mark_wilson4 Posted January 12, 2007 Share Posted January 12, 2007 The Zeiss lenses on these pre-war Rolleiflex "Old Standard" are very nice. They portray fine detail, yet are not too prone to flair. I see that I did not respond to previous questions from people...sorry. Both my old standards have f 1:3.5 Tessars, I believe.<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark_wilson4 Posted January 12, 2007 Author Share Posted January 12, 2007 I have many ancient cameras, but I tend to grab one of these things...pleasure to use. Very simple, and lighter than modern TLRs. Look funky, too.<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eskoi.pohjanpalo Posted January 13, 2007 Share Posted January 13, 2007 My old Zeiss Ikon Ikoflex has the same Tessar f3.5/75mm. Very good results in colour as well.<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tito sobrinho Posted January 13, 2007 Share Posted January 13, 2007 Very nice pictures Mark! Esko, Paul Rudolph's Tessar design was (is) immitated by several lens designers including Max Berek...Elmar. Mark camera has an uncoated Tessar. Is your Ikoflex Tessar lens coated? Several of my cameras sport an uncoated Tessars and they are great for color too as well as the uncoated Dagor, uncoated convertible Protar Series VIIa and the uncoated convertible Turner Reich. Cheers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark_wilson4 Posted January 13, 2007 Author Share Posted January 13, 2007 Wow, that boathouse shot is evocative. Excellent colour picture. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aeaster Posted January 13, 2007 Share Posted January 13, 2007 Whether it is an old Rolleiflex, an Ikoflex or even an old Ricohflex -- there is nothing so worth shooting as an old TLR. (Well, maybe an old Speed Graphic.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim_mcbride Posted January 13, 2007 Share Posted January 13, 2007 My 1955 (1956?) Rolleiflex Automat with a f3.5 Tessar probably is my favorite MF camera. As long as I am careful to stop down to f8 I can be assured of getting b&w pix which are indistinguishable from those made with a modern Hasselblad. If I stay away from backlight and always use a lens hood, my results are as fine as I could obtain with any 1990s MF film camera. The 1950s Tessar performs every bit as well as a more modern Zeiss Planar f3.5 in a Rolleiflex 3.5E3 which I also own & use frequently. The Planar gives a little better performance in the corners, but only if I look with a very strong magnifier. I also think the Planar makes a somewhat more saturated color print, but not by much. I favor Schneider?Kreuznach lenses for my LF work, but have probably made more pictures with Zeiss?equipped Rolleiflexes over the years than any other cameras I own. I have always loved working with them. They are such a pleasure to use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustys pics Posted January 13, 2007 Share Posted January 13, 2007 I recently bought an Old Standard from a nice guy on FleaBay. He's a regular contributer here. Anyway, it has the 3.8 Tessar and is from 1932. I have been very impressed with the quality of this uncoated lens, even for color. Here is a recent shot I made on Tri-X Pro 320. Developed in highly dilute Rodinal to tame the contrast. I'll post a color shot tomorrow.<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark_wilson4 Posted January 13, 2007 Author Share Posted January 13, 2007 Goodness, that's another striking image. What a superb black and white photograph. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tito sobrinho Posted January 14, 2007 Share Posted January 14, 2007 Russ, excellent photo! The overall and local contrast are superb as well as the composition. The uncoated Tessar rocks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustys pics Posted January 16, 2007 Share Posted January 16, 2007 Thanks for the kind words guys. I'll post a recent color shot, into the sun no less, as proof that uncoated Tessars are fine optics. I'm having great fun with this old camera, and rediscovering photographic simplicity.<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
photography by a.f. smith Posted January 17, 2007 Share Posted January 17, 2007 I have an original Automat (same uncoated tessar) and a 2.8E (Planar.) I prefer the tessar (especially for B&W)for the better Bokeh. Its my favourite camera I own. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laurence_smith Posted January 27, 2007 Share Posted January 27, 2007 Russ, that black and white is to die for. Wow, what a nice photo. I am not too thrilled on the color image, but that doesn't matter when it is preceded by such a jewel of an image like yours. Any more? Regards Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laurence_smith Posted January 27, 2007 Share Posted January 27, 2007 Would an Ikoflex II with the Tessar lens be about the same thing? Just wondering, as I can pick one up for about $50, if that doesn't seem too high? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustys pics Posted January 27, 2007 Share Posted January 27, 2007 Glad you liked the black and white, You can see more of my work and that of others in the thread <a href="http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00JfQn&tag=">Rollei Old Standard Still brilliant. </a> If the Ikoflex has a Tessar lens design, which I think is a three element gaussian type? (someone who knows lenses please help here!) It should be very similar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tito sobrinho Posted January 28, 2007 Share Posted January 28, 2007 Russ: The Tessar designed by Dr. Paul Rudolph (Zeiss employee) in 1902, has 4 elements in 3 groups. It was such a good lens that it earned him the Progress Medal of the Royal Photographic Society in 1905. The lens was called "Eagle's Eye". His design was (is) immitated by several lens designers including Max Berek...Elmar(1925). Lawrence: Yes, the Ikoflex II has the same uncoated Tessar and it would perform the same way as the Rolleiflex "Old" Standard presented here. Interesting is that the Ikoflex had a price range in order to compete with the Rolleicord with its Triotar...a 3 element lens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tito sobrinho Posted January 28, 2007 Share Posted January 28, 2007 Sorry, Laurence instead of Lawrence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustys pics Posted January 28, 2007 Share Posted January 28, 2007 That's good info Tito. I would bet the Tessar is one of the most copied designs out there. Probably used in a lot of simple digicams today too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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