Porst Spezial-V 2.8/85

[alex ph]

Got this projection lens, equipment of Porst Vollautomat. I was curious what kind of image it gives, so mounted with a custom adapter for a quick test. Here are some samples.


#1 Close distance, the light is dull today, so some simple PP is done to boost colors and contrast


#2 A 100% crop from the previous, sharpness and resolution are not excellent but quite acceptable, make think of Jupiter-8 w/o



#3 A distant landscape, more color and contrast applied


#4 A 100% crop from the previous, close to the image center


#5 Colors are easily adjustible, this is what I saw with some other projector lenses, easy to make photos look joyful without making them a harsh pop


#6 I was curious about the bokeh, here it is in today's dull light, the first attempt


#7 This gives an idea of rendering and flare in the night (not much, unless the light comes from outside the viewfield)


#8 A 100% crop of the previous, all images still need contrast and color boost. Not ttoo much of CA, right?


#9 Here is a halo of flare coming from a car light from below of the viewfield


#10 Another night picture, with an attempt to focus on the menu in the window


#11 And here comes a 100% crop, not bad at all. A tripod was used for these night shots


#12 Another shot of bokeh study, against a building as background


#13 A 100% crop from the previous, to see also the counter-light shape and CA


#14 An here is something to compare with the Porst bokeh, a CZJ Pancolar w/o, that is at f1.8. The focal distance and the aperture are different, so it is not a formal comparison, just a reference point. It is clear at which point Pancolar is capable to make pop-up of the main object and cream in the bokeh. But I'd say there is some cream also in Porst Spezial-V




I found barely nothing about the lens in internet. This is no wonder, as Porst rebranded someone's product. I am quite curious about the optical design of the lens. I tried to count bulb reflexions in the lens and counted 6! Not really credible, right? Although the bokeh does not let think about a triplet. What would you say, what optic formula and producer that could be?

[ZoneV]

Do you have us an image how the lens looks like?
We like lenses, not only images made by lenses

[Minolfan]

[alex ph]

ZoneV, I was curious if someone asks for it, as modern projections lenses produced since the 1970s all look alike. Even Leitz does not stand out, as far as I saw.

Here is the Porst, one of the dozens:

#1 A standard plastic design and visible coating


#2 An elastic tape on the back end is put by me, for the ease of mounting


Minolfan, thank you for the hint. I thought, being cheap, projector lenses are simple triplets. What about Diaplans and other "soap bubble" lenses, are they likewise constructed as 3x2 triplets?

[alex ph]

Some more night-light, tripod mounted shots. Colors and contrasts are boosted.

#1 Yesteday's moon


#2 A 100% crop from the previous shot


#3 Focused on the iron curtains of the lit window


#4 A 100% crop of the previous. Well, you cannot read the book titles but may guess the series


#5 Lights and shadows, infinity focus

[Lloydy]

Great pictures, did you use any kind of aperture? I don't imagine a Porst projector lens is an expensive - high end lens?

[jamaeolus]

Gives a vintage cinematic feel to the images IMHO. Contrast obviously needs a boost but very interesting!

[Minolfan]

[buerokratiehasser]

If you actually like that "looks like television" or "did I leave the TC on" low contrast,

many simple Tele primes have this look (and, presumably, triplet construction without retrofocus)

C.i.p Sun (or Sun relabel) 300/4.5. Mine labeled Universar. A good lens to defend yourself with, also never quite "tack sharp".

[alex ph]

Thank you for your appreciation, folks!

Lloydy, I did not use any aperture tool, just mounted the lens and shooted wide open. The lens has certainly a violet coating on the front element. And when I looked at bulb reflexions, the other flares were a kind of red. Maybe some other elements are also coated? Otherwise the body is entirely in plastic, and its construction is the simpliest possible. It does not look as a high quality expensive item.

Minolfan, you are certainly right, and now I found someone's experiments already done with this Porst's capacity to bokeh under a good sunlight: http://www.flickriver.com/photos/tags/porstspezialv2885mm/interesting/ and the way it was adapted http://fotobabij.blogspot.nl/2015/08/adaptacja-obiektywu-porst-spezial-v-28.html. Although the bubbles are not as well pronounced as by Trioplan or Diaplan.

Buerokratiehasser, this is quite interesting what you are saying about having a "TV look" with simple teles. Could you give some samples or a link to a related thread? The use of teles like 300mm is a kind of problematic with slim NEX body. Even if I tryed heavier variants, like 70-200 Vivitar zoom and some others. But in that case you are more stationary than mobile. An advantage of a 80-90mm plastic projection lens is that you move easily and turn everywhere, even without a tripod if the light permits.

[buerokratiehasser]

I think the thread about the one labeled Chinon 300/4.5 had some pictures, but something funny happened on the way to the server crash and images from 2012 are no longer.

MF Picture upload never worked for me, sorry.