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Forum: Lens Clubs 02-27-2017, 11:53 AM  
The "Projector Lens" Club ...
Posted By Photomaximum
Replies: 545
Views: 182,686
^^ Love the chess board!
Forum: Lens Clubs 02-26-2017, 12:14 PM  
The "Projector Lens" Club ...
Posted By Photomaximum
Replies: 545
Views: 182,686
This lens setup is interesting. It can focus across a wide range from infinity all the way to semi short distance macro. I have a bunch of 40-58mm lenses and none of them can focus this closely. Results at infinity are a little odd, almost a plastic toy lomo lens look. Close focus is interesting as well as you cant stop the lens down from its only aperture, f/1.2. When focused at "normal" distances it looks more like a telephoto than its equivalent 52mm. I have another projector lens I am playing with. It is really interesting for close up but it does not do any distance well. Nice for flowers but not much else.

Lately I am lusting over the famous WWII surveillance camera lens, namely the huge Kodak Aero Ektar 7"/2.5 but you need a specific Speed Graphic with internal shutter which all gets expensive. This lens works brilliantly on a 4x5 camera but the effect is waisted on smaller formats. It is also quite radio active.
Forum: Lens Clubs 02-25-2017, 04:11 PM  
The "Projector Lens" Club ...
Posted By Photomaximum
Replies: 545
Views: 182,686
The Meopta Meostigmat 1/50 is a well known and proven contender in this arena. There are several forum threads on the web if you hunt around.

Look forward to seeing some pics!

---------- Post added 02-25-2017 at 03:19 PM ----------

A couple of new attempts...

Gasworks park in Seattle


Valentines Day rose


Quick model test


Forum: Lens Clubs 02-10-2017, 01:32 PM  
The "Projector Lens" Club ...
Posted By Photomaximum
Replies: 545
Views: 182,686
Went out for a fun evening a few weeks back with this lens. Tried some "night" stuff...






















---------- Post added 02-10-2017 at 12:33 PM ----------

Lens update:

As previously noted I deployed a very DIY focussing system for this lens. The body of the lens was inserted into a Sony E mount three extension tube set with the actual lens body wrapped in black velvet that had an adhesive backing. This acted as a primitive focussing system. It was ok but after some time the primitiveness began to bug me.

What to do? The goofy thread on the barrel of the projection lens did not match any lens thread system I know of. I tried a few things and then found eventual success. I bought a M52 - M42 focussing helicoid adapter. I hoped the lens would fit into the M52 end. I also bought a super thin M42 - Sony E mount adapter to go on the back end of the focussing helicoid adapter.

Problem: the threaded body of the lens was just a bit too thick in diameter to fit into the focussing helicoid adapter. I thought about grinding off all the threads on the lens myself but that would mean removing a couple of inches of material. Doing that evenly with a grinder or Dremel tool was not appetizing. I then went wondering down into a part of town that had boat yards and a couple of machine shops. I found a small enthusiastic shop. After looking at the focussing helicoid adapter and the lens we decided to remove some of the inner material of the focussing helicoid adapter itself rather than touch the lens. This had to be done carefully so as not to remove too much of the inner focussing helicoid adapter which might make the back of the lens recede too far into the camera.

The shop did a great job. The lens now fits into the focussing helicoid adapter just perfectly. I can now get really close focus plus infinity focus. To make sure the lens stayed secure I added some silicone to the machined section of the focussing helicoid adapter. I also added a rubber O-ring to the back end of the system to help keep moisture out and make it it look more polished.

Bonus: I found that I could unscrew the ugly front threaded ring on the projector lens and substitute two of the threaded extension tube sections. This helps keep everything snug and tight and looking good!

The lens now focuses more easily and accurately. The focussing helicoid adapter is not as smooth as a real high end lens but it is certainly good enough for this project.

I thought about adding some kind of aperture system but quickly abandoned that idea: the fun part of this venture is the fast f/1.2 fixed aperture.

Here is how the lens looks now...




Some closeup tests (that little car is tiny)...







