Apollo 135mm f1.8 Sample Picture

Got this lens last week as part of my addiction fix.  Strangely, it come with a M42 to c-mount adapter, and a c-mount 2x teleconverter.  The original mount is M42, and unlike others, this seems to be a native M42 mount, not a YS mount with M42 adapter on it.  Lens itself is in very good shape.  Very clean.  Briefly tested the c-mount 2x teleconverter and it was absolutely horrible.  I don't know how anyone can use that piece of junk on their camera.

It's difficult to focus at f1.8 with a 135mm focal length, even with a viewfinder and enlarged view.  The image quality seems disappointing, especially wide open, judging by my first few shots.  Contrast is low, the edges just glows green in highlights.  Of course this is not conclusive, as I have only used it for a handful of shots.  I also need to get a hood for this thing, but the 82mm filter thread proved to be a challenge for hoods.  I can't find one from a full tub of hoods that I have, and 77mm is the largest I have got.  Will test again later this week.

Dillon -- NEX-5N & Apollo 135mm f1.8. click for larger.

Wollensak Raptar 2 inch (50mm) f1.5 C-Mount Cine Lens - First Impression

It has been a while since I bought any c-mount lenses, mostly because I am using the NEX-5N more than the Panasonic G1, and most c-mount lenses have an imaging circle too small for the NEX, but many c-mount lenses have a focal length 50mm or greater tend to have larger image circles and are OK to use on the NEX.  The reason I bought the Wollensak 50mm f1.5, is because I don't really have many c-mount lenses in this focal length.  The only ones I have, is the Kodak Anastigmat 50mm f1.6, JML 50mm f0.95 (converted to NEX E-Mount).  The Kodak is a bit too weird with the radical swirling backgrounds, and the JML is very large and heavy.  The Wollensak 50mm f1.5 is kind of the Goldilocks of the 50mm c-mount lens: It's (almost) just right.

Without Hoods. Wollensak 50mm f1.5 on left, Kodak 50mm f1.6 on right. Click for larger.

I take back what I said about the weight of the Kodak 50mm f1.6 in my last post.  These two lenses weigh about the same, even though the Kodak is larger.  Strangely, the focusing and aperture rings are reversed on these two lenses.  On the Wollensak, like most c-mount lenses, the focusing ring is behind the aperture ring, but is reversed on the Kodak.  Notice the little knob on the Kodak, pulling it and then rotate the focusing ring will enable the close focusing (pseudo macro) feature.  I really like this when I need close ups. 

The lens does not vignette this bad. I added vignetting in post processing - NEX-5N & Wollensak 50mm f1.5. Click for larger.

The Wollensak 50mm f1.5 is a beautifully made lens.  It feels dense and is wonderful to hold in your hand.  It's lenses made like this that make so many become addicted to their lenses.  If you compare lenses made today and this lens, you will understand why.  In actual use, it's a joy too.  Very smooth focusing and aperture ring is very smooth and precise.

In my experience, most c-mount cine lenses are very sharp wide open.  It may have something to do with special glass they used.  This Wollensak is no exception. Very usable at f1.5.  It's already very sharp at f2. I am very happy to learn that the image circle is larger on this lens.  At close focusing range, you don't see much vignetting, but at infinity, you can see visible darker corners.  Not heavy, but visible.  On the Panasonic G1, there is no vignetting at all, even at infinity focus.  The 2x crop of the M4/3 sensor masks most of the bad corners of this lens, but it also loses some of the characteristics of this lens.

Bokeh - NEX-5N & Wollensak Raptar 50mm f1.5. Click for larger.

The only thing I miss, compared to the Kodak, is the close focusing capabilities.  This lens focuses to about 2 inches feet, or 0.5m, which is normal for this focal length. But, we can't always have everything, no?  I really like this lens on the NEX-5N.  I can't wait to shoot this lens more, and with different subjects.

Bokeh #2 - NEX-5N & Wollensak Raptar 50mm f1.5. Click for larger.

