NIFTY-FIFTY : CARL ZEISS JENA TESSAR 50MM F2.8

 

NIFTY FIFTY : NIKON NIKKOR 50MM F1.4

 

MY NIFTY FIFTY

 The benefit of having a lens with a short focusing distance is well iluustrated here. I put 4 lenses side by side to capture the image of a Leica M Summicron 50 2.0 lens at each lens's minimum focusing distance.

I pit together the following lenses:

- a Nikon Nikkor 50mm f1.4 with a minimum focus distance of 0.45m

- a Canon FD 50mm f1.8 with a minimum focus distance of 0.60m

- a Asaha Super Takumar 55mm f1.8 with minimum fovus distance of 0.45m

- a Carl Zeis Jena Tessar 50mm f2.8 with minimum focus distance 0.35m

You may want to disregard image sharpness here and pay attention to subject image size achieved at minimum focus distance and bokeh.

Relative position of subject vs background appears similar, however the background bokeh achieved with a the f2.8 lens almost lies between f1.8 and f1.4 despite the larger minimum aperture.

The relative size of the subject is also biggest with the lens with the smallest minimum fovus (a given since image capture was at each individual lens's minimum fovus distance). Canon FD with minimum fovus distance of 60cm has a smallest relative subject size with more of the background included giving it a larger apparent perspective angle even if they are all 50mm lens.

Shot by Takumar 55mm f1.8 at minimum focus distance (0.45m)

Shot by Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 50mm f2.8 at minimum focus distance (0.35m)

Shot with FD 50mm f1.8 at minimum focus distance (0.60m)

Shot with Nikkor 50mm f1.4 at minimum focus distance (0.45m)

100% crop Nikkor 50mm

100% crop FD 50mm

FD 50mm

100% crop Tessar 50mm

100% Takumar 55mm

MY 135MM PENTAX/TAKUMAR VINTAGE SET

I'm not quite sure now how I actually started on this path. I think I initially stumbled on a youtube video of cinematographers re-purposing vintage lenses for use with their cine cameras due high cost of actual cine lenses. 

From there I found a cinematographer actually acuiring and testing these lenses. And then I went to find zenography youtube channel which review these 60 year old vintage lenses for photography and bokeh.

So along the way I rediscovered ebay and throughout 4 weeks acquired these superb Asahi Pentax SMC and Takumar lenses: 

1. Asahi Pentax SMC Takumar 135mm f2.5 M42

2. Asahi Pentax Super Takumar 135mm f3.5 M42

3. Asahi Pentax SMC Takumar 135mm f3.5 M42 2nd unit

4. SMC Pentax 135mm f2.5 K 1st unit

5. SMC Pentax 135mm f2.5 K 2nd unit

6. SMC Pentax 135mm f3.5 K 

7. Asahi Pentax SMC Takumar 55mm f1.8 M42

8. Asahi Pentax SMC Takumar 28mm f3.5 M42

Asahi Pentax SMC and Takumar in one box, not pictured here is the 28mm. Also there's a Jupiter 37A on the bottom far right.

 Along the way I picked up a Konica Hexanon, Carl Zeis Jena Sonnar+Tessar, Olympus Zuiko as well as a Nikkor AI and Vivitar AI.

The old SMC Pentax and Takumars are a joy to use openwide, and I have been making 4k25p as well as 1080p50 youtube videos capturing autumn from my front porch. The bokeh produced is amazingly beautiful and the focus tack sharp. Hamdling if old skool via manual focusing but they are all smooth like butter. 

I hope to be making more videos with these old vintage lenses, I think I have all I  need (and then some) as far as lenses are concerned to be able to do so productively.

AUTUMN'S LAST LEGS AT TENGESDAL LAKE CARL ZEISS JENA TESSAR 50MM F2.8

 

AUTUMN BY THE FRONT DOOR WITH CARL ZEISS JENA TESSAR 50MM F2.8

 

HEXANON 135MM F3.2, SUPER TAKUMAR 55MM F1.8 AND CARL ZEISS JENA SONNAR 135MM F3.5

With all the lenses in my collection including recent Sep 2021 acquisitions, there'll be plenty of time required to get familiar with the capabilities of each lens. For now after the test sessions with each of the 135mm lenses, I'm confident of each of their bokeh delivery.

Bokehs are by default are the main draw of these vintage 135mm, they all deliver when shot wide open. Some of them have earned their place in the Bokeh Monsters hall of fame. What surprises me most is probably the inherent sharpness of these lenses even when shot wide open.

It is a given that by virtue of these lenses being vintage lenses most of which are from the late 60s and 70s, they are all metal build and carry a bit of heft. The smoothness of their focusing and aperture rings is such a pleasure to use.

A short minimum focusing distance is another desirable quality of these lenses. Most of the 135mm focus to a minimum of 1.5m. Konica Hexanon 135mm and Carl Zeis Jena Sonnar 135mm focus to a minimum of 1.0m. At minimum focus, smoothness of out of focus background is much increased producing buttery smooth offs and bokehs.  

Konica Hexanon 135mm f3.2 at f3.2

100% crop

Super Takumar 55mm f1.8 at f1.8

100% crop

Carl Zeiss Jena Sonnar 135mm f3.5 at f3.5

100% crop

Konica Hexanon 135mm

Super Takumar 55mm

Carl Zeiss Jena S 135mm

Asahi Super Takumar 55mm f1.8 with a minimum focus distance of 45cm.

VINTAGE 135MM LINE-UP

 As of October 2021, the following are the line of 135mm lenses I have accumulated over the years:

1. Asahi Pentax SMC Takumar 135mm f2.5 M42 
2. Asahi Pentax Super Takumar 135mm f3.5 M42 
3. Asahi Pentax SMC Takumar 135mm f3.5 M42 2nd unit
4. SMC Pentax 135mm f2.5 K 1st unit EXC+++
5. SMC Pentax 135mm f2.5 K 2nd unit MINT
6. SMC Pentax 135mm f3.5 K 
7. Nikon Nikkor AI 135mm f3.5 AI 
8. Nikon Nikkor Nippon Kogaku Auto 135mm f3.5 AI  acquired 20 years ago
9. Nikon Nikkor Nippon Kogaku Auto 135mm f2.8 AI  acquitred 20 years ago
10. Vivitar 135mm f3.5 AI 
11. Leica Elmarit 135mm f2.8 R acquired 20 years ago
12. Olympus Zuiko Auto-T 135mm f3.5 OM 
13. Pentacon Electric MC 135mm f2.8 M42 
14. Pentacon Meyer Orestor 135mm f2.8 M42 
15. Carl Zeiss Jena Multicoated S 135mm f3.5 M42 
16. Carl Zeiss Jena Multicoated S 135mm f3.5 M42 2nd unit
17. Konica Hexanon 135mm f3.2 A/R
18. Jupiter 37A 135mm f3.5 M42 y

Takumar 135mm f2.5

Olympus 135mm f3.5

Car Zeiss Jena MC S 135mm f3.5

Jupiter 37A 135mm f3.5

All 135mm except for the Hexanon 135mm f3.2 and Takumar 135mm f3.5

All 35mm standing in attentiion

SMC Pentax 135mm f2.5