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3-D lens recommendations, image examples?


mdg1371

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Currently have a little extra cash, and a bout of GAS, never a good combination.

 

I have been considering a Noctilux f0.95, but am also interested in lenses that lends themselves to subject separation or pronounced 3-D rendering, without completely obliterating the background.

 

Right now, I have the following:

 

WATE

21mm SEM

21mm CV f4

35mm Summilux ASPH FLE

50mm APO Summicron

50mm Summilux ASPH

75mm APO Summicron

75mm Summilux

90mm Macro Elmar

90mm Elmarit-M

135mm Elmar-m

 

Any suggestions of lenses to add that lend themselves to a 3-D pop? Better yet, any images demonstrating?

 

 

 

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IMHO it depends on exactly how you want to achieve that separation...micro contrast at image edges, OOF areas in front or back of the subject, vignetting, etc. I've found for certain subjects some of the modern Zeiss glass does the job for me. YMMV

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With your experience with all the lenses you list, you should be able to identify what images you wish to emulate, and the conditions under which the photos were made. Distance, f-stop, and lighting all contribute to effects. Even the same lens does not perform the same under mildly differing circumstances.

 

Perhaps you can post images with the qualities you seek.

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Elmarit-M 24mm ASPH or Elmar-M 24mm ASPH. My opinion is that the Elmar gives 3D illusion equal to the APO 50 you have, but it never really offers separation. The Elmarit is quite close in crispness to the Elmar, gives nice separation and a nicer rendering of organic shapes (i.e., fruit, faces, etc.)

 

If you need more separation still and want a fair helping of 3D, find a good copy of the Summicron-M 28mm ASPH. At f/2.8, the Summicron does not have the pop of the 24's, but it is still good with noticeably more OOF separation. I would caution about sample variation with this lens, however, so be prepared to dig and test.

 

The Summilux-M 28mm ASPH did not pop to mind, although I prefer mine over a good Summicron 28mm, because it does not quite give the edginess of the 24's. Perhaps rendering more like your 35 FLE than your Super-Elmar 21mm.

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If you can't get your '3D pop' already with those lenses I think it's time to give up!

 

 

I hate to agree, but you already have a pretty wide selection of glass that should get you the effect you want.

Sorry to be blunt, but the term PICNIC comes to mind here (or probably PBCNIC or something, you get the gist). 

 

Cheers,

Michael

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Try a Zeiss 50/1.5 C-Sonnar. You get more field curvature, less astigmatism, and more spherical aberration. The shape of the aperture is is designed to spread out the focus over a wider range as you stop down to F4 or so. Between F1.5 and F2.8, less contrast across the image. The 3-D effect is more pronounced with a Monochrom camera. Very different lens than what you already have.

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To me ( grain of salt inclusive ) the so called "3-D" effect of any photograph relies most heavily on how the photographer executes the resulting photograph & how readily the in focus portion of the image appears to float from the out of focus portions. This is also the broad notion of this effect as far as I know. 

 

This means everything needs to be considered & the subject, background, tone, contrast, light & even the colors can all play a role. Obviously, this effect is more readily seen in a fast prime or long lens than say, a fisheye lens at F/11. But I would reckon a stopped down 35mm lens that is used in a portrait of someone with the ambient balanced blue and a warm light source used on the person could render a 3-D effect based on color juxtapositions...nothing is out of realm for imparting this effect.

 

I have owned and do own all kinds fantastic top shelf lenses, including Zeiss which have been touted as having a more pronounced 3-D effect. None of them are standouts in making things have this so called "3-D Pop" without having the appropriate input. 

 

Also......in looking at the OP's lens list, if they can not get a nice 3-D effect out of a fair number of those...Well... the tail might be wagging the dog so to speak...:-)

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Shadow, texture gradients, and color are three of the depth cues that produce a three-D perception of a photograph and are probably the most dependent on a particular lens. Other depth cues are relative size, occlusion of objects, orientation, elevation, and linear perspective. A proper combination of all will produce the strongest illusion of depth. A lot has been written on this subject.  It's called depth perception, been around long before Leica.

 

Paul Rudolph formulated the Plasmat to specifically to have the "plastic", ie stereoscopic, image characteristic. Neblette, "Photographic Lenses", 1973 edition states that the Plasmat had the "plastic", stereoscopic, characteristic of lenses with undercorrected  spherical aberration. The Nikkor 10.5cm F2.5 is a well-known lens that was undercorrected for spherical aberration.

 

17003963888_490c2f1d5d_b.jpgMt Vernon by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

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Note, I never indicated in the original post that I have been unable to get that 3-D look with my existing lens lineup.

Im looking for OTHER lenses, based on other's experiences that lend themselves well to this.

Sounds like a gear fetish to me then.

 

There are tons of "other" lenses made by more companies than just Leica, spend away my man, spend away. Noctilux, Canon 85L, Zeiss Otus 85, knock your self out, lol!

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Note, I never indicated in the original post that I have been unable to get that 3-D look with my existing lens lineup.

Im looking for OTHER lenses, based on other's experiences that lend themselves well to this.

 

Perhaps you could post a couple of your photos that really show the 3-D effect you're trying to describe? I think it would be much more helpful in terms of receiving relevant answers.

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Nikkor 3.5cm F2.5, in LTM. ~$300.

 

Wide-Open on the M9.

 

14777172588_cfeee93e01_o.jpgUdvar Hazy Air and Space by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

 

14777097709_3e5e979d53_o.jpgUdvar Hazy Air and Space by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

 

14960670261_ec02697f50_o.jpgUdvar Hazy Air and Space by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

 

I've taken pictures of these same aircraft with many different lenses. This one stands-out for the illusion of 3-D.

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