p.184 #2 · What is your most recent (alt) lens purchase?
jcolwell wrote:
SMC Pentax 85mm f/2.2 Soft.
sebboh wrote:
I have never heard of that how is it "soft"?
It's a unique lens. This is my second copy. For some inexplicable reason, I sold my first one in 2010. This current thread where I posted some old example photos rekindled my interest,
It has only two elements, arranged as a single group that forms the "front element". There's lots of empty space inside. In fact, you can mount an EF Extender or Pentax "long" TC to it.
Boz Dimitrov's Pentax K-mount site has an excellent description,
Here's the full version of the discussion that I saved some years ago,
\begin{quotation}
85mm f/2.2 (soft)
Gerald Cermak - I've got one of these lenses, and for portraits it is nice. The aperature settings, while performing the indicated light changes, also change the amount of softness. That is the meaning of the scale. At 2.2, the maximum softness occurs, with less softening in the center than the outer portions (unlike a filter alone could provide). At 5.6, it has almost no softening in the center (quite sharp actually), and only modest softening towards the edges. At one point I had posted pics of my gf taken at the different settings to show the differences, but can't find the url. It truly does a great job at what it is supposed to do. After seeing some shots with it, one of my gf's friends asked to have some portraits of her taken with it. Next time she visited, we trucked it out to the beach one cold afternoon, attached to my LX with Supra loaded, and she loved the results.
[and in a later post . . .] The soft effect of the soft lenses is variable from the center outward, with the aperture controlling the amount of softness overall. In addition, the soft effect is combined with a crisp set of edges, providing a very pleasing effect.
- - - - - -
Flavio Minelli -[commenting on Gerald's lens which he had the chance to see for himself] . . .It's a really weird lens. . . The lens has only 2 elements in 1 group. This means you can stick a finger through the diaphragm from the back of the lens itself, although the iris itself is deep into the barrel. The visual effect was most unusual and it got stronger as you opened up. At 2.2 it was so strong you could barely get it to focus correctly. The aperture went only to 5.6, IIRC and the metering was stop down. All in all a very specialised lens but with very interesting characteristics."
\end{quotation}
p.184 #3 · What is your most recent (alt) lens purchase?
It happened again. Just picked up a Optische Werke Göttingen GmbH Westar 2.8/45. It seems a very tiny lens with M39 mount. I only bought it because it seems very rare.
p.184 #8 · What is your most recent (alt) lens purchase?
sebboh wrote:
[the jupiter-9 doesn't have as funky a bokeh and is sharper wide open than the j-3, but still has the lovely glow.
I see what you mean about this. It's a little disappointing, because the 9 pairs up with 8 really well, but neither brings anything all that different from the Summicrons 50 and 90 (though I do prefer the stopless aperture control- something especially useful when it has enough blades to maintain a near perfect circle). I'm thinking I might pop the head off the 9 and turn it into a macro head for the bellows. It and the TE 135 will be "good bokeh" macros.
I have the feeling the Biotar 75/1.5 or the Helios 40-2 (or either the 75 or 80 Summilux) would be a better match, but since it's down to massive lenses anyway, it may as well be the Rokkor 85/1.7. It's smaller than those four and has better color than two. It's not quite as prone to swirl as the Biotar/Helios, but that'll keep it more in line with the 35 and 50.
So I'm thinking the FD 24L, Lux 35, Jup 3, and Rokkor 85. That should make a nice walk-around kit.
p.184 #10 · What is your most recent (alt) lens purchase?
freaklikeme wrote:
I see what you mean about this. It's a little disappointing, because the 9 pairs up with 8 really well, but neither brings anything all that different from the Summicrons 50 and 90 (though I do prefer the stopless aperture control- something especially useful when it has enough blades to maintain a near perfect circle). I'm thinking I might pop the head off the 9 and turn it into a macro head for the bellows. It and the TE 135 will be "good bokeh" macros.
I have the feeling the Biotar 75/1.5 or the Helios 40-2 (or either the 75 or 80 Summilux) would be a better match, but since it's down to massive lenses anyway, it may as well be the Rokkor 85/1.7. It's smaller than those four and has better color than two. It's not quite as prone to swirl as the Biotar/Helios, but that'll keep it more in line with the 35 and 50.
