Finding the perfect portrait lens

[peppen]

Been lurking at this great for a while and this is my first post.

First of all English is my second language and I've got a baby on my arm so sorry for the sloppy text.

Background
During my youth i lived by by these "dogmatic" rules when it came to photography.

1. Always carry a beater camera. A camera to expensive to bring is a camera with an empty film. I mainly toted a Pentax MX/50mm 1:1:4 combo, a Olympus RC35 or a Zeiss Nettar 6X6.

2. Use a sharp normal lens and get op close.

3. Tripord, clamp mount or a temporary rest even i shooting at speeds above 1/125

4. Croping and composition is don in the camera view finder only never in the darkroom.

5. Use photographic previsualization technique. That means that the light meter, choice of film, developer, paper, paper developer are all calibrate so the the span of tones in the final print is know intuitively to the photographer when taking picture. This is described in the book "The Ansel Adams guide: Basic Techniques of Photography Book 2" (don't let the name fool you, its a beast of a book).

6. Use a hi-end lens and avoid all post processing beyond burning edges for repeatable results. Just set the timer speed, slap the button, slap it again and mask the center and the print is done.

The pictures below are just low res jpegs straight from negative with no post production from a consumer grade flat bed scanner. The actual images are sharp tho the gran and can be blown up to just about any size with stunning results.

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Comparing these scans with proper old school glossy papper prints is like comparing a tuned up vintage sports car to a sunburned eighties Toyota with a hood that does not fully close and a off-color passenger side door.

[peppen]

Thunder storm rolling in. Need to unhook computer.

To be continued...

[mo]

Welcome and thanks for the intro,B&W always manages to look good, even when scanned and put onto the internet

[peppen]

Thanks mo!

Pictures from my phone bellow.

This is where I'm going to start of the search.



These lenses can be removed whit out damaging the cameras so they might be up next.





These are the wildcards.





I don't now anything about the chinon put paired whit tp25 film and an abundance of soft light its given me some of my most pleasing prints.

And one for the old-timers.

[peppen]

And finally whats new.

[RSalles]

Hi Peppen,

Very welcome to you in this forum and I like your post and your pictures. I agree also when you trace a parallel between wet printed and digital pictures.
It's also my fault that the price range of the lenses described above for portrait photography have a price tag above the necessary in most situations. BUT, in the list published by me there is a lens which I like immensely for portraits which prices can't be beaten, ever, with this lens I could make portraits like this one:


thais-65636x7_2014 by Renato__ Salles, on Flickr

Wray-London 5X4 1/2 barrel lens adapted to a self made lens plate in my Sinar F2 with a Sinar-Copal shutter. Scanned in 2 pases with a Canon FF and stitched with photomerge.

This lens had cost me absolutely NADA, nothing. It was a gift from a friend in this forum,

Best,

Renato

[exaklaus]

Hi peppen, welcome to this place!

Renato, that's a nice&welldone shot!
Klaus

[JJB]

Beautiful portrait, Renato!

[RSalles]

Klaus and JJB,

Thank you, it's a wonder to come across an old lens like this, which performs so well if you have the interest to follow the learning curve,

Cheers,

Renato

[bernhardas]

Edited

[peppen]

@RSalles Wonderful

And thanks for the support guys!

First up on the chopping block. 50mm 1:2. I decided to cut the plastic lever guard and bend the lever for a semi-reversible surgery.







I needed to put three peaces of masking tape on the adapter for a snug fit.

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Some crude test shots in low light conditions the bulb is 30W and the other pictures is with a slightly stronger row of LED's over the kitchen bench. Auto white balance an L jpgs right out the camera.

pentax smc m 50mm 1:2 @1/30s 1:2


100% zoom in paint




50mm 1:2 @1/30s 1:2


100% zoom in paint

[peppen]

pentax smc m 50mm 1:2 @1/30s 1:2





100% zoom in paint

@1/30s 1:2


100% zoom in paint



@1/4 1:5.6



100% zoom in paint



200% zoom in paint

[pinholecam]

I would just like to comment that you can actually easily remove the lever guard by unscrewing the 3 screws holding the plastic assembly.

The lever itself, unfortunately, can't be removed non-destructively, so that bending is perhaps better than sniping it off.

[peppen]

Thanks a lot pinholecam!

Now I've got what it seems like non destructive conversion. The screws could be removed with a sixe 0 precision screwdriver. The end looks a bit bare but for my purposes right now that's fine.



I will try to get some outdoors pictures if the storm dies before the sun sets.

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Finally some sun light. Images below shot indoors only light source soft morning light coming through a large window. ISO 400, EV9. Pentx-M SMC 100mm lens. L jpg straight out of the camera.

4.0 30



100% paint crop



5.6 15



100% paint crop



200% paint crop



2.8 60



100% paint crop



200% paint crop



2.8 60



100%



200%

[peppen]

The verdict. Given that it's jpg's shot in low light and the blur us down to one or two pixels at 5.6 I have no doubt this lens can be top notch. The one draw back is that the minimum focusing distance is 1 meter. I think it might need a couple of mm extra extension would be perfect. The danger is that the camera might end up to close to the subject.

[peppen]

Auto white balance. A shy winter sun through a cloudy sky. EV11. Exposure +1 due to the dark mask on the dog. 1:4 1/60s. L Jpeg out of a Canon 6D.

Pentax SMC-M 100mm 2.8 at closest focusing distance



200% crop in paint



Pentax SMC-M 135mm 3.5 at closest focusing distance




200% crop in paint

[peppen]

Both picures shot at Iso 100. EV7. 1:4 1/8 Minimum focusing distance

Pentax SMC-M 100mm 2:8



200% crop in paint



Pentax SMC-M 135mm 3.5



200% crop in paint

[Lightshow]

[peppen]

Great info. Tnx.

[peppen]

I'm still waiting for my bellows to arrive in a couple of days. Mean while.





The outer of the two rings need to be unscrewed to remove the lense in a reversible way.



d=30mm

[peppen]

This is a PK body cap mad by the German company Dörr. It has parallel front and back with out any text.



Scribed.



The plastic does not cut like hard wood or metal. Instead it melts and heals around the scroll saw blade. Best is to cut a rough hole and grind it to dimension.



Fits like a glove.



The lens has a T-mode where the shutter is switched open or shut on the bent leveler.



If nothing else it should have a beautiful bokeh.

[RSalles]

Hi peppen,

How do you expect to focus the lens?

Cheers,

Renato