G.A.S Attack

Last week, I had a bad case of Gear Acquisition Syndrom (G.A.S).  Spent hundreds of dollars ordering a total of six lenses.  So far, I have received the Apollo 135mm f1.8, a monstrous sized (for a 135mm focal length) lens that's 1/3 of a stop faster than the famous Canon 135mm f2L, but is there more than just super fast speed?  We shall look at that in a  later post.  Also received, and I was very anxious to try out, is the Wollensak 50mm f1.5 and to a lesser degree, the Elgeet 102mm (4 inch) f2.7, both are c-mount lenses.  Unfortunately, the Elgeet is D.O.A (Dead On Arrival).  The focus ring is completely seized, and it has quite a  few clean marks inside/outside the lens optics, but it's cosmetically in very good shape.  Right now, don't know what to do with it yet.  It would cost more than the lens itself to ship it back.

The Wollensak 2 inch (50mm) f1.5 is such a gorgeous lens in typical chrome finish as many c-mount cine lenses are. It's a very hefty lens, which is much heavier than the Kodak 50mm f1.6 that I also love.  Both the aperture and focusing rings work, thankfully.  I couldn't wait so as soon as I got the package, I put it on my NEX-5N and snapped a few pictures.  First thing I noticed was that flare will be a huge problem (like most c-mount cine lenses).  Secondly, it's as sharp as the Kodak 50mm f1.6, but has a much larger imaging circle.  There is visible vignetting, but the corners are much better than the Kodak. Consequently, the larger image circle makes the swirling effect less visible than the Kodak.

I have a feeling I will be using this lens quite a bit for the next little while.

Mannequin on Younge & Gerrard - NEX-5N & Wollensak 50mm f1.5 @ f1.5. Click for larger.

 

Creamy Delicious Bokeh - NEX-5N & Wollensak 50mm f1.5 @ f1.5. Click for larger.

Schneider-Kreuznach Xenon 50mm f1.9 DKL - Set #2

Here is another set of pictures taken with the Schneider-Kreuznach Xenon 50mm f1.9 lens.  I am enamored of this beautiful lens.  It has the good looks and delivers the picture quality.  A gem among DKL mount lenses.

Lady with red hair - NEX-5N & Schneider-Kreuznach Xenon 50mm f1.9 DKL. Click for larger.

Street Crossing - NEX-5N & Schneider-Kreuznach Xenon 50mm f1.9 DKL. 

Smoke break - NEX-5N & Schneider-Kreuznach Xenon 50mm f1.9 DKL. 

Flowers - NEX-5N & Schneider-Kreuznach Xenon 50mm f1.9 DKL.

Bicycle Posts in Toronto

Bicycle posts in Toronto has been slowly increasing in number as more people are riding their bikes.  You can see them practically everywhere in public places.  For decades, they remained unchanged, like the one below.  A ring bolted to a post.  It's functional, if not boring.  Last year, a project was started to create more interesting bike posts, mostly designed by students.  Unfortunately, there aren't that many of them and most of bike posts are still the same old.

Bicycle Posts near Bellevue Square Park - NEX-5N & Canon FD 85mm f1.8 @ f1.8. Click for larger.

Yet Another Sony NEX Camera, But No New Lenses

Once again, the rumor is spot on regarding the Sony NEX-5R.  Another EVIL camera from Sony, but where are the lenses!?!  This I do not understand.  Sony churns out cameras like clockwork, and yet they are not able to produce more decent lenses for the NEX.  The E-50mm f1.8 is a very nice lens and is in right direction, with stabilization and a fair price.  The Zeiss 24mm f1.8 is nice, but priced for the select few, not the masses.  We need more lenses like 35mm f1.8 (which is coming), redesigned 16mm f2.8, 20mm f2/f2.8, 28mm f2 and 85mm f1.8.  All these lenses should also work on the future Full Frame NEX.

Come on Sony, your NEX customers have waited long enough.  We deserve some good but reasonably priced glass.

NEX-5N & Pentacon 29mm f2.8 @ f2.8. Click for larger.

Schneider-Kreuznach Xenon 50mm f1.9 DKL - Bokeh Samples

The Schneider-Kreuznach Xenon 50mm f1.9 is by far my favourite DKL mount lenses, and I am sure for a lot of people who own this lens as well.  It's such a beautiful lens to hold and behold, not to mention the fabulous optical performance.  Went out with it today and shot some pictures to show the bokeh of this lens, for those who may want to know.

