Tag Archives: bokeh

Accessories, Accessory, lenses, Manual Photographers, Manual Photographers series, Zeiss

Projector Lenses – Reviving the Joy of Old Petzval Lenses (Guest Article)

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Introduction

Martin recently reviewed Lomo’s replica of a Petzval lens. I commented, perhaps slightly snidely, that vintage Petzval lenses are still around, often for less money, and often with better centre sharpness – and certainly with a vast choice of models and thus rendition nuances.

Martin suggested I share my knowledge in an article. And like an inverse Spice Girl, one became two. This one seeks to introduce you to the weird magic of Petzval lenses and their widespread availability from old cinema film projectors. The next will look at adapting them, and indeed any old projection lens, to a modern-day camera.

So here we go, I guess.

All pictures were taken on full-frame evils: a Sony a7r2 and an a7cr. Some were cropped; all were adjusted for proper blacks and whites according to ancient darkroom principles. None had additional sharpening or aberration correction applied.

Sample Images

Meyer  Görlitz Kinon Superior 50/2.2.
Meopta Meostigmat 50/1.3, 617-inspired 1:3 crop out of 3:2 full frame image.
Meyer  Görlitz Kinon Superior  50/1.6 – A characteristic of Petzval lenses is the swirly bokeh, which also results in lentilesque distortion of highlights (some call it cat’s eyes; you’d need a pretty deformed cat to see that analogy).
Meopta 50/1.3
The Meyers date from the 1930s! This 50/1.6 cost someone 6 pound sterling in 1938, according to an old advert.

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Review, Sony Alpha, Sony E-mount, Uncategorized

Review: Sony FE 135mm F1.8 GM

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The Sony 1.8/135 GM is a highly anticipated lens that has been rumored for some time. Being a GM lens, it is part of a line which includes some of my favorite lenses like the Sony FE 1.4/24 GM and the Sony FE 1.4/85 GM. My expectations are as high as its price – can it live up to that?

Sample Images

Sony A7iii | Sony FE 1.8/135 GM | f1.8 | full size
Sony A7iii | Sony FE 1.8/135 GM | f1.8 | full size
Sony A7iii | Sony FE 1.8/135 GM | f1.8 | full size

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lenses, Review, Sony E-mount

Sony FE Standard Zoom Shootout – Sony 2.8/24-70 GM vs. Sony 4/24-105 G OSS vs. Tamron 2.8/28-75 Di III RXD – Part 2: Macro capabilities

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Sony A7iii | Tamron 2.8/28-75 | 70mm | f2.8

After analyzing the infinity sharpness of the candidates in Part 1 of this series, we are looking at the opposite direction of the focus ring. For a versatile do-it-all standard zoom lens, the macro capability is an important factor of the overall performance. Details in documentation-, wedding-, product-, nature- or food photography are typical applications for a standard zoom as a pseudo-macro. In photographic history, the macro feature of zoom lenses was often a shameful marketing trick without any serious usefulness. Let’s check out the performance of the of the Sony FE 2.8/24-70 GM, Tamron 2.8/28-75 Di III RXD and the Sony FE 4/24-105 G OSS.

Continue reading Sony FE Standard Zoom Shootout – Sony 2.8/24-70 GM vs. Sony 4/24-105 G OSS vs. Tamron 2.8/28-75 Di III RXD – Part 2: Macro capabilities →

Comparison, lenses, Review, Sony E-mount

Sony FE 1.8/85 vs. Sony FE 1.4/85 GM – The Big Shootout

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This is the long promised Sony FE 1.8/85 vs. Sony FE 1.4/85 GM shootout. This article should clarify what the  differences between these lenses are. Even the physical appearance sets both lenses apart. Does the FE 1.4/85 GM also punch in a higher class optically, or just in terms of size and weight? Let’s find it out.

This is a classic shootout article. For sample images and further informations, check out the dedicated lens reviews of the Sony FE 1.8/85 and the Sony FE 1.4/85 GM (coming soon).

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