Jump to content
lik

Thambar-Crazy

By lik, in Leica M Lenses

Recommended Posts

lik   

lik
Posted

Ok - call me crazy, weird, mad, bored, out of focus, trend follower - what ever you like. 

 
I have it.
Sorry - only iPhone photos. 
 
Unpacking and first impressions:
  1. Beauty - compared to many others.
  2. Impractical - compared to state of the art in handling.
  3. Unique - compared to many nowadays bubble-swirly-something bokeh cameras.
  4. Unexpected - in its characteristics and rendering.
The beauty - I like it’s look on a silver M.
 
Yes - it’s impractical. Turning the aperture ring means turning the focus ring too. Too much rotation for focussing. Hood fixing - OMG. Removing lens cap means removing hood unintentionally. So it gives an idea what photography meant in 30’s…. However - I accept it. It’s an impractical beauty. 
And the first guy I showed it said: „Wow - a real historical camera an looking brand new!“ 
 
Unique - as far as I can see after just a few shots in the city. I have a Petzval 58 and a Meyer Görlitz Trioplan 100mm. I’m going to sell them now to make my Thambar a little bit cheaper to me. Because it’s far beyond these lenses. All these "swirly-bokeh-pieces" are nothing against the bokeh and the glow of this lens. 
 
Unexpected - in street lights at night wide open IMO shows an ugly and a beautiful side:
With center spot filter ugly rings or donuts.
Without interesting glow around lights and nice or at least acceptable bokeh-bubbles out of focus. 
 
Yes - it is sharp - even wide open - eh - somehow. Kind of „soft sharp“. Low micro contrast but letters can be read - in center. To me it's really amazing.
And as mentioned - glow everywhere where a bit of light comes across. 
 
In short:
This lens is crazy. And I seem to become Thambar-crazy. 
 
Unfortunately the subject which this lens is made for - portrait and nature - I can't take before later this month. Of course I’ll show some examples here then. 
 
For the moment I have just a few shots made on my way from my friendly dealer - and just to see the effects of rendering. 
After all this partly boring examples in the web I hardly dare to add some others. 
 
OK - I do. 

bencychin, Beresford, lambda and 10 others reacted to this

Share this post

Link to post
Share on other sites

lik   

lik
Posted

Glow / CA - everything - I cannot describe that correctly in technical terms... 

Anyway - impossible to use the usual adjustments in lightroom - best is leave the lights as they are... 

Ted Lemon, ldhrads, jankap and 1 other reacted to this

Share this post

Link to post
Share on other sites

Peter Kilmister   

Peter Kilmister
Posted

Option 1: Buy Thambar. Cost = £10,000

Option 2: Buy a ND filter. A smear of vaseline will give a soft focus. Cost = negligible.

 

Hmm, I wonder what I'll do? 

jkcampbell2, lecycliste, SilentShutter and 7 others reacted to this

Share this post

Link to post
Share on other sites

lik   

lik
Posted

 

 

Wonderful! I love the old Thambar these are taken on the SL and MM 

Great portrait!

Your examples also show the versatility for lots of other subjects too! 

Share this post

Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
Go To Topic Listing Leica M Lenses

  • Recently Browsing   1 member

×