wfrank wrote:
Is there a short version what this FLE thing is - some kind of complicated physical alteration to soften the bokeh further? Thanks.
it's not that complicated:
1) remove the name plate around the front element.
2) set the focus to .7m (or closer if you want slightly less inward field curvature and slightly worse corner bokeh) and tape the focus ring to hold it in place.
3) loosen the 3 screws that were revealed by removing the nameplate (but don't unscrew them all the way).
4) turn the front group on it's helicoid counter clockwise (i'm pretty sure it was counter clockwise ) as far as you can before it hits it's stop (best to do this by holding the surround on the front element with a rubber glove for grippiness).
5) tighten the 3 screws, replace the nameplate, and remove the tape holding the focus ring in place and you are done!
a couple of caveats though. you should mark the orientation of the front group compared to the main helicoid group at infinity prior to doing this in order to be able to easily restore the lens to the factory configuration. i recommend making little paint marks on both helicoid groups to mark their positions (someplace that is behind the nameplate for the sake of aesthetics). the other caveat is that the way i have it set up produces pretty severe field curvature, it's pretty awesome for portraits, but you won't be able to take landscape at infinity or any flat field shots. here's an example that shows the curvature pretty well, stopped down to f/5.6 the purple flowers are in focus but the "plane" of focus curves in to much for anything in the corners to be in focus: https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8710/16886504595_5780cffa92_o.jpg
Wow, the FLE mod is cool.
Though, I am not so certain I'm up for doing it myself either.
The copy I have is perfect, box, docs, everything.
I do find the mod appealing.
Maybe if I got a less perfect one to play with...
buggz2k wrote:
Wow, the FLE mod is cool.
Though, I am not so certain I'm up for doing it myself either.
The copy I have is perfect, box, docs, everything.
I do find the mod appealing.
Maybe if I got a less perfect one to play with...
ha, yeah. mine is a very beat up copy and i hesitated a long time to try it because i know zeiss likes to booby trap their lenses. i think it would be really cool to modify it so there was a lever to adjust the FLE on the fly though...
Sebboh, I love the look of the modded lens. It reminds me of the look of the ZE 35 f/1.4, but it is stronger. Turns it into a beautiful portrait lens and it seems to reduce CA (for portraits in the bokeh) quite a bit as well.
Some spring flowers with the C/Y 35/1.4 wide open. On the one hand I feel they need some processing, but when I try it just obliterates the subtle rendering. So I just leave it like this.
) as far as you can before it hits it's stop (best to do this by holding the surround on the front element with a rubber glove for grippiness).
