Legacy lenses on digital cameras

[gobs]

Hi all,

I noticed several “old/previous” threads about legacy lenses used on digital cameras. As well, I noticed several members actually play with “vintage” lenses. So after a request to Jimmy and Ron, I’m opening a “global and only” legacy lenses thread where everyone may participate and post pictures and/or comments about this enjoyment, including all sensor sizes.

All photos, ideas, comments, advices and questions as well are welcome of course!

Don’t hesitate to share your views…

Cheers,

Ray

PS: Please, whether you post pics, indicate briefly the camera/sensor size used and the lens specs (and its age if possible). And maybe 3 pics per post at max for a better flow, allowing Jimmy and Ron to feel even happier…

[gobs]

Ok, I start the game…

Industar N 61

One of the best bang for the bucks!

The soviet Industar N61 52mm f/2.8 M39 screw mount is really impressive for a cheap lens IMHO, if a fast lens is not mandatory.

It comes in many, many copies, ages and finishes. They were produced in hudge batches for general purpose photography, especially for soviet rangefinder cameras, and were very popular in Eastern Europe. It may be found on eBay for 500 Bahts from Russia or Ukraine. Add to this an M39 mount adapter for about 350 Bahts and you are set to begin to play with a legacy lens on your camera for less than 1000 Bahts. What is cheaper than that?

My copy is a zebra Fed N61 lens, end of 70s beginning 80s IIRC, and is quite performing for what it is. The build quality is rather poor, but soviet optics are usually great, though light variations in results may happen depending on the copy…

The Industar N61 on my MFT Olympus E-M5 camera:

Fits well the camera: not a big lens, and not heavy. But a bit clunky at use (mine at least): you don’t get the high-range feel for sure.

But be prepared to wow!

No post-editing through the following pics of course.

For example, a flower at f/4:

Notice the bubbles in the air!

Then a crop at 100% jpeg out of the camera:

Not so bad isn't it?

Some more to follow...

[gobs]

Industar N61

Continuation...

Portrait at f/2.8 (full open):

A bit soft, but nice skin rendition and good details. Nice OOF background.

Hands at work in a workshop at f/8:

Good atmosphere/light rendition and good details.

My dog Namcha at f/8:

Good pelage rendition. Notice the ear and the nose seem to come forward: a bit of a 3D effect.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, she's always serious like that. Can't make her smiling...

All in all, this Industar N61 gives pics with a good contrast in term of light and colors, a correct resolution and a nice global rendition.

Though not at par with modern lenses, the Industar N61 is a great lens to play with considering its price range.

Once you try it, you can’t leave it!

Well, IMHO...

[FracturedRabbit]

1960 Jupiter 11, 135mm F4.

P1000310 by Spike Tennyson, on Flickr

S1102196 by Spike Tennyson, on Flickr

S1082141 by Spike Tennyson, on Flickr

[FracturedRabbit]

Helios 103

P1150949 by Spike Tennyson, on Flickr

P1150957 by Spike Tennyson, on Flickr

P1150964 by Spike Tennyson, on Flickr

[FracturedRabbit]

Yashica 55mm Macro

P1240420 by Spike Tennyson, on Flickr

P1240780 by Spike Tennyson, on Flickr

P1070219-Edit by Spike Tennyson, on Flickr

[Goompa]

Ouch !

[gobs]

Yes: ouch!

Wonderful pics, FR!

Thanks to share...

[FracturedRabbit]

1957 50mm Jupiter 3 on E-M1

S4287147 by Spike Tennyson, on Flickr

S4287191-Edit by Spike Tennyson, on Flickr

S4287171-Edit by Spike Tennyson, on Flickr

[FracturedRabbit]

Industar 22 50mm

P1070751 by Spike Tennyson, on Flickr

P1140283-Edit-Edit by Spike Tennyson, on Flickr

Post-processed with Topaz effects

[FracturedRabbit]

The Industar 22 was a rip-off the Leica Elmar, seen here on my 1931 Leica 1:

P3140007 by Spike Tennyson, on Flickr

Just for fun, I put the Elmar on the E-M1 and set the JPEG processing to dramatic tone.

P7030076 by Spike Tennyson, on Flickr

P7030036 by Spike Tennyson, on Flickr

P7030031 by Spike Tennyson, on Flickr

[Assurancetourix]

Yashica 55mm Macro ; Whaouh !

Thank u FR

[FracturedRabbit]

Yashica 55mm Macro ; Whaouh !

Thank u FR

Yeah, it is a lovely lens and quite sort after. Fully manual of course and in the end I sold it and got the Olympus 60mm.

[gobs]

Great to see the capabilities of these "old" lenses, FR.

As well as your beautiful shots!

The pic of the monk is outstanding!

The framing and the OOF forth and back ground are stunning...

Edited July 20, 2016 by gobs

[Assurancetourix]

About these lenses, a french link

http://www.suaudeau.eu/memo/collection/Objectifs/obj_tel_inter.html

[FracturedRabbit]

The Elmar is very capable for a nearly 100 year old design. Here's a shot taken with the Leica 1:

Not the target market by Spike Tennyson, on Flickr

[gobs]

My Jupiter 11 is a bit different of yours design wise, FR: a bit bulkier.

