Which old lens would make this kind of image?

[mikhail_arkhipov1]

I have a custom-modified lens for MF camera which is essentially a normal lens with a fixed f8 diaphragm all elements but one removed. It takes soft, uncorrected pictures like these

 

<a href="http://www.arkhipov.com/samples/Gallery4/imagepages/image3.htm">Picture 1</a><br>

<a href="http://www.arkhipov.com/samples/Gallery4/imagepages/image2.htm">Picture 2</a>

 

Which old/classic lens will make similar pictures? I also own soft focus lens, but SF gives different effect.

 

Thanks!

[thomas_vaehrmann]

Hi Michael,

 

<p>

 

none of the old lenses will take such pictures because they are all

better corrected. If your custom-modified lens is just a part of an

normal lens, any single convex lens e.g. loup will do the job. The

Rodenstock Imagon is also an special lens wich is not full corrected

and would give similar effects.

[patric_dahl_n]

Two older soft focus lenses with similar results:

 

<p>

 

http://www.cosmonet.org/camera/brotan_e.htm

http://www.cosmonet.org/camera/verito_e.htm

 

<p>

 

 

The Imagon is a high class soft focus lens, but much different than

the two above.

 

<p>

 

http://www.cosmonet.org/camera/imagon_e.htm

[scott_walton2]

The Imagon's are great! I have a 250 with the three disks, shade and

filter. You can find them on Ebay pretty reularly. They are beautiful

for portraits, still life's, and almost everything for a back up

negative for a different look. I have used mine with strobes also in

the studio (http://unblinkingeye.com/Photographs/Gallery/SWalton/

SWalton1/swalton1.html) also. I do want to say, they do have a long

bellows draw, just be aware of this if you buy one.

[audidudi]

For something similar, check out Mark Tucker's "plungercam" gallery

at http://marktucker.com/plungercam/index.html

[ellis_vener_photography]

I think you need a Zeiss Softar filter, not another lens.

[psychophoto]

The look kind of reminds me of some zone plate stuff I've seen.

[kcrisp]

A cheap suggestion which will get you the localized smeary flare

around the white highlights, you can take a lens/shutter out of an

old kodak folder. The ones for 616 size file, like the Kodak Monitor

for example, are in the 120mm range focal length and they will cover

4X5 straight on. You buy the cameras for less than $20, and the

shutter pops right out when you undo the retaining ring on the

inside. The less you clean up the glass the more it will look like

whay you want.

[pete_caluori]

Greetings,

 

<p>

 

Those images look like they were taken with a Holga. For the benefit

of those unfamiliar, a Holga is a plastic (toy) MF camera made in

China. It uses a simple plastic lens and has a fixed f8 aperture.

You can probably approximate that look using a pinhole on LF.

 

<p>

 

Regards, Pete

[dean_lastoria]

I think the filter adapter will work, but it will not be as satisfying as

the lens. Try the adapter, but it is a totally different animal.

[renee_galang1]

Micheal,

I have sold my mamiya 6 gear because I have turned into "soft" ever

since I bought an old canon 7 with the F 0.95 50mm lens. When used

wide open, it create the images identical to what you have attached.

Especially when I do portraiture. The softness is just wild as far as

I am concern. I still keep my cambo wide with 47xl for my LF

requirements.

 

<p>

 

Renee

[WAn]

Michael, great shots by the way, especially the first one!

Sorry for the off topic ;)

[brian_ellis3]

The lens didn't make the photographs, you did, and very nice

photographs they are, especially the first one.

[doug_paramore]

Michael, You don't need to be asking questions, you need to be

giving answers. The shots are great. You can get the same effect

with single element lenses mounted in a shutter. I have had good

luck with using the "plus" lenses designed for 35mm closeups mounted

in a shutter. You have to figure out the f-stops. Good work with the

setup you have.

 

<p>

 

Regards,

[jim_galli4]

Michael, you got me thinking and I removed the rear group from a 100mm

2.8 Xenotar and am doing some tests. At wide apertures it looks very

interesting. Sharp........but, not sharp. Covers 4X5 wnd maybe more.

About FL 7" that way. The rear group in any tessar may have

possibilities too but probably too sharp.

[mikhail_arkhipov1]

Thanks to everybody for information and I appreciate that you like my

pictures. It looks like I need to get old Xenotar or Planar mounted

in shutter and remove some glass... I didn't do it myself for the MF

camera (it is actually Kiev-60 that I bought ready with the lens

modified by a gentleman in Minsk, Belarus). I am rather clumsy, but

I'll give it a shot :)