I missed yesterday due to a long work day followed by a long concert. That Springsteen guy has some stamina, I can tell you - he started singing at 1945 and barely drew breath until he finished just after 2300. It was quite a show.
I'll get a final shot up later, but for now, here are my thoughts on the Lomography Daguerreotype Achromat by Chevalier, 64mm f/2.9
This lens is a modern, 35mm compatible, multicoated replica of the optical formula used in the first lens ever designed for photographic use back in 1839. It was funded via a kickstarter campaign and despite only originally being intended for Nikon and Canon mounts, a petition started here at Pentax Forums convinced Lomography to add a K-mount version. Focus is all manual, and aperture is controlled by inserting one of a variety of metal plates into a slot in front of the front element, so it is as old-school as anyone could possibly imagine.
Before I get to any appraisal of the lens' output, let me say it is a joy to behold and handle. It comes in an absolutely beautiful box, which includes a set of aperture plates on a leather-thonged key ring, two manuals (one generic, one specific to the K-mount version) and an almost coffee table sized (well, I might be exaggerating a little here, but it's substantial) booklet of sample images and information about the philosophy and history behind the lens. It is made of solid brass and weighs a ton. The focus ring is buttery smooth and well damped. There is a brass hood which removes by a (slightly rattly) bayonet mount to access a 40.5mm filter thread - the same as the Q01 and Q06, which is quite handy as I now have a polariser and ND filter to fit them too!
Optically it is.... interesting
Wide open it is almost impossible to focus. Even with focus peaking and 4x magnification in live view, the sharpness is so low it is difficult to judge where the focal plane is. Interestingly, if you look through the glow and flare there is quite a bit of detail, and when you get it right a very pleasing soft-focus effect can be achieved. Bokeh is just berserk - like a Helios 44-2 at the end of a long night on the vodka - which is limiting but can be used to great effect.
Stopped down a little things get a little more controllable; some actual edges appear in the viewfinder image, allowing a degree of precision with focus, and the bokeh is more like a Helios with a bad hangover the next day. Beyond f/5.6 it's quite well behaved and even a bit boring - like a Helios returning from a detox boot camp. Adding the specialty aperture plates (a variety of stars and polka dots in my basic kit, but there also exist a few others which are currently on back-order) lends a whole new dimension to the fun.
Colours are really nicely rendered. Distortion was never much of an issue. I never had to correct for purple fringing. In fact, I spent less time post processing these images than usual, partly because there were so often no details to try and highlight.
All in all, this very much a niche lens for aesthetes, enthusiasts, students of photographic history, bokeh freaks and masochists. Does that sound like anyone you know?