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DanielT74
Joined: 01 Apr 2011 Posts: 204
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Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2012 10:45 am Post subject: Some pics with Schneider Kreuznach Xenon 0.95/50mm |
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DanielT74 wrote:
On Sony NEX-5n, the Xenon has an almost imperceptible vignette wide-open which increases a little stopped down. It may require a touch of cropping occasionally but very little. It is a big heavy lens even with the thin c-mount adapter but stopping down with the stepless aperture and very smooth focusing action makes it usable. It is tricky to focus it wide open though but after a few days I am getting a hang of it I think.
To be honest I was doubtful at first but I think it's a magical lens and especially if you don't mind the bulk and can get it at a reasonable price, I think it is worth it. It is very contrasty with vivid colours throughout. Wide open it is sharp enough to be usable if you nail the focus but renders in a dreamy painterly way and sometimes creates this swirly bokeh that some people love and others hate. The OOF is generally very pleasing (at least to my eyes) Stopped down to f2 and above it becomes quite sharp indeed but still seems to maintain a nice (not swirly) bokeh.
Anyway here are some test pics - a look is worth a thousand words they say.
Oh, I should mention that mine isn't a perfect copy - there is some damage on the coating of one of the rear elements, but probably not significant. So there could be better results to be had with the Xenon, I don't know.
Last edited by DanielT74 on Tue Apr 03, 2012 1:14 am; edited 1 time in total |
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GrahamNR17
Joined: 17 Jan 2009 Posts: 1855 Location: Norfolk, UK
Expire: 2012-09-06
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Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2012 11:38 am Post subject: |
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GrahamNR17 wrote:
For some kinds of images, it's awesome and some others not so good
I love "getting used to" a new lens and finding it's strengths
I really love the portrait of the guy sitting at a table reading a magazine, and the bridge shot too |
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Orio
Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Posts: 29545 Location: West Emilia
Expire: 2012-12-04
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Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2012 1:22 pm Post subject: |
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Orio wrote:
Interesting.
To be sincere, I was expecting some thing of more impact, considering the Schneider name... but still it's on the same image quality level of other top brands superfast lenses such as Nikon or Canon.
From what I have seen, I have to say that the Planar 1.2/55 Contax and the new Leica Noctilux 0.95 (rangefinder) look more contrasted and defined. But one must also consider that this Schneider lens is more than half stop faster than the Contax, and at such extreme apertures, even a half stop means a world of difference. As for the Leica Noctilux, it costs more than 6000 Euros, so it might well be a bit better... _________________ Orio, Administrator
T*
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rbelyell
Joined: 13 Oct 2009 Posts: 4269 Location: somewhere in the mountains of central NY
Expire: 2014-01-31
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Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2012 1:44 pm Post subject: |
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rbelyell wrote:
it seems to me this lens has a rather unique quality in render color skin tones that i like, but thats of course subjective. i think for color portraits this is a very interesting combination. _________________ Epson RD1 + Elmarit 21/2.8; Summarit 50/1.5; Summarit 75/2.5; Elmar-c 90/4; Sankyo Komura 135/2.8, Hektor 135/4.5; Braun Paxina 29 6x6; Photax Boyer Paris; Holga 120 Pano
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Fuji GM670+100/3.5+65/8!
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Orio
Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Posts: 29545 Location: West Emilia
Expire: 2012-12-04
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Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2012 1:51 pm Post subject: |
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Orio wrote:
Note: I commented the wide open pictures. Stopped down, the lens gains a lot more contrast and sparkle. _________________ Orio, Administrator
T*
NE CEDE MALIS AUDENTIOR ITO
Ferrania film is reborn! http://www.filmferrania.it/
Support the Ornano film chemicals company and help them survive!
http://forum.mflenses.com/ornano-chemical-products-t55525.html |
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DanielT74
Joined: 01 Apr 2011 Posts: 204
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Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2012 11:53 pm Post subject: |
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DanielT74 wrote:
Thanks you Graham and rbelyell. Yes, I am enjoying learning to use this beast! The f/0.95 is quite a challenge sometimes but NEX-5n makes the job just about as easy as it can be (viewfinder would make it even easier I guess).
