East German Lens Club

g026r · 02-13-2014, 05:12 PM

Originally posted by pinholecam

I like the shot from the Pentaxcon 200/4 the most.

Thanks.

This showed up in the mail today:

I don't expect anything too special from it, being a simple triplet design originally intended for folding cameras, but I'm looking forward to trying it out. (Though the narrowness of the base does mean that I'll need to cover the holes on my adapter or risk light leaks.)

Plus it unexpectedly came with a vintage CZJ lens cap that's the right size to replace the generic one on my Tessar.

---------- Post added 2014-02-13 at 19:38 ----------

Originally posted by utak

These photos are by the GDR Pentacon Auto 2.8/135. Its the M42, six bladed, later version of the 15 bladed "bokeh monster".

A good question, and one I don't know the answer to. (My "electric 2.8/135" should be the exact same as your "auto 2.8/135", only with some extra contacts on the mount to allow on-body aperture control, but I've never had the old 15-bladed version to compare to.)

Last edited by g026r; 06-25-2014 at 07:37 PM.

**arnold** · 02-13-2014, 07:14 PM

[IMG]

[/IMG]
Just received this setup in the mail. Wondering if anyone had experience with this early triplet (Trioplan) lens. There is no stop down (up) automation at all, but it seems well made, and in good condition.

tromboads · 02-14-2014, 02:15 AM

stop down auto is for babies :P that thing will be flary darey and fun :P

Old lenses are fun because they have fsk all contrast. And surely that is refreshing from the hyper extended things we are used to seeing. Take this example. I pulled old an old 1950 something Jenna tessar 50mm f2.8 and shot it against an A50 f1.7, M50 f1.4, M50 f2 and a Super Tak 50 f1.4,

Well.. these will explain whats it like. Surprisingly there is fsk all difference in the "modern" pentax's as they have a load of contrast compared to the Super Tak, and then the Jena. And when I saw loads of contrast... really.. the difference isn't that impressive

Everything below was at f2.8

A50 f1.7

M50 f1.4

M50 f2

Super Tak 50 f1.4

Ziess Jena Tessar 50 f2.8

We can probably draw a graph with contrast and age of lens really :P

Moral of the story?

The M50 f2 is great

Wait... I mean East Germany Rulz?

g026r · 02-18-2014, 11:02 PM

I'm spending February with a Pentacon 3.5/30 as my "Monthly Single In..." lens. One thing I'm noticing from it is that, when wide-open—whether because I have far too little light, or I'm trying to minimize depth of field—I tend to get ghosting around in-focus objects. If you pixel peep you can see it on the right side of the blue rope. Dunno if it's just my copy, or if it's something standard with these lenses.

(The other thing I'm noticing is that edge softness starts fairly quickly in some situations. Almost makes me wish I had a FF to test it on, because if it's this noticeable on a crop sensor...)

tromboads · 02-19-2014, 01:18 AM

The lads at Mflenses report much variation with that lens.

jezza323 · 02-19-2014, 03:15 AM

I had one of those once, was fairly soft

g026r · 02-28-2014, 09:30 AM

Originally posted by tromboads

The lads at Mflenses report much variation with that lens.

Like their Russian allies, quality control and consistency seems to have been a bit of an issue.

Originally posted by jezza323

I had one of those once, was fairly soft

Not surprised. A lot of the Meyer designs (and subsequent Pentacon rebadges) I've tried seem to be. (And the coma! Though this one's actually not that bad in that regards compared to, say, the Oreston.) It firms up nicely by f8 -- but what lens doesn't? -- and I'd say its peak sharpness is probably around f11 (see below) or a tiny bit above, after which diffraction sets in. f22 was pretty much unusable by my consideration.

Last edited by g026r; 06-25-2014 at 07:39 PM.

tromboads · 02-28-2014, 01:33 PM

Originally posted by g026r

Like their Russian allies, quality control and consistency seems to have been a bit of an issue.

hehehehe

Parry · 03-09-2014, 09:01 AM

Carl Zeiss Jena MC S 135/3.5 . . . this thing is sharp and cheap and wonderful. Why spend a thousand when you can spend fifty?

g026r · 03-09-2014, 08:58 PM

Originally posted by Parry

Carl Zeiss Jena MC S 135/3.5 . . . this thing is sharp and cheap and wonderful. Why spend a thousand when you can spend fifty?

Wonderful sharpness! This the red and black model?

---------- Post added 2014-03-10 at 00:00 ----------

I took the Pentacon auto 1.8/50 out again the other night. Normally I find this lens terrible for coma—it sets in fairly near to the centre and gets quite extreme by the edges—but this shot isn't too bad though there is some starting in the "b":

Parry · 03-10-2014, 06:54 AM

Originally posted by g026r

Wonderful sharpness! This the red and black model?

