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Focotar 100mm does late autumn in the park

Dr Klaus Schmitt

Dr Klaus Schmitt

Well-known member
shot fully open (f5.6 - it is an enlarger lens finally...)

15332497617_ec680711be_o.jpg


15332431928_e96e59b2d2_o.jpg


15495914756_79f4d2475b_o.jpg


15495911786_e3422d802f_o.jpg


​
 
Asher Kelman

Asher Kelman

OPF Owner/Editor-in-Chief
Dr Klaus Schmitt said:
shot fully open (f5.6 - it is an enlarger lens finally...)
Click to expand...

15332497617_ec680711be_o.jpg


15332431928_e96e59b2d2_o.jpg


15495914756_79f4d2475b_o.jpg


15495911786_e3422d802f_o.jpg


​


I'm so surprised at the fact that the aperture is 5.6!

This is beautiful work. Seems more like a large format photography barrel lens. But I guess that's what it is -a lantern lens.

Anything special in the construction?

Asher
 
Dr Klaus Schmitt

Dr Klaus Schmitt

Well-known member
Well, it is a 6x9cm enlarger lens constructed for the best ever negative autofocus enlarger
Leitz (Leica) ever made, and in my opinion the best normal enlarger lens ever. Lens
construction is not known, but I would guess it is a modified double Gauss design.
 
Asher Kelman

Asher Kelman

OPF Owner/Editor-in-Chief
Dr Klaus Schmitt said:
Well, it is a 6x9cm enlarger lens constructed for the best ever negative autofocus enlarger
Leitz (Leica) ever made, and in my opinion the best normal enlarger lens ever. Lens
construction is not known, but I would guess it is a modified double Gauss design.
Click to expand...

Would this be your one lens choice for these pictures, if you had to choose? Also at what aperture does the bokeh vanish?


Asher
 
Dr Klaus Schmitt

Dr Klaus Schmitt

Well-known member
Difficult to say Asher, I like to work within self-inflicted boundaries, knowing the do's and don'ts of a lens and using it more or less intuitively within its limits, especially wide open that is.

The bokeh gets a bit harsher once stopped down and the DOF gets quite larger without loosing the subtlenness of transition. f5.6t is a bit too much for me, I'd rather like it to be a bit faster, like the projection lenses I have, but in that case, all was just right as it was. I repeat: I take the lens and its abilities as they are and work within that, there is no wish for more or less when I'm in that state. hmm, hope I made myself clear...

BTw. the "Simplicity" series was shot using the very same lens.
 
Asher Kelman

Asher Kelman

OPF Owner/Editor-in-Chief
Dr Klaus Schmitt said:
The bokeh gets a bit harsher once stopped down and the DOF gets quite larger without loosing the subtlenness of transition. f5.6t is a bit too much for me, I'd rather like it to be a bit faster, like the projection lenses I have, but in that case, all was just right as it was. I repeat: I take the lens and its abilities as they are and work within that, there is no wish for more or less when I'm in that state. hmm, hope I made myself clear...
Click to expand...

This is like working with friends. We have to know what each likes to do best!

I'm drawn back to this series of pictures because of the impressive depth of field delivered at 5.6.

At this aperture, are you getting anything like this with the other vintage lenses you have shown here?

Also are these handheld.

With the A7R the shutter is a catastrophe at lower shutter speed. Not only is your DOF excellent and extensive but the images are tack sharp where they need to be.

Asher
 
Dr Klaus Schmitt

Dr Klaus Schmitt

Well-known member
Thanks guys!

Yes, all handheld, all the time. I rather increase ISO up to 640 at times if so needed, but mostly use 200/400. I'm quite good at holding my breath and calming my body for slow shutter speeds.

DOF is not specific to a lens but depends on focal length and f-stop setting. This lens is just so tack sharp and still has smooth bokeh, that creates a 3D effect. Never tried the other lenses at f5.6 for comparison,
except my elusive Zeiss S-Orthoplanar 105mm which is also a f5.6 lens. See HERE and this example:

11190562376_49f4859fd2_o.jpg

My Zeiss Lamegon has similar qualities, also not a fast, but very sharp lens, see HERE and this image:

13840416015_28a0c3b388_o.jpg

But to be honest, I think I can replicate those types of shots with about any reasonably sharp lens ... ;-)
 
Asher Kelman

Asher Kelman

OPF Owner/Editor-in-Chief
Yes, DOF, as defined, may very well be the same, but with the most stellar lenses the peak MTF could be so high that even at fall off, we perceive, perhaps, it as "still in focus", or is perception independent of MTF?

Asher
 
Dr Klaus Schmitt

Dr Klaus Schmitt

Well-known member
Well, I guess it is worth looking at the same object/subject at different apertures and making up one's mind which suits best ;-)
 
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