Makro-Kilar 90mm Porn

Yaro · 08-23-2010, 10:58 PM

I managed to snag this lens on Ebay for a ridiculously low price.

And It is my new favorite MF lens.

I am in love.

Does anyone else have one of these? Is it a much treasured beauty or am I just blinded by love?

Attached Images

hangu · 08-23-2010, 11:09 PM

Congratulations, I love my Kilfitts. That's a very nice lens and the big brother to the Makro Kilar 40mm. It should reach 1:1 magnification without the use of extension tubes, a rare feat among lenses made more than 50 years ago. It's not terribly sharp but that's to be expected with the non existent or single layer coating. The rendering is definitely unique so you should keep it for that. I'm looking forward to more sample pics from that lens. It also gives off a nice warm cast to every image.

It was designed and manufactured in the tiny principality of Lichtenstein. Kilfitts made several very nice lenses in its day. I think the king/prince of Lichtenstein was an avid photographer or collector of photography equipment and encouraged the growth of the industry in his principality.

The going price for one here should be about $400-500 USD for an m42 copy. It also happens to be the most phallic looking lens I know of.

**samski_1** · 08-23-2010, 11:35 PM

That is one ugly lens! Gotta get me one of those.

Pentaxor · 08-23-2010, 11:40 PM

that's a weird looking lens. need to see more images coming from it. it looks like a preset 16-bladed lens.

Yaro · 08-24-2010, 01:24 AM

I had a bit of time just then to go out and take some test pics. It had just rained and was getting dark so I shot all these at f2.8. While it is soft wide open, it definately has character. I'll take some stopped down images tomorrow and post them here too.

Edit; also all of these were shot handheld, and the full extension macros at 1/45 or 1/60.

Pentaxor · 08-24-2010, 01:44 AM

hmmmm...it does indeed look different and not your typical macro lens. IMO, it looks more like a portrait lens. will have to see how it renders at stop down.

hangu · 08-24-2010, 08:15 AM

This is one of those lenses that will utterly fail resolution tests. Its perceived resolution is far beyond its actual resolution. It reminds me quite a bit of Angenieux lenses. It's not nearly as sharp compared to a relatively newer Panagor/Vivitar/Tokina/Komine/Kiron/Pentax macro lens. So there's no point in judging it by sharpness.

Its strength is in its unique rendering and the fact that hell, it's 50-60 years old and it goes to 1:1. There are much better macro lenses if you judge lenses by sharpness/color/contrast/flare resistance. This is certainly near the bottom of the bunch but if you're a collector, it's a pretty kickass lens to have, as it's very unique. Its rendering is even yellower than I had remembered....

If anyone wants to pick this one up. Good luck. You'll be hard pressed to find the 90mm version. The 40mm version is a bit easier and comes in two flavors, D and E. I think E only goes to half magnification and D goes to 1:1. Expect to spend ~$350 for one in good condition. I've never seen a 90mm go up for auction so I can only guess at its price being ~$400-500.

RioRico · 08-24-2010, 08:48 AM

Originally posted by hangu

This is one of those lenses that will utterly fail resolution tests... Its strength is in its unique rendering...

To cite an old song:

She's ugly, but she sure can cook!

There are cheaper ways to get oddly-rendered macro and general shots. Get an old MF lens (like from a cheap box camera or folder) or a round magnifier or eyeglass meniscus or something of that order, uncorrected, and stick it on bellows. For better resolution, cannibalize a better folder.

FotoPete · 08-24-2010, 08:48 AM

reminds me of the komine series Vivitar macros with their really prominent extensions on both sides of the focus ring haha

axl · 08-24-2010, 09:31 AM

I have to say that's probably the ugliest lens I've seen.
But with that number of aperture blades, it may have great potential to be very interesting indeed.
congrats!

Nick Siebers · 08-24-2010, 08:09 PM

THe shots of it extending had me laughing. Lens porn indeed!

Laurentiu Cristofor · 08-25-2010, 01:17 AM

Originally posted by hangu

It was designed and manufactured in the tiny principality of Lichtenstein.

Based on the Munchen inscription on the front, I think this one was made later after the company relocated to Germany. I found a history page with more info here. Looks like a great find - I never heard of this company before.

Blue · 08-25-2010, 06:36 AM

Originally posted by axl

I have to say that's probably the ugliest lens I've seen.
But with that number of aperture blades, it may have great potential to be very interesting indeed.
congrats!

I don't think its a bad looking lens compared to some others from that era or some from the 90s for that matter. It may be ostentatious.

Pentaxor · 08-25-2010, 07:23 AM

having to look at the pics of the lens again, it reminds me of something private?

