Guest moonwrack Posted February 25, 2008 Share #1 Posted February 25, 2008 Advertisement (gone after registration) Given that older lenses - Summar, Summitar, etc - have unique signatures ('plastic' or 'dreamlike') that distinguish them pictorially from modern, ultra-sharp lenses; how can one maintain this in reproduction? With mono, presumably this is achievable by using the taking lens on the enlarger. Elsewhere, as with a transparency original, the image needs to be sent through a different lens - probably a high-quality one in use at a processing laboratory. Will this eliminate the original effect, or preserve it? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted February 25, 2008 Posted February 25, 2008 Hi Guest moonwrack, Take a look here Image qualities of older lenses. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
stunsworth Posted February 25, 2008 Share #2 Posted February 25, 2008 Given that you've identified that these older lenses have a unique look, and most of the images you've seen will have been reproduced through another lens - either enlarger, projector or scanner - I don't think a secondary lens is a major influence. I need to play again with my Summar on the M8. Terrible for colour, flares horribly, low contrast, but it does have a look none of my other lenses do. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted February 25, 2008 Share #3 Posted February 25, 2008 The source is the most important factor. When you take the original photograph it is (usually) a 3D subject with elements near and far, lighting, shadow etc etc. When you put a negative into an enlarger you are working from a flat plane image - all the bokeh and 'signature' are already there. The enlarger (or scanner) lens just has to deal with a consistently lit, flat in focus image. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
telewatt Posted February 25, 2008 Share #4 Posted February 25, 2008 I changed my APO-Rodagon to a Focotar (Leitz) lens.. ..the look was different..more the Leica way...very fine tones! Jan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoFi-Chaser Posted February 26, 2008 Share #5 Posted February 26, 2008 maybe I'm wrong, but if your reproduction-lens is far better than the recording one, you will preserve the look. The better the reproduction lens, the smaller the loss or add of details/look. Vice versa would be worse - why using a modern lens when loosing it's capabilities with a limiting reproduction-lens. regards T. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
christer Posted February 26, 2008 Share #6 Posted February 26, 2008 I changed my APO-Rodagon to a Focotar (Leitz) lens.. ..the look was different..more the Leica way...very fine tones! Jan you must try the APO Componon HM!! ......and your Focotar will be heading for eBay Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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