My flaring TAIR-3

[Orio]

Yesterday Rob mentioned that a famous glamour photographer was rumoured to use a Tair-3 for his dreamy shots.

As far as my experience with the lens goes, I can confirm that rumour completely. I have a copy that gives exactly the same type of results. Sorry for the boring subjects (no naked lady available at the moment), but I guess the thing is still evident:













Flaring cat:

[Helios]

It is very close to the effect I obtain with my "frankensteinized" kodak meniscus 100mm !
I didn't try it however on a naked lady ...Lasts were made with a Steinheil Cassarit 4,5/135 on bellows .

[Orio]

I have to say that while this flare makes all objects look blurry, it makes for some great bokeh instead.
Well, you give some, you take some...

[LucisPictor]

This is interesting since I have never seen such a "behaviour" in my Tair.

[Orio]

[emi007]

Illusion feeling!

[LucisPictor]

[luisalegria]

I've seen this effect on a 300mm (a broken Upsilon 300/4 that I'm repairing), apparently due to a misplaced rear element. Maybe something needs to be adjusted ?

[Orio]

[Rob Leslie]

On a very serious note I should point out that photographing naked ladies with a 300mm isn’t that good an idea. Shouting directions can be embarrassing.
Doing shots in a public place with a 300mm does give you the option of denying all knowledge of the naked girl a few hundred yards away but I’m not sure this would actually stand up in court and you also stand the risk of the model reversing the situation on you by claiming you are a peeping tom!

The results Orio shows from the Tair are exactly what I get in many situations.
‘Such a behaviour’ can be avoided if you always shoot in the right light, keep the sun well behind you, avoid any reflective objects that may well flair and keep the lens stopped down.
In common with a few others I find this ‘Glowing flare’ rather nice for some subjects (Glam and Nudes) but 300mm isn’t a great length for such shots and I also have many lenses I can control this effect with. If anybody hasn’t a lens that can do anything like it just try a bit of Vaseline on a UV filter.

I am pretty sure there is no fault with my lens or Orios. I did in fact waste some time having it checked by a guy who was adjusting the focus on my Fuji 400mm. He said it was OK but did add a bit more matt black paint to some of the inside baffles. The Tair comes apart very easy (Must do if I can do it) It is a very simple lens. There can be no doubt that the front or rear element are not as they should be.

Nobody will ever persuade me the Tair is a good lens. I can go out and take hundreds of good test shots with it, but when it actually comes to getting a real shot the situation will more than likely be one of those flare ones.
Great one has carried this great lump about and it made a mess of the shot, what a waste of time and effort.
If one has no alternative or just wants a cheap 300mm to play with they are OK but IMO they are not worth paying the postage on. Buy from a car boot sale or somebody local for about £10.
For just a little more money one can buy an Adaptall 1 300mm, or many other more normal lenses.
Does anybody have the date of the first Tairs is it around 1954/6?
I remember when the Photo Sniper outfit (300mm Tair, 50mm Helios and Zenit camera) cost £59 New. (Nobody wanted them then either)

[zewrak]

Nonetheless. I like the effect.

[Rob Leslie]

[peterqd]

[zewrak]

[LucisPictor]

[Nelson]

I think your Tair is in trouble

[Attila]

I have a very scratched lens it is produced same result, this is abnormal result from a Tair.

[Nelson]

http://323i.e30.free.fr/galerie/MF/TAIR/

[Bruce]

Anybody have the link to the naked ladies?
Id like to see this tair's IQ


Oh nice shoots Nelson

[ChrisLilley]

[Helios]

Bruce , I'll do a trial in a couple of weeks , with the Taïr 300 and other lenses .... , only to verify if this Taïr "behaviour" is real or not . I believe these pics were taken without any sunshade on the lens . Ladies without any clothes and Taïr without sunshade , that's correct , however.

[Orio]

Yes no sunshade in my photos, but hard to define a sunshade or its need in a completely overcast day

As for the ladies here's a rather chast sample of the dreamy look:

http://www.teknemedia.net/multimedia/galleria-dettaglio/22811/page-2.html

I sincerely don't believe that you need a Tair to do this - just breathe on any lens you get the same effect for zero euros cost

[Helios]

Well-known pics Orio , and among the bests of D. Hamilton . I'm afraid the book is in my book-case ...

[Orio]

Curiously, I like him better when he does not photograph nudes.
Some of his still lifes and landscapes stood the test of time. Still life especially. But also Venice views. While I think that his erotic shots are today dated and tacky, with only a few exception (such as the one I linked to).

[Bruce]

I knew you guys were hiding the good stuff!

and Chris I know exactly what you mean... I had a few of those magazines before the closet floor collapsed