Orio wrote: |
Interesting.
To be sincere, I was expecting some thing of more impact, considering the Schneider name... but still it's on the same image quality level of other top brands superfast lenses such as Nikon or Canon.
From what I have seen, I have to say that the Planar 1.2/55 Contax and the new Leica Noctilux 0.95 (rangefinder) look more contrasted and defined. But one must also consider that this Schneider lens is more than half stop faster than the Contax, and at such extreme apertures, even a half stop means a world of difference. As for the Leica Noctilux, it costs more than 6000 Euros, so it might well be a bit better... |
Yes, those are probably not fair comparisons. Canon 50/0.95 would be more appropriate and from what I've seen, the Schneider is a more capable lens.
Again, since mine is not a perfect copy others may do better, I am not sure.
What I am finding with it is that while it is not technically perfect at least at f0.95-f1.4 it creates lovely textures and adds an artistic quality to ordinary images at wide apertures. Stopped down it is extremely sharp:
100% crop:
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Nordentro
Joined: 24 Jun 2010 Posts: 4713 Location: Lillehammer, Norway
Expire: 2015-01-29
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Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2012 7:52 pm Post subject: |
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Nordentro wrote:
Love the flower picture _________________ Lars | Manuellfokus.no |
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qtmonster
Joined: 15 Jun 2011 Posts: 37 Location: Singapore
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Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2012 5:06 pm Post subject: |
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qtmonster wrote:
Gosh, when you said it rendered almost a painter-like quality, my jaw dropped on seeing the first photo of the girl. It just resembles an oil painting that is typically displayed in the Louvre, especially the Renaissance style. Me and wife got a chance to travel to Europe early last year (really far) and the visits to the museums was a treat.
The pink flower shot is gorgeous too. |
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DanielT74
Joined: 01 Apr 2011 Posts: 204
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Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2012 11:19 pm Post subject: |
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DanielT74 wrote:
Thank you, Nordentro and qt. Yes, the first picture suggested painting very strongly to me (I have oil painting background before photography) and all I did was enhance the contrast a little with dodge and burn. |
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DanielT74
Joined: 01 Apr 2011 Posts: 204
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Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2012 11:23 pm Post subject: |
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DanielT74 wrote:
I should add that the standard c-mount adapter must be too thin for it - the focusing scale if off considerably and closest focus is at over 1m which is annoying. I sometimes unscrew it a bit to increase that but obviously that's not optimal. Not sure if this is an idiosynchrasy of my copy or if it needs another adapter. Anyone knows anything about it? |
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walter g
Joined: 20 Feb 2010 Posts: 2463 Location: NC, USA
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Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2012 6:27 am Post subject: |
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walter g wrote:
DanielT74 wrote: |
I should add that the standard c-mount adapter must be too thin for it - the focusing scale if off considerably and closest focus is at over 1m which is annoying. I sometimes unscrew it a bit to increase that but obviously that's not optimal. Not sure if this is an idiosynchrasy of my copy or if it needs another adapter. Anyone knows anything about it? |
I've ran into that problem with other lenses. You need a set of rings. I'm not sure where you buy them seperately, but look at the rings in this ad. This is like the set I have.
Click here to see on Ebay _________________
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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DanielT74
Joined: 01 Apr 2011 Posts: 204
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Posted: Fri May 25, 2012 5:25 am Post subject: some more pics with the extension ring (but it's too thick!) |
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DanielT74 wrote:
tired:
Someone here once said that portraits should not be shot at below f/1.4. This is at f/0.95 and very close, I think it works. What do you think?
To add a few more comments on this lens after a few more weeks of using it:
1. It handles CA very well, in particular PF is not a major issue.
2. It can suffer from veiling flare
My copy apparently has schneideritis which shouldn't affect IQ and I am prepared to believe it except for the flare. Would like to hear from other users.
