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The IQ of a 1932 S-K Xenar 4.5/75
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PostPosted: Mon Apr 13, 2009 2:31 pm    Post subject: The IQ of a 1932 S-K Xenar 4.5/75 Reply with quote

An adjustable close-up ring is short enough to provide a reasonable focusing range for a front cell focusing 75mm Xenar at most front cell settings. Here is my 350D with the Xenar temporarily attached with Blu-Tack to a reversing ring for mounting on the adjustable close-up ring:



With the front cell set at infinity, the nearest focus is about 60cm, and at the other end of the scale, infinity focus is possible with the front cell set at 1.5m.

To give an idea of the IQ, I took three close-ups with the front cell set at infinity, which is probably the sharpest setting, i.e., has the least amount of spherical aberration. The photos were shot at ISO100 using a non-optimal lens shade, a tripod and a remote control, just minimal sharpening before conversion to JPEG, no contrast adjustments, crops from the JPEGs.

First a whole frame:



and then two 100% crops from it:





Another frame:



and two crops:





A third frame:



and a crop (note the dust in the mouth and on the upper lip):



Veijo


PostPosted: Mon Apr 13, 2009 3:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

wow just mind blowing
i have no knowledge about this kind of lenses to say more
but they are just great considering the age of the lens (i m wondering how hard is it to make such a lens work on a digital cemara )

i m really impressed


PostPosted: Mon Apr 13, 2009 4:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

That's a Very nice lens. The hallmark of these older lenses seems to be low contrast rather than poor resolution. I've noticed it with lots of them. It's the coatings that improve contrast, I believe.


PostPosted: Mon Apr 13, 2009 4:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Think also that they were used for B&W film, and contrast were made by the photographer in the darkroom and printing on photo paper. The less contrast from start, the more choices you gave to the photographer.

Btw, it's true nowadays too. I found out that starting from a low contrast image you have a lot of room to play with digital post production, while the output of some lenses is sometime s too much "in your face" and need to be used for carefully selected occasions.


PostPosted: Mon Apr 13, 2009 4:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

PaulC wrote:
That's a Very nice lens. The hallmark of these older lenses seems to be low contrast rather than poor resolution. I've noticed it with lots of them. It's the coatings that improve contrast, I believe.


I agree.

And one more thing, with an old lens with good resolution you will increase contrast in pp (if you like pp way)

But not viceversa, a newer more contrast lens with less resolution don't improve this in PP way like the contrast can be improved (in the same quantity)

Am I right?


PostPosted: Mon Apr 13, 2009 5:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

True.

The lack of tonal range in DSLR sensors vs film seems to make the contrast problem worse.


PostPosted: Mon Apr 13, 2009 5:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Very, very nice!Maby this lens is like old wine ?Smile