So I'm thinking the FD 24L, Lux 35, Jup 3, and Rokkor 85. That should make a nice walk-around kit....Show more →
yeah, the j-9 isn't so attractive if you already have a 90 cron pre-asph (i figured the j-9 and g90 combined were a lot cheaper than the cron). bokeh is more sonnarish though with the j-9, like the zm 85/2 only much lower contrast.
i've always been curious about the j-8, would it make a nice tiny budget normal for the a7? is it decently sharp stopped down towards the edges?
also, does the FD 24L really fit in with that lineup?
p.184 #11 · What is your most recent (alt) lens purchase?
sebboh wrote:
yeah, the j-9 isn't so attractive if you already have a 90 cron pre-asph (i figured the j-9 and g90 combined were a lot cheaper than the cron). bokeh is more sonnarish though with the j-9, like the zm 85/2 only much lower contrast.
i've always been curious about the j-8, would it make a nice tiny budget normal for the a7? is it decently sharp stopped down towards the edges?
also, does the FD 24L really fit in with that lineup?
Cheaper, yes, and once you're done with them, I'm sure they both be a pleasure to use. And it's not that I don't like the 9, it just wasn't what I was looking for in this little game I'm playing to shake up my complacency with the Leicas.
It's probably easier to send you the 8 than try to describe it. It's a deceptive little lens capable of some good surprises. A buddy of mine has it with him in Yellowstone right now, but when it gets back, I'll send it.
Yes and no on the 24L. It's the hardest of the four to color match, but in mono, it's surprisingly close to the Lux in many ways, though it has its own brand of bad bokeh.
p.184 #12 · What is your most recent (alt) lens purchase?
Just picked up a second hand Voigtlander 20mm. I had been holding out on getting this one as I have a Zeiss 18mm which is optically much better but 3 times the size of the Voigtlander pancake.
No more Voigtlander purchases for a while now, as there are none left:
EF - 20, 28, 40, 90 (for use with 5D)
NF - 40 (Permanently stays on film body)
Pk - 58 (Permanently stays on film body)
p.184 #13 · What is your most recent (alt) lens purchase?
BrendanSeabroo wrote:
Just picked up a second hand Voigtlander 20mm. I had been holding out on getting this one as I have a Zeiss 18mm which is optically much better but 3 times the size of the Voigtlander pancake.
No more Voigtlander purchases for a while now, as there are none left:
EF - 20, 28, 40, 90 (for use with 5D)
NF - 40 (Permanently stays on film body)
Pk - 58 (Permanently stays on film body)
p.184 #15 · What is your most recent (alt) lens purchase?
:P
Yes you are both quite right. I think would will be a little wasted on me though as I don't normally use lenses that long (or pricy).
I am keeping an eye out for a nice SL series 1 75mm f2.5, but even they are going for about 20-30% more than I would be comfortable paying for one. One day maybe.
p.184 #18 · What is your most recent (alt) lens purchase?
jcolwell wrote:
Did you miss putting a period between "huge" and "thanks"?
haha, it is huge indeed, at least compared to M lenses, it is longer, wider and heavier than my Nokton ASPH but still smaller than the Leica Noctilux for 1/10th of the price
p.184 #19 · What is your most recent (alt) lens purchase?
freaklikeme wrote:
Cheaper, yes, and once you're done with them, I'm sure they both be a pleasure to use. And it's not that I don't like the 9, it just wasn't what I was looking for in this little game I'm playing to shake up my complacency with the Leicas.
It's probably easier to send you the 8 than try to describe it. It's a deceptive little lens capable of some good surprises. A buddy of mine has it with him in Yellowstone right now, but when it gets back, I'll send it.
Yes and no on the 24L. It's the hardest of the four to color match, but in mono, it's surprisingly close to the Lux in many ways, though it has its own brand of bad bokeh. ...Show more →
oh well, i wouldn't worry too much about leica complacency, seems like a good place to be. with the rokkor 85/1.7 and the 90 cron pre-asph you seem to have things pretty nicely covered. maybe the 75 lux or biotar could be interesting. did you sell the FD 85L?
have you looked at the OM 21/2? that might another smaller wide option to go that line up instead of the 24L.