Yaro · 08-26-2010, 07:15 AM

So I made some test shots. I think at wide apertures it's only good as a portrait lens.
Fullsize:
http://img838.imageshack.us/img838/9892/makrokilarapertures.jpg

08-23-2010, 10:58 PM	#1
Yaro Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Tasmania Photos: Gallery Posts: 101	Makro-Kilar 90mm Porn I managed to snag this lens on Ebay for a ridiculously low price. And It is my new favorite MF lens. I am in love. Does anyone else have one of these? Is it a much treasured beauty or am I just blinded by love? Attached Images

08-24-2010, 01:24 AM	#5
Yaro Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Tasmania Photos: Gallery Posts: 101 Original Poster	I had a bit of time just then to go out and take some test pics. It had just rained and was getting dark so I shot all these at f2.8. While it is soft wide open, it definately has character. I'll take some stopped down images tomorrow and post them here too. Edit; also all of these were shot handheld, and the full extension macros at 1/45 or 1/60. Attached Images

08-26-2010, 07:15 AM	#15
Yaro Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Tasmania Photos: Gallery Posts: 101 Original Poster	So I made some test shots. I think at wide apertures it's only good as a portrait lens. Fullsize: http://img838.imageshack.us/img838/9892/makrokilarapertures.jpg Attached Images

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08-23-2010, 11:09 PM	#2
hangu Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: NYC Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,071	Congratulations, I love my Kilfitts. That's a very nice lens and the big brother to the Makro Kilar 40mm. It should reach 1:1 magnification without the use of extension tubes, a rare feat among lenses made more than 50 years ago. It's not terribly sharp but that's to be expected with the non existent or single layer coating. The rendering is definitely unique so you should keep it for that. I'm looking forward to more sample pics from that lens. It also gives off a nice warm cast to every image. It was designed and manufactured in the tiny principality of Lichtenstein. Kilfitts made several very nice lenses in its day. I think the king/prince of Lichtenstein was an avid photographer or collector of photography equipment and encouraged the growth of the industry in his principality. The going price for one here should be about $400-500 USD for an m42 copy. It also happens to be the most phallic looking lens I know of.

08-23-2010, 11:35 PM	#3
samski_1 Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Tasmania Photos: Albums Posts: 349	That is one ugly lens! Gotta get me one of those.

08-23-2010, 11:40 PM	#4
Pentaxor Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,513	that's a weird looking lens. need to see more images coming from it. it looks like a preset 16-bladed lens.

08-24-2010, 01:44 AM	#6
Pentaxor Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,513	hmmmm...it does indeed look different and not your typical macro lens. IMO, it looks more like a portrait lens. will have to see how it renders at stop down.

08-24-2010, 08:15 AM	#7
hangu Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: NYC Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,071	This is one of those lenses that will utterly fail resolution tests. Its perceived resolution is far beyond its actual resolution. It reminds me quite a bit of Angenieux lenses. It's not nearly as sharp compared to a relatively newer Panagor/Vivitar/Tokina/Komine/Kiron/Pentax macro lens. So there's no point in judging it by sharpness. Its strength is in its unique rendering and the fact that hell, it's 50-60 years old and it goes to 1:1. There are much better macro lenses if you judge lenses by sharpness/color/contrast/flare resistance. This is certainly near the bottom of the bunch but if you're a collector, it's a pretty kickass lens to have, as it's very unique. Its rendering is even yellower than I had remembered.... If anyone wants to pick this one up. Good luck. You'll be hard pressed to find the 90mm version. The 40mm version is a bit easier and comes in two flavors, D and E. I think E only goes to half magnification and D goes to 1:1. Expect to spend ~$350 for one in good condition. I've never seen a 90mm go up for auction so I can only guess at its price being ~$400-500.

08-24-2010, 08:48 AM	#8
RioRico Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Limbo, California Posts: 11,263	Originally posted by hangu This is one of those lenses that will utterly fail resolution tests... Its strength is in its unique rendering... To cite an old song: She's ugly, but she sure can cook! There are cheaper ways to get oddly-rendered macro and general shots. Get an old MF lens (like from a cheap box camera or folder) or a round magnifier or eyeglass meniscus or something of that order, uncorrected, and stick it on bellows. For better resolution, cannibalize a better folder.

08-24-2010, 08:48 AM	#9
FotoPete Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,774	reminds me of the komine series Vivitar macros with their really prominent extensions on both sides of the focus ring haha

08-24-2010, 09:31 AM	#10
axl Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Nove Zamky, Slovakia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,183	I have to say that's probably the ugliest lens I've seen. But with that number of aperture blades, it may have great potential to be very interesting indeed. congrats!

08-24-2010, 08:09 PM	#11
Nick Siebers Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Madison, WI Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,165	THe shots of it extending had me laughing. Lens porn indeed!

08-25-2010, 01:17 AM	#12
Laurentiu Cristofor Banned Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: WA Photos: Albums Posts: 3,055	Originally posted by hangu It was designed and manufactured in the tiny principality of Lichtenstein. Based on the Munchen inscription on the front, I think this one was made later after the company relocated to Germany. I found a history page with more info here. Looks like a great find - I never heard of this company before.

08-25-2010, 06:36 AM	#13
Blue Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida Hill Country Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,377	Originally posted by axl I have to say that's probably the ugliest lens I've seen. But with that number of aperture blades, it may have great potential to be very interesting indeed. congrats! I don't think its a bad looking lens compared to some others from that era or some from the 90s for that matter. It may be ostentatious.

08-25-2010, 07:23 AM	#14
Pentaxor Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,513	having to look at the pics of the lens again, it reminds me of something private?