Forum: Lens Clubs 01-10-2017, 04:57 PM  
The "Projector Lens" Club ...
Posted By Photomaximum
Replies: 545
Views: 182,686
I am not sure any of these projector lenses are worth pursuing for traditional distance or landscape photography, unless part of the objective is to feature the aberrations and focus issues these lenses have. Most images you see online are flowers and such, in a very macro style. But they can be used for wider, more medium distant subjects with an interesting look...
Forum: Lens Clubs 01-08-2017, 01:42 PM  
The "Projector Lens" Club ...
Posted By Photomaximum
Replies: 545
Views: 182,686
When I started my newspaper career I used three Pentax LX bodies and lenses ranging from 20-400. I had these fancy hexagonal shaped Beatie focusing screens in the cameras. This was a GREAT manual focus system. The Pentax A* 85/1.4 was one of the very best lenses I have ever used.

The EOS system was a solid auto focus platform and helped me with long lenses and sports, etc. But I have always loved all kinds of lenses and got into the "Alt Lens" movement and adapted all kinds of optics to the Canon EF mount. Problem is that all of the Canon digital bodies were just lousy at manual focus, especially when using fast f/1.2 lenses like the Minolta Rokkor PG 58/1.2. You get a bright image but not enough focus accuracy feedback. It looks like you have good focus but the keeper rate was a let down, even with different view screens. Most new cameras don't even allow to switch view screens anymore.

The mirrorless EFV cameras with zebra stripes, focus peaking and manual focus magnifying buttons are a game changer. But you need a camera with a high res EFV. So far the Sony a7RII is perhaps the best option. You can also easlily mount just about any lens on these cameras with little or no modification surgery. This all helps when focusing on razor thin subjects using funky projection lenses mounted in cheap(ish) Chinese helicoids.

I have not tried it but the Pentax K1 camera looks like it pumps out super great images. I am not sure how well it does with oddball manual focus tasks though.

---------- Post added 01-08-2017 at 12:54 PM ----------

I did get the Dukane 3" f/2.5 lens. It's tiny. Right now I have it wrapped in gaffer tape and stuffed into an old macro focus rail. Looks very cool. I think I will deploy this lens for tight close up subjects though. It really does not add anything at longer distances.
Forum: Lens Clubs 01-08-2017, 12:51 PM  
The "Projector Lens" Club ...
Posted By Photomaximum
Replies: 545
Views: 182,686
A few more...

---------- Post added 01-08-2017 at 11:53 AM ----------

Interesting to compare how this forums' image upload system renders pics: these have noticeably reduced saturation and appear slightly darker...
Forum: Lens Clubs 01-08-2017, 12:45 PM  
The "Projector Lens" Club ...
Posted By Photomaximum
Replies: 545
Views: 182,686
Thanks! I used to use a ton of manual focus "A" series Pentax lenses which I totally regret selling to buy EOS gear years ago. I still use the 50/1.4 Super Tak and the M 40/2.8 pancake lenses.

I now have two projector lens projects on the go. I had no idea how addictive and time consuming this would all become. The f/1.2 lens is just fun, quite sharp/soft in a interesting way. I going to upgrade my mount system. Right now I have the barrel thread of the lens wrapped in adhesive backed black velvet which is then inserted into a open 3 piece extension tube set with a Sony E mount that I use on the Sony a7RII. The velvet acts as a primitive helicoid. This Sony is by far the most manual focus friendly digital camera I have used. My mount upgrade (waiting for parts) will be an Ultra Slim Sony E to M42 adaptor plus M42 to M52 helicoid with the lens inserted into the front of the 52mm end. I then I will use a 48mm - 49mm step up ring which will allow me to use common 49mmm filters and lens hoods. Hoods are a must for these projects...

Some pics (starting with the current lens adaptation):
Forum: Lens Clubs 01-07-2017, 06:09 PM  
The "Projector Lens" Club ...
Posted By Photomaximum
Replies: 545
Views: 182,686
Really impressive work here guys!!!

I picked up a Telex brand 52mm f/1.2 projector lens that was made in Japan and have been enjoying tons of fun with it. Not quite in the macro world like most of the images displayed here.

Question: if you had the same subject to lens distances what differences in rendering, bokeh, etc, would you expect between the Diaplan 80mm f2.8 and the Dukane 3" (76mm) f2.5 lenses?

{I am shooting with a Sony a7RII, but I was once a huge Pentax fan; so not sure if I should be posting images here though?}
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