Lens Bubbles: A M 5 inch f4

Showing posts with label A M 5 inch f4. Show all posts

Friday, May 30, 2014

Air Ministry 5 Inch f4 Shoots Distillery District

One of the nice things about working downtown Toronto is that there are lots of interesting places within a few minutes of biking. The Distillery District is one of the more interesting places, which I visit once in a while. I rode my bike there this afternoon during lunch time and had lots of fun shooting with one of my favourite lenses: Air Ministry 5 Inch f4 on the Sony A7. This lens was used on the 5D Mark II a couple of times, but it was such a hassle focusing through the optical viewfinder, and the Live-View wasn't as easy to use as mirrorless cameras so I gave up on the 5D II.

The lens works great on the Sony A7. I simply adore how it renders the pictures. Amazing for a lens that's more than half a century old and without coating on the glass. The pictures look smooth as silk and none of the harshness of most modern lenses. The bokeh is simply delicious and pleasing.

If you find one cheap, take it and you won't regret it.

All pictures below were shot using the Sony A7 and A.M 5 Inch f4:

Monday, September 9, 2013

Lenses That Make You Feel Like You Are In Love

Some lenses sometimes make you feel like a teenagr in love; you think about them all the time, even when shooting with other lenses. I used to feel like that with Canon EF 85mm f1.2L, and the EF 200mm f1.8L. These two are exceptionally good lenses so it's understandable. Lately, the A.M 5 inch f4, an old British lens, reportedly made by Ross London, and same lens as the Ross Xpress 5 inch f4, kept nagging me at the back of my mind. I really adore the bokeh of this cheap but fabulous uncoated lens. I used this lens a few times on the NEX-6 with nice results, but it's slightly too long on crop sensor. I mounted it on the Canon 5D Mark II full frame, which produces equally nice results, except that focusing was a pain through the optical viewfinder without a split screen.

So yes, you can love a lens that is not expensive and looks ugly. After all, beauty is only skin deep, no? In fact, it makes you feel so much better knowing you didn't pay an arm and a leg for it.

All pictures below were taken with Canon 5D II & A.M [Ross Xpress] 5 inch f4.

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Air Ministry [Ross Xpress] 5 Inch f4 Lens - Sample Photos

Today was my vacation day before I start working at the new job tomorrow. So I spent some time and got the Air Ministry (Ross Xpress) 5 Inch f4 mounted on the helicoid and the 5D Mark II. Since the focal length is long at about 120mm, there is no trouble using it on the full frame camera like the Canon 5D Mark II. The rear mount of the lens is just slightly smaller than 55mm, and I was able to JB-Weld the 55mm filter ring to the rear and then mounted it on the helicoid. Very easy to do.

Despite slight haze inside the lens, I didn't have the hazy problem I thought I would, thanks to the very long and effective lens hood I used, which measured at 11cm, almost as long as the focal length of the lens. Like many old classic lenses, this one does not have high contrast at larger apertures, but is very sharp at full aperture. It's definitely usable at f4. I am quite taken by the nice rendering of the pictures, but what makes this lens special is the history behind it.

Lenses like this one were used for aerial reconnaissance in World War II by the British Air Force (Air Ministry). Just imagine for a moment, that this very lens might have been used to photography the enemy and provided intel for the allies, and is very likely part of the significant history as we know it. On the other hand, what history does your auto focus lens have? Not much, I think.