What makes this lens a joy for me is the lovely rendition wide open. People may not like the portrait above for expression/composition, but the rendition stands out for me. |
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DanielT74
Joined: 01 Apr 2011 Posts: 204
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Posted: Sun May 27, 2012 2:52 pm Post subject: |
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DanielT74 wrote:
Another try, this time a little stopped down:
Last edited by DanielT74 on Tue Jun 26, 2012 4:27 am; edited 1 time in total |
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ZoneV
Joined: 09 Nov 2009 Posts: 1632 Location: Germany
Expire: 2011-12-02
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Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2012 9:10 am Post subject: |
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ZoneV wrote:
Thank you for showing these pictures!
I love fast lenses - and I think the portrait images look very good, I would be happy to see more.
I own the 25/0.95 sister, but have not used it up to now (lack of camera for that register distance at home - and the cameras at work need a labtop and power connection). _________________ Camera modification, repair and DIY - some links to look through: http://www.4photos.de/camera-diy/index-en.html
I AM A LENS NERD!
Epis, Elmaron, Emerald, Ernostar, Helioplan and Heidosmat.
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DanielT74
Joined: 01 Apr 2011 Posts: 204
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Posted: Sat Jun 09, 2012 1:35 pm Post subject: |
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DanielT74 wrote:
Thank you for the interest!
Shot some pics with it today:
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paulhofseth
Joined: 05 Mar 2011 Posts: 575 Location: Norway
Expire: 2018-06-28
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Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2012 9:30 pm Post subject: 25/0,95 |
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paulhofseth wrote:
ZoneV wrote: |
Thank you for showing these pictures!
I love fast lenses - and I think the portrait images look very good, I would be happy to see more.
I own the 25/0.95 sister, but have not used it up to now (lack of camera for that register distance at home - and the cameras at work need a labtop and power connection). |
The RJ adapter that fits the 50/0,95 to M 3/4 also fits the 25. A small, but total vignetting area in the corners.
p. |
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ZoneV
Joined: 09 Nov 2009 Posts: 1632 Location: Germany
Expire: 2011-12-02
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Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2012 9:36 am Post subject: Re: 25/0,95 |
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ZoneV wrote:
paulhofseth wrote: |
The RJ adapter that fits the 50/0,95 to M 3/4 also fits the 25. A small, but total vignetting area in the corners.
p. |
Thank you - but I have Canon EOS cameras. So there is still a problem. I made some macro images with the Xenon and EOS 1000D, but this was far away from its designed working distance. _________________ Camera modification, repair and DIY - some links to look through: http://www.4photos.de/camera-diy/index-en.html
I AM A LENS NERD!
Epis, Elmaron, Emerald, Ernostar, Helioplan and Heidosmat.
Epiotar, Kameraobjektiv, Anastigmat, Epis, Meganast, Magnagon, Quinar, Culmigon, Novotrinast, Novflexar, Colorplan, Sekor, Kinon, Talon, Telemegor, Xenon, Xenar, Ultra, Ultra Star. Tessar, Janar, Visionar, Kiptar, Kipronar and Rotelar.
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ManuallyYours
Joined: 21 Jun 2012 Posts: 35 Location: Lyon, FRANCE
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Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2012 3:19 pm Post subject: |
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ManuallyYours wrote:
I don't have enough words to explain the shock I had by watching these pics. Like Boyer's lenses, this one is just amazing. The sharpness is insane. _________________ NIKON d300s+MB-D10 |
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DanielT74
Joined: 01 Apr 2011 Posts: 204
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Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2012 5:21 am Post subject: |
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DanielT74 wrote:
Thanks, ManuallyYours, though I suppose the compliments go to Schneider optical designers!
It's actually quite tricky to get a sharp picture out of this lens at f/0.95 and I am still learning, but I tried again on the weekend!
Close up, the portraits can't help but look soft due to most of the face being out of focus. Here the eyes are actually sharp:
It is a joy to use though, even at 1kg and I see that some of the members agree since I already got an offer! First time people contact me about buying a lens that is not on the market. |
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