Bokeh #1 - NEX-5N & Schneider-Kreuznach Xenon 50mm f1.9 DKL. Click for larger.

Bokeh #2 - NEX-5N & Schneider-Kreuznach Xenon 50mm f1.9 DKL. Click for larger.

Bokeh #3 - NEX-5N & Schneider-Kreuznach Xenon 50mm f1.9 DKL. Click for larger.

Pentacon 100mm f2.8 Sample Picture

When I bought this lens at the camera show, I saw no action on the aperture, so I assumed the blades were stuck.  Later I disassembled the lens and found that there were no blades inside!  There are also some haze inside the elements, but for $20, I thought I would give it a shot and perhaps it can be cleaned/repaired.  But, without aperture blades, there isn't much can be done unless I can find the missing parts.

This lens should be the same lens as the Meyer-Optik Trioplan 100mm f2.8.

Anyways, took some shots with it today and sure enough, most of the pictures came out hazy, especially those shot against strong lights.  But, some level/contrast adjustments brings back some usable pictures.  But I guess I will be stuck with shooting at open apertures for a while.  Even at f2.8, the lens is very usable and quite sharp.  But the lens can not see any side light or strong lights, or it will become hazy.  I think a functional and clean version of this lens would be quite a nice lens to shoot with.

Crab Apples - Sony NEX-5N & Pentacon 100mm f2.8 M42 Mount

Shooting Wide Open with Carsen-Polaris 85mm f1.7

A while ago, I got a few lenses from the photo show with stuck apertures, and one (Pentacon 100mm f2.8) without aperture blades!  Naturally, these lenses are much cheaper and I was hoping to either find a place to fix them inexpensively or do it myself.  Well, there is always a question of time.  I haven't gotten any of them fixed, but decided to shoot with them anyway, wide open.  Today we have the Carsen-Polaris 85mm f1.7 in YS mount.

The YS mount looks almost identical to M42 mount, except the thread size.  It's 42mm x 0.75 whereas M42 is 42mm x 1.00.  For a few minutes I was puzzled by why it wouldn't be screwed in all the way, and then realized it's YS mount.  Luckily I have a bunch of YS mount adapters, so I used the YS-MD mount and shot with it for a couple of times.

This Carsen-Polaris lens was a house brand.  Like many retailers of the 70s and 80s, they put their name on some OEM lenses and sold them as their own.  Other similar house brands are JCPenny, Sears, and Spiratone.  I have no idea who made these lenses, but for some reason, it reminds me of the Minolta Rokkor 85mm f1.7, probably because they both have same maximum aperture, and are very well made.

In terms of optical quality, I can only judge for its wide open performance, and I must say it's not bad at all.  Not exceptionally sharp, like the Canon 85mm f1.2L, but it does render pictures very nicely, and as a portrait lens, bokeh is quite sweet.  Like most older lenses, purple and green flinging is quite bad, and flare control is not very good either.  This lens does not seem to have multi-coating.  I really would like to see how it performs slightly stopped down, but that has to wait until the aperture is fixed.

Pink Flower - NEX-5N & Carsen-Polaris 85mm f1.7. Click for larger.

Wall-E's Evil Twin? - NEX-5N & Carsen-Polaris 85mm f1.7. Click for larger.

Purple Flower - NEX-5N & Carsen-Polaris 85mm f1.7. Click for larger.

Young Sun Flower - NEX-5N & Carsen-Polaris 85mm f1.7. Click for larger.

Afternoon Reading - NEX-5N & Carsen-Polaris 85mm f1.7. Click for larger.

Shades of Gray

Dark Clouds over Port of Toronto - NEX-5N & Olympus OM 35mm f2. Click for larger.

All my pictures are shot in RAW, and naturally, in colour, but I also love black and white (technically, gray). With certain subjects, the elimination of colours seems to add more impact and power.  Unfortunately for me, I am not very good at converting colour to black & white, so most of my black and white pictures are converted with pre-sets in Lightroom or filters in Photoshop with some slight tweaks.