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Zeiss Lenses on Canon FD Bodies


pensacolaphoto

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I picked up an adapter at an online auction site for Canon FD

camera. It allows me to use Pentacon 6 mount (same as Exacta 66) on

my T90 or F1 body. I already have several Zeiss Jena lenses with

Pentacon 6 mount, and this way I am using medium format lenses on

35mm Canon bodies. I have plenty of Canon lenses, but such an

adapter allowed me to try out Zeiss lenses with my Canon cameras.

Has anyone here tried doing this ?

It is actually not such a bad idea if you don't mind manual aperture

control. Several of the Zeiss Jena lenses have excellent reputation

for sharpness and color fidelity, such as Sonnar 180mm/2.8. The

portrait lens for medium format becomes a telephoto lens for 35mm

format. The added advantage is the fact that you will be shooting

through the center of the lens, which usually is sharpest.

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This will give you more flexibility with your lenses and please let us know how you make out. The only possible drawback that I can see is that medium format glass is generally not constructed to the same level of optical quality as 35mm glass because the larger format film is much more forgiving. The 180mm f2.8 for instance will not likely perform as well as Canon's 200mm f2.8, but stopped down I am sure it will be fine. It will be interesting to here your results.
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Hi John,

The results are spectacular with the 180mm Sonnar lens. It has one negative side though; the minimum focus distance is not close enough for very tight shots. I am using a small extension tube to let me focus closer.

As for medium format lenses being less sharp than 35mm lenses, I once started a discussion on this topic. You would be surprised at the many responses that explained (with examples) why this is wrong conclusion. Some of the older large format lenses have resolution levels unattained by most 35mm lenses. I think, the major point is the fact that you will be shooting through the center of the lens. It is well-known that lens resolution is highest in the center.

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Raid, the area coverage of the medium format lenses is much greater than 35mm lenses and consequently the MF lenses will not be as sharp as 35mm generally speaking. Also Zeiss Jena is not the same as the Contax/Hasselblad Zeiss. That's not to say they are not good or even excellent, but standard Canon 35mm lenses will beat any almost medium format lens of any manufacturer (Carl Zeiss or otherwise) on 35mm film.
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The area of coverage has nothing to do with it. Its strictly in the design and construction - in consideration of, but not because of, the format. Another thing to keep in mind, is that 35mm lenses evolve very rapidly compared to MF lenses. For instance, the 150 Sonnar, the 80 Planar, the 250 Sonnar, the 60 Distagon... all of these (and many other MF lenses by all manufacturers) have not evoloved, in some cases, from the 50's, except maybe for better coatings.

 

FWIW, the Zeiss Planar 80mm, 2.8 - as found on Hasselblad (its totally different from the 80mm, 2.8 on the Rollei TLR) is perhaps better than many 35mm format lenses of the same focal length.

 

You do get to use the "sweet spot" of MF lenses - the central area - but I agree, most are not up to the 35mm standards.

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Many can be "up to 35mm standards"; just do your own testing and see what your lens will do. The lens has no idea what film size is being placed at the film plane....Here I have used 4x5; MF; 35mm lenses on movie cameras; and 35mm cameras; 16mm; and 8mm movie cameras; and roll film back cameras. Some combos are great; others are not...My 127mm F4.5 Ektar from World War 2 is outstranding in its central region; about a measured 80 to 90 line pairs/mm at its best apertures..<BR><BR>The most extreme format for a lens is the old regular 8 movie film format; here I have adapters to use Nikon F and Leica lenses. The warts of a bad lens shows up alot.<BR><BR>The DOF tables and tick marks for a larger format are wider; for the more lax COC...<BR><BR>Blanket statements of larger formats lenses being poorer are abit of a copout for not testing them. Many are poorer; some lenses do work well with smaller formats; and are as good as 35mm lens standards...Sadly some are even better..My World War 2 127mm Ektar is sharper than my friends starter name brand zoom; at the same focal length setting...a brand new lens.
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A buddy machinist retrofits "off then shelf" name brand 35mm camera lenses; for a 35mm motion picture camera company. Here off the shelf lenses are selected; tested; and then the lens block is placed in a custom lens mount. There is no emotional bias of brand "A" verus "B" lens; or what the film format was. What matters is the actual quality of the lens; its out of focus properties; and ease of "hacking" the lens block or mechanicals; to a custom mount. Here whatt matters is results; not some textbook biases; or bigotry of format or brand......Often sharpness is not always the prime concern; but the look...; ease of focus pull; "retrofitabilty"; flare resistance; etc...
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The "Zeiss" Jena lenses are very common in the 42-screw Pentax mount. That adapter for the FD is quite cheap, even for the Canon-label version. An adapter is being sold on THE auction site under Lenses/Mounts and Adapters from Macau that uses present day Kyocera-Contax lenses on FD. The seller's name is Tony Chu. Bob Shell tried to have one made, but found the tolerances too tight. Tony think's he's pulled it off. I use and like his Leica R to FD adapter.
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This adapter does not, I think, allow wide open metering. There's no mechanical linkage between the lens and the camera, except to place the lens in exact registration with the film plane. With nearly all adapters, you set your aperture first, as if you are in an aperture priority AE mode, then you either let the camera reciprocate with a shutter speed, you you do the match-needle or -LED drill. I think he wants about $90. Bob Shell asks about the same for his Contax-to-EOS adapter.
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Raid, I did the same thing. I've shot the Carl Zeiss Jena 80mm and 180mm lenses with Tri X and compared the results with what you get with the Hasselblad. For 8x10 prints, the results were as good to the eye. I also used slide film and compared the results under a loupe using a Nikon with the 180mm f2.8 lens and the CZJ 180mm lens, shooting the same target under the same light at the same settings. The results with the Zeiss lens looked slightly better to me. So, I like these lenses. Unfortunately, I haven't found an adapter yet. that works with them and my Leicaflex. An advantage with these lenses, of course, is that they provide world class glass at a much cheaper price than the camera manufacturers lenses. All best.
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