135 mm f/4,1962, 39mm SLR screw mount (designed for Zenit SLR cameras).

Here on my camera:

Full open at f/4:

A crop of the above pic:

A really good performer, but I'm not at ease to use it handheld...

[rhythmworx]

Stop this filthy lens porn, dammit!

[gobs]

Yeah, what are doing the mods?

[samuijimmy]

Yeah, what are doing the mods?

Enjoying the great images!.... Very impressive

[rhythmworx]

Theres a good flickr link here that may be of interest it's titled "Old Lenses New Camera" lots of stuff on there I've never heard of, but I'm not an old hand in photography, but do like a bit of research.

Can't beat a bit of old skool manual focusing for some situations, it has its advantages over auto for stuff like street photography and macro IMO (unless you own an E-M1 with its macro stitching), focus already set before camera is at head level and BOOM, sometimes just hold the camera at solar plexus level and BOOM, hold it near your balls if you want.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/49576306@N08/albums/with/72157630517986146

[FracturedRabbit]

Interesting how different your Jupiter is to mine Gobs.

Mine is a Pentax/Kiev mount.

S1092190 by Spike Tennyson, on Flickr

The adapter was made by someone who took an old Kiev rangefinder, cut off the front of the camera and glued it to an M43 mount. It's all a bit wobbly, all the more surprising that it can spit out some nice images!

S1132362 by Spike Tennyson, on Flickr

S1132342 by Spike Tennyson, on Flickr

S1132318 by Spike Tennyson, on Flickr

S1132365a by Spike Tennyson, on Flickr

[FracturedRabbit]

Theres a good flickr link here that may be of interest it's titled "Old Lenses New Camera" lots of stuff on there I've never heard of, but I'm not an old hand in photography, but do like a bit of research.

Can't beat a bit of old skool manual focusing for some situations, it has its advantages over auto for stuff like street photography and macro IMO (unless you own an E-M1 with its macro stitching), focus already set before camera is at head level and BOOM, sometimes just hold the camera at solar plexus level and BOOM, hold it near your balls if you want.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/49576306@N08/albums/with/72157630517986146

I tried your genital positioning suggestion, but couldn't spot any difference in the images......

[rhythmworx]

Interesting how different your Jupiter is to mine Gobs.

Mine is a Pentax/Kiev mount.

Your version was made for rangefinders V's gobs version which was made for SLR according to this site

http://allphotolenses.com/lenses/item/c_385.html#prettyPhoto

http://allphotolenses.com/lenses/item/c_912.html#prettyPhoto

[gobs]

Yes, RW, that's the difference...

Mine is for Zenit soviet SLRs.

Here is a soviet Zenit 3M SLR film camera with its Jupiter 11 and Helios 44:

A nice little piece of iron, but not for a daily use IMHO. I must confess I tried the camera only one time: it works, but not the ease and pleasure of a german or japanese camera...

[FracturedRabbit]

The 1950 Kiev is part German, part Russian. An interesting history if you are into that sort of thing: http://www.pattayadays.com/1950-kiev-2-rangefinder/

[rhythmworx]

Some more history you might be interested in here http://www.zeisshistorica.org/sample.html

[FracturedRabbit]

Some more history you might be interested in here http://www.zeisshistorica.org/sample.html

Thanks.

I have a 1950 Zorki 3K on the Kiev, which was a copy of the Sonnar 50mm; even using Zeiss glass for the first few years. Sadly, although collectible, it is not very good optically.

[gobs]

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I’ve got some time to play with some of my “vintage” lenses.

Nothing serious or scientific here, but as I know them only through B&W film photography, I was curious to get their “feelings” rendered through a color digital body (my Oly OMD E-M5, a MFT camera).

A tripod, different adapters and the camera set to fixed settings where put in front of a “home made” target arranged in a bright but diffused light area.

I managed to fullfill the screen frame width with my target, so I moved forward/backward the camera depending on focal lenghts. Raw images were recorded and changed to jpeg on my PC with no post editing at all. I shoot once wide open and once at f/8 for all the lenses, so at their –supposed- worst and best apertures…

As well I shoot the same target with my Zuiko 12-50 kit zoom lens to get an idea of how it compares…

Here is my target as I could see it on the screen for each lens:

 

 

In the following posts I’ll only show a crop at 100% from RAW to jpeg in the center area of the target, lens full open and then lens closed at f/8, followed by a casual pic with the said lens when one available and maybe some personnal comments…

Ok? So let's go!

[gobs]

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Asahi Pentax SMC M 28mm f/2.8

 

At f/2.8:

 

At f/8:

I am surprised with the "cold" feeling when lens is full open. Near a blue/purple fringing on all my pics with all lenses full open. In real life, nothing appears...

If someone has some knowledge about this phenomenon, I'll greatly appreciate...

 

Casual pic at f/2.8:

 

A very good all around lens, “near” normal for MFT format, easy to manually focus. A bit slow though through modern standards.

DOF is hudge, so it’s easy to use with a digital body as a street photography lens for example. On 135 film (equ. FF) at f/8 the focus is right from 1.50 meter to infinity…

 

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