---------- Post added 2014-03-10 at 00:00 ----------

I took the Pentacon auto 1.8/50 out again the other night. Normally I find this lens terrible for coma—it sets in fairly near to the centre and gets quite extreme by the edges—but this shot isn't too bad though there is some starting in the "b":

It is the MC S yes, with the red writing. Bizarrely sharp and can be had for around £80. Why spend thousands or even hundreds?

Parry · 03-15-2014, 10:42 AM

Meyer Optik Gorlitz Orestor 135/2.8 . . .

Really enjoying this lens. Got two of 'em, although the second copy is as new in the box and optically great. This is a very light weight lens too, handling is superb.

g026r · 03-15-2014, 10:37 PM

Do you recall what aperture that was? I've only got the later model Pentacon, when they'd switched down to 5 or 6 aperture blades, and I find it's quite soft until stopped down a bit.

Also: finally got a chance to take that Feinmess lens I posted earlier out: contrast is a bit low, its minimum focusing distance is about 1.7 metres (or a bit less), and it runs the risk of a light leak on adapters. Otherwise, it's fun enough and you get some odd looks with it on your camera since it's effectively just a narrow aluminium tube.

**arnold** · 03-18-2014, 05:48 AM

[IMG]

[/IMG]
Tested on K5, this triplet from my Praktica IV. f5.6 at 1/6 sec hand held, ISO 160

Parry · 03-18-2014, 09:50 AM

Originally posted by g026r

Do you recall what aperture that was? I've only got the later model Pentacon, when they'd switched down to 5 or 6 aperture blades, and I find it's quite soft until stopped down a bit.

Also: finally got a chance to take that Feinmess lens I posted earlier out: contrast is a bit low, its minimum focusing distance is about 1.7 metres (or a bit less), and it runs the risk of a light leak on adapters. Otherwise, it's fun enough and you get some odd looks with it on your camera since it's effectively just a narrow aluminium tube.

I think it was around f5 to 5.6.

My copy is mint, never before used, in box and optically great. For £150 you can't go wrong. It makes a wonderful walkaround lens because it's so light. You need to tease the contrast out of it a bit and it's not good shooting into strong light, but apart from that . . . lovin' it.

02-14-2014, 02:15 AM	#18
tromboads Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Melbs Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,240	stop down auto is for babies :P that thing will be flary darey and fun :P Old lenses are fun because they have fsk all contrast. And surely that is refreshing from the hyper extended things we are used to seeing. Take this example. I pulled old an old 1950 something Jenna tessar 50mm f2.8 and shot it against an A50 f1.7, M50 f1.4, M50 f2 and a Super Tak 50 f1.4, Well.. these will explain whats it like. Surprisingly there is fsk all difference in the "modern" pentax's as they have a load of contrast compared to the Super Tak, and then the Jena. And when I saw loads of contrast... really.. the difference isn't that impressive Everything below was at f2.8 A50 f1.7 M50 f1.4 M50 f2 Super Tak 50 f1.4 Ziess Jena Tessar 50 f2.8 We can probably draw a graph with contrast and age of lens really :P Moral of the story? The M50 f2 is great Wait... I mean East Germany Rulz? Last edited by tromboads; 02-14-2014 at 02:35 AM.

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02-13-2014, 05:12 PM	#16
g026r Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,074 Original Poster	Originally posted by pinholecam I like the shot from the Pentaxcon 200/4 the most. Thanks. This showed up in the mail today: I don't expect anything too special from it, being a simple triplet design originally intended for folding cameras, but I'm looking forward to trying it out. (Though the narrowness of the base does mean that I'll need to cover the holes on my adapter or risk light leaks.) Plus it unexpectedly came with a vintage CZJ lens cap that's the right size to replace the generic one on my Tessar. ---------- Post added 2014-02-13 at 19:38 ---------- Originally posted by utak These photos are by the GDR Pentacon Auto 2.8/135. Its the M42, six bladed, later version of the 15 bladed "bokeh monster". A good question, and one I don't know the answer to. (My "electric 2.8/135" should be the exact same as your "auto 2.8/135", only with some extra contacts on the mount to allow on-body aperture control, but I've never had the old 15-bladed version to compare to.) Last edited by g026r; 06-25-2014 at 07:37 PM.

02-13-2014, 07:14 PM	#17
arnold Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,299	[IMG] [/IMG] Just received this setup in the mail. Wondering if anyone had experience with this early triplet (Trioplan) lens. There is no stop down (up) automation at all, but it seems well made, and in good condition.

