[mattb123]

K-1ii & Helios 44k-4

[cyberjunkie]

K-1ii & Helios 44k-4

Beautiful bokeh balls and nice swirl.
Seems like the Helios 44k-4 has more swirl (and more "character") than I thought!
In the right conditions, that you captured very well, it shows plenty of the typical Helios look

[mattb123]

Beautiful bokeh balls and nice swirl.
Seems like the Helios 44k-4 has more swirl (and more "character") than I thought!
In the right conditions, that you captured very well, it shows plenty of the typical Helios look

Yeah, no shortage of character and I think it's a little sharper than the 44-2. The key to swirly bokeh is as much technique as the lens IMO.

[cyberjunkie]

Yeah, no shortage of character and I think it's a little sharper than the 44-2. The key to swirly bokeh is as much technique as the lens IMO.

If using the word technique you intend the choice of the appropriate background, I fully agree.
I often read - almost never on this forum, thankfully - of the frustration of inexperienced photographers when they find that the new lens, over hyped on the Web, doesn't automatically give the beautiful effects they have seen online.

[mattb123]

If using the word technique you intend the choice of the appropriate background, I fully agree.
I often read - almost never on this forum, thankfully - of the frustration of inexperienced photographers when they find that the new lens, over hyped on the Web, doesn't automatically give the beautiful effects they have seen online.

Background, light direction, aperture, distance to subject, and distance from subject to background are all factors.
But when they come together this lens does some interesting things with those ingredients!

[cyberjunkie]

Background, light direction, aperture, distance to subject, and distance from subject to background are all factors.
But when they come together this lens does some interesting things with those ingredients!

I usually shoot the Helios wide open. Maybe I should consider stopping down a little.
The typical way to go for the swirl is to have tree branches in the background, with some sunlight that gets through.
I like swirl for portraits set in the nature.
However I would compare it to a strong ingredient like chilli. Only the right amount, and not for any meal.
Your picture is an example of such balance. You used the "optical signature" of the lens to give a distinct character to the shot, without making the viewer dizzy

[cyberjunkie]

I still have to test it at different apertures and in a wider range of conditions, though I'm really impressed by the first batch of pictures.

Soligor (Tokina) C/D P f/2 28mm @f/2


Picture shot at MFD, wide open, handheld. Minimal PP.
Which means that this photo was shot at its worst. Early seventies lenses were not optimised to be actually used wide open. F/2 was the "focusing aperture".
I'm really impressed. The original raw has been resized to 50%, however the Flickr image examined at full size reveals a decent level of detail at the (very thin) plane of focus.
Bokeh should be the strong point of this lens. I think it is actually confirming the expectations.
Other pictures show a very controlled fringing. Just some unobtrusive LoCA.
I'd love to have it in PK mount!


Meyer Trioplan f/2.9 50mm @f/2.9


Not the sharpest for sure!
However the bokeh is always the way I like it.

---

Last edited by cyberjunkie; 10-02-2018 at 01:58 AM.

[jcdoss]

Swiss Chard at Natural Grocer's
K-1 Silver & K105f2.8

[GUB]

Auto Chinon MCM 55mm f1.7 (M42).
The iris collapsed long ago so I replaced it with a black rubber washer that stops it to about f2. So f2 with a round aperture.
My go to macro when I want funkie. Put the cat one in to show it is also a capable lens.

[cyberjunkie]

Little tree frog taking mid afternoon nap on one of my plants
Shot with an old Komura preset tele, wide open.
VERY good sharpness considering that the pictures were shot wide open and at MFD. Pleasant bokeh too..
Compared it with the Apo Telezenitar. Well... the Komura is sharper. Maybe with some CA (that doesn't show in this pictures), but definitely sharper.
I love Komuras. I just didn't expect this level of definition. Check at 100% on Flickr. The texture of the skin is clearly visible especially in the second, heavily cropped picture.

Sankyo Kohki Komura f/2.8 135mm @f/2.8

[GUB]

Bet the frog is wishing he was a normal green frog!

[GUB]

Sundew (Drosera) catching the morning light. Rikenon 105mm 2.8 Macro (Kiron). f5.6 or 8

[cyberjunkie]

Sundew (Drosera) catching the morning light. Rikenon 105mm 2.8 Macro (Kiron). f5.6 or 8

Beautiful shots... and a great macro.
I didn't buy it when it was reasonably priced. Now the news about its incredible sharpness has spread, and prices have risen a lot

---------- Post added 08-10-18 at 03:37 PM ----------

And this is from another old fart:




Shot at MFD, stopped down one click.
It is far from the ideal conjugate this lens was designed for.
I guess it does much better at (or close to) infinity.

Sankyo Kohki Komura f/7 500mm

[h4yn0nnym0u5e]

Period flight kit at the 2018 Shuttleworth Night Shoot, waiting for use on the rear tailplane of the Spitfire Vc.
K-1 + Revuenon 55 f/1.2, 1/160 wide open, ISO 200, SOOC.

[cyberjunkie]

Some old preset tele from the very early seventies can still give amazing sharpness and nice bokeh.
Look at the stamens!

Sankyo Kohki Komura f/2.8 135mm @f/8 on K-1 (crop)