, on the camera via the adapter shown, the FOV is approximately 10mm wide.


PostPosted: Wed Aug 28, 2024 1:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Some years ago, I made a copy of the long list of lens details from "The Macro Lens Collection Database". I am now unable to access that list but my copy show this lens to have FL 12mm when it should be 12.5mm.


PostPosted: Wed Aug 28, 2024 9:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

stevemark wrote:


Developped by Horace William Lee of TTH in 1933. Lens section below.


1933? Typo for 1893?


PostPosted: Wed Aug 28, 2024 9:22 pm    Post subject: Re: Taylor Hobson Cooke Anastigmat Special Lens 12.5 mm f/2. Reply with quote

simple.joy wrote:
I'm not sure how old this lens is, but I would guess it's pretty old, judging by its appearance.


P-H Pont's TTH chronology puts the serial number in the late 1940s. Not that old.