02-18-2014, 11:02 PM	#19
g026r Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,074 Original Poster	I'm spending February with a Pentacon 3.5/30 as my "Monthly Single In..." lens. One thing I'm noticing from it is that, when wide-open—whether because I have far too little light, or I'm trying to minimize depth of field—I tend to get ghosting around in-focus objects. If you pixel peep you can see it on the right side of the blue rope. Dunno if it's just my copy, or if it's something standard with these lenses. (The other thing I'm noticing is that edge softness starts fairly quickly in some situations. Almost makes me wish I had a FF to test it on, because if it's this noticeable on a crop sensor...)

02-19-2014, 01:18 AM	#20
tromboads Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Melbs Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,240	The lads at Mflenses report much variation with that lens.

02-19-2014, 03:15 AM	#21
jezza323 Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Brisbane Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,421	I had one of those once, was fairly soft

02-28-2014, 09:30 AM	#22
g026r Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,074 Original Poster	Originally posted by tromboads The lads at Mflenses report much variation with that lens. Like their Russian allies, quality control and consistency seems to have been a bit of an issue. Originally posted by jezza323 I had one of those once, was fairly soft Not surprised. A lot of the Meyer designs (and subsequent Pentacon rebadges) I've tried seem to be. (And the coma! Though this one's actually not that bad in that regards compared to, say, the Oreston.) It firms up nicely by f8 -- but what lens doesn't? -- and I'd say its peak sharpness is probably around f11 (see below) or a tiny bit above, after which diffraction sets in. f22 was pretty much unusable by my consideration. Last edited by g026r; 06-25-2014 at 07:39 PM.

02-28-2014, 01:33 PM	#23
tromboads Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Melbs Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,240	Originally posted by g026r Like their Russian allies, quality control and consistency seems to have been a bit of an issue. hehehehe

03-09-2014, 09:01 AM	#24
Parry Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 606	Carl Zeiss Jena MC S 135/3.5 . . . this thing is sharp and cheap and wonderful. Why spend a thousand when you can spend fifty?

03-09-2014, 08:58 PM	#25
g026r Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,074 Original Poster	Originally posted by Parry Carl Zeiss Jena MC S 135/3.5 . . . this thing is sharp and cheap and wonderful. Why spend a thousand when you can spend fifty? Wonderful sharpness! This the red and black model? ---------- Post added 2014-03-10 at 00:00 ---------- I took the Pentacon auto 1.8/50 out again the other night. Normally I find this lens terrible for coma—it sets in fairly near to the centre and gets quite extreme by the edges—but this shot isn't too bad though there is some starting in the "b":

03-10-2014, 06:54 AM	#26
Parry Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 606	Originally posted by g026r Wonderful sharpness! This the red and black model? ---------- Post added 2014-03-10 at 00:00 ---------- I took the Pentacon auto 1.8/50 out again the other night. Normally I find this lens terrible for coma—it sets in fairly near to the centre and gets quite extreme by the edges—but this shot isn't too bad though there is some starting in the "b": It is the MC S yes, with the red writing. Bizarrely sharp and can be had for around £80. Why spend thousands or even hundreds?

03-15-2014, 10:42 AM	#27
Parry Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 606	Meyer Optik Gorlitz Orestor 135/2.8 . . . Really enjoying this lens. Got two of 'em, although the second copy is as new in the box and optically great. This is a very light weight lens too, handling is superb.

03-15-2014, 10:37 PM	#28
g026r Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,074 Original Poster	Do you recall what aperture that was? I've only got the later model Pentacon, when they'd switched down to 5 or 6 aperture blades, and I find it's quite soft until stopped down a bit. Also: finally got a chance to take that Feinmess lens I posted earlier out: contrast is a bit low, its minimum focusing distance is about 1.7 metres (or a bit less), and it runs the risk of a light leak on adapters. Otherwise, it's fun enough and you get some odd looks with it on your camera since it's effectively just a narrow aluminium tube.

03-18-2014, 05:48 AM	#29
arnold Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,299	[IMG] [/IMG] Tested on K5, this triplet from my Praktica IV. f5.6 at 1/6 sec hand held, ISO 160

03-18-2014, 09:50 AM	#30
Parry Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 606	Originally posted by g026r Do you recall what aperture that was? I've only got the later model Pentacon, when they'd switched down to 5 or 6 aperture blades, and I find it's quite soft until stopped down a bit. Also: finally got a chance to take that Feinmess lens I posted earlier out: contrast is a bit low, its minimum focusing distance is about 1.7 metres (or a bit less), and it runs the risk of a light leak on adapters. Otherwise, it's fun enough and you get some odd looks with it on your camera since it's effectively just a narrow aluminium tube. I think it was around f5 to 5.6. My copy is mint, never before used, in box and optically great. For £150 you can't go wrong. It makes a wonderful walkaround lens because it's so light. You need to tease the contrast out of it a bit and it's not good shooting into strong light, but apart from that . . . lovin' it.