Inspired by a Thambar type filter … and a Pinhole lens

[dkCambridgeshire]

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My 1955 vintage Canon LTM 85/1.5 has a 58mm diameter filter thread and the the lens is soft-ish when used at wider apertures … so i wondered if an opaque centre spot filter might enhance the softness by blocking out the lens' sharper image forming centre.

 

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The filter was modified by sticking on a roughly circular disk cut from a piece of Wilkinsons self-adhesive Velor. 

 

 

Also decided to experiment with a Skink pinhole lens which has an M mount and bayonets straight onto am M Adapter T (SL) 

 

 

 

Note the Skink pinhole f110 aperture …necessitating bumping up the ISO to obtain a usable handheld shutter speed. The Skink was purchased s/h from Ffordes complete with original owner's annotations. The pinhole is just about visible.

 

Yesterday I visited Leica Forum member Tony W. and he agreed to sit for some portraits using the lenses with my Leica SL 601. The Canon lens was adapted to the camera using a Leitz screw to M adapter plus a Leica M Adapter T (SL) 

 

 

cont'd …  

 

 

 

 

 

[dkCambridgeshire]

... and here are three of the results:

 

 

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This image taken at 'lens indicated' f2 ish … but exif data shows that the camera interpolates as f11 by virtue of the centre spot.  I'm happy with the OOF background ... but for the next attempt will choose a more photogenic seat and background .

 

TW was sitting under a patio tree … Sun above the tree … hence highlights which I don't mind but others may find distracting. 

 

 

cont'd ...

Edited May 15, 2018 by dkCambridgeshire

[dkCambridgeshire]

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…several attempts were required to render the pipe smoke properly. This was taken at almost full aperture using the SL's magnification facility to focus on one eye 

 

 

cont'd ...

Edited May 15, 2018 by dkCambridgeshire

[dkCambridgeshire]

… and the Skink pinhole result: 

 

 

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TW brushing dust off his D-Lux 109 … garden statue on LHS 'looking on'

 

 

All in all a learning process and more experiments required … but was an enjoyable portrait session.

 

And thank you very much to Tony W for agreeing to sit. 

 

 

Best wishes

 

dunk 

Edited May 15, 2018 by dkCambridgeshire

[darylgo]

Thanks Dunk for posting this. My attempts at simulating a Thambar are the use of a white net filter. The white net creates flare and softens the image, I haven't yet had the time to opaque the center but will when time permits. Destroying IQ for artistic purposes is not easily achieved, and a Thambar purchase may be imminent.

[pgk]

Have you thought of trying a series of opaque circles? 

[mmradman]

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Maybe time to start playing with dots on UV filters.

I would imagine some fast SLR lenses in 85-105mm range designed in 1960s and 1970s which are less corrected than modern equivalents could provide Thambar effect on the cheap.  One lens i have in mind is Pentax 85mm f2 SMC-M, very smooth at maximum aperture with rather nice OOF highlight circles.

[dkCambridgeshire]

Thanks Dunk for posting this. My attempts at simulating a Thambar are the use of a white net filter. The white net creates flare and softens the image, I haven't yet had the time to opaque the center but will when time permits. Destroying IQ for artistic purposes is not easily achieved, and a Thambar purchase may be imminent.

 

 

You missed out on a bargain £1249 Thambar lens 4 weeks ago 

 

 

https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/279589-thambar-crazy/?p=3505801

 

 

https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/279589-thambar-crazy/?p=3505863

 

 

I’d have bought the lens from Peter Loy but dental fees had priority 

 

I spoke to Peter a week later at The Leica Society AGM and remarked on the £reasonable price … and he mentioned Leica Shop Vienna had bought it

 

http://www.leicashop.com/vintage_en/leica/leica-screw-mount-lenses/thambar-2-2-90mm.html

 

The very same lens is now listed for €2800 … such are the vagaries of camera dealing … 

 

 

 

dunk 

Edited May 15, 2018 by dkCambridgeshire

[dkCambridgeshire]

Have you thought of trying a series of opaque circles? 

 

 

 

Thank you Paul … worth a try.

 

dunk 

[pico]

Maybe time to start playing with dots on UV filters.

 

For ideas one might look for used Harrison Black Dot Texture Screens used largely in motion picture mat-boxes. I got a few large sets, including some round versions.

[mmradman]

For ideas one might look for used Harrison Black Dot Texture Screens used largely in motion picture mat-boxes. I got a few large sets, including some round versions.

Thanks for that, i googled Harrison Black Dot Texture Screens and they remind me of a car windscreen after long summer drive.

[pico]

Thanks for that, i googled Harrison Black Dot Texture Screens and they remind me of a car windscreen after long summer drive.

 

Yeah! They are supposedly hand made, therefore each is unique. They are truly interesting for an add-on filter. They produce no white haze.