farnz Posted October 4, 2009 Share #21 Â Posted October 4, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) Thanks, Luigi, I thought as much, it's just that I haven't seen such pronounced doughnuts from the Thambar before. Â Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted October 4, 2009 Posted October 4, 2009 Hi farnz, Take a look here Leitz Thambar 90mm f.2.2 on M9..?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Guest mc_k Posted October 5, 2009 Share #22  Posted October 5, 2009 another M8+thambar photo:  my works  (bottom photo).  There are not a lot of Thambar examples on the web of any sort. I know it's a portrait lens, but most of the portraits I don't find very interesting. I do like what it does with backgrounds and blown highlights. I have almost bought the lens a couple of times, but decided I should play around with some homemade soft filters first. I have seen a soft filter that put a similar halo around things. Any reason to think the Thambar look/effects would be any different on digital than film? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rickp13 Posted October 5, 2009 Share #23  Posted October 5, 2009 thank you all for starting and maintaining this thread. i'd heard about the thambar lens before, but don't remember seeing images taken with it. i like the look very much, and am hoping to see some portraits.  greetings from hamburg  rick Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Overgaard Posted October 5, 2009 Author Share #24 Â Posted October 5, 2009 Shooting against the light with this lens make sense. A well-lit face by the use of a strong reflector, loads of beams from the behind. Â Could be something as it would add the contrast it is definitely missing when the sun in behind the camera. Â Luigi, I see what you mean with face details. Strong light sources would amplify that, especially a glow in the eyes from a lamp or reflector would mean a world of difference. But the background is important for the bokeh of the Tambar I think. Â When they used it originally I guess most used vaseline on their lenses to get that look. Different times today, so it would have to be strong in contrast as well. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkCambridgeshire Posted November 3, 2009 Share #25  Posted November 3, 2009 I was offered a Thambar today and am considering buying it. Lens is in good condition with caps and the centre filter - the optics are a bit hazy according to the seller but no fungus. I could not see the haze as had no reading glasses with me - my varifocals are being repaired. Exterior of lens is is very nice condition with no obvious brassing. I'll check some recent auction prices tonight and then decide. Lens is not quite as rare as some people suggest as nearly 3000 were made - but collectors' demand is high. This example is in better exterior condition than others I've seen. They do not surface for sale very often.  Shall I or shan't I ?... Decisions, decisions.  Cheers  dunk Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy Posted November 3, 2009 Share #26  Posted November 3, 2009 sent it to Wallace Heaton, prior to their descent into being a branch of Jessops  It became a branch of Dixons. I remember going in there about five or six years ago (is it even there now?) and being surprised to see that, amongst all the usual tat that Dixons sell, they had an M6TTL and a small handful of M lenses in stock. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted November 4, 2009 Share #27 Â Posted November 4, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) It became a branch of Dixons. I remember going in there about five or six years ago (is it even there now?) and being surprised to see that, amongst all the usual tat that Dixons sell, they had an M6TTL and a small handful of M lenses in stock. Â Ian, Â As you say one in the city (in Leadenhall Street) certainly became a branch of Dixons in the 1970's. I had forgotten that Dixons used to sell cameras before they became an online dealer and the only mass market camera dealer which sprang to mind, was Jessops. WH/Dixons in Leadenhall street shut down in the late 1970's when the site was bought by M&S. I believe there is still a WH named shop in New Bond Street. Was the M6 at a good price/ Â Wilson Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted November 4, 2009 Share #28  Posted November 4, 2009 I was offered a Thambar today and am considering buying it. Lens is in good condition with caps and the centre filter - the optics are a bit hazy according to the seller but no fungus. I could not see the haze as had no reading glasses with me - my varifocals are being repaired. Exterior of lens is is very nice condition with no obvious brassing. I'll check some recent auction prices tonight and then decide. Lens is not quite as rare as some people suggest as nearly 3000 were made - but collectors' demand is high. This example is in better exterior condition than others I've seen. They do not surface for sale very often. Shall I or shan't I ?... Decisions, decisions.  Cheers  dunk  Dunk,  If you do buy it, I bet it is quite a long time before you have used it 10 times. I feel the Thambar is a lens, which for most people, is a drawer warrior. I have a similar warrior, an M fit fish-eye, which sees the light of day about once a year. It might be more fun on the M9 - I will have to give it a go.  Wilson Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Overgaard Posted November 4, 2009 Author Share #29  Posted November 4, 2009 I was offered a Thambar today and am considering buying it. Lens is in good condition with caps and the centre filter - the optics are a bit hazy according to the seller but no fungus. I could not see the haze as had no reading glasses with me - my varifocals are being repaired. Exterior of lens is is very nice condition with no obvious brassing. I'll check some recent auction prices tonight and then decide. Lens is not quite as rare as some people suggest as nearly 3000 were made - but collectors' demand is high. This example is in better exterior condition than others I've seen. They do not surface for sale very often. Shall I or shan't I ?... Decisions, decisions.  Cheers  dunk  I think one thing worth looking for is a special look. That is what most Leica lenses offer in their "Leica glow" but some more than others, like the 50/1.4, 75/1.4, the Noctilux and the new 21 and 24 Summilux lenses.  For that reason alone it would be on my shopping list thought I haven't seen that many convincing examples of using it. But the advice of shooting against the light when doing portraits (and doing lots of portraits with it) sounds wise and it would be an experience of a lifetime to follow that dream.  For shooting brick walls and locomotives it wouldn't be worth it. But for a special portrait no other lens can produce.Year man!!!  Imagine the lucky woman having such a portrait. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkCambridgeshire Posted November 4, 2009 Share #30  Posted November 4, 2009 I think one thing worth looking for is a special look. That is what most Leica lenses offer in their "Leica glow" but some more than others, like the 50/1.4, 75/1.4, the Noctilux and the new 21 and 24 Summilux lenses. For that reason alone it would be on my shopping list thought I haven't seen that many convincing examples of using it. But the advice of shooting against the light when doing portraits (and doing lots of portraits with it) sounds wise and it would be an experience of a lifetime to follow that dream.  For shooting brick walls and locomotives it wouldn't be worth it. But for a special portrait no other lens can produce.Year man!!!  Imagine the lucky woman having such a portrait.  I'm giving the lens serious consideration but I only had a quick look at it today - I had to rush back to my car but still got a parking ticket. Will probably discuss matter further with the seller later today.  Cheers  dunk Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkCambridgeshire Posted November 4, 2009 Share #31  Posted November 4, 2009 Dunk, If you do buy it, I bet it is quite a long time before you have used it 10 times. I feel the Thambar is a lens, which for most people, is a drawer warrior. I have a similar warrior, an M fit fish-eye, which sees the light of day about once a year. It might be more fun on the M9 - I will have to give it a go.  Wilson  We call them "safe queens" Yes, it would probably spend more time in my safe than any other lens. But it is a facinating piece of history. I have to get some more details from the seller - particularly regarding the hood. Does the hood reverse and then slide over the front of the lens for storage? With a lens cap then attached to the rear of the hood? I did not get a chance to look at it in detail today.  Cheers  dunk Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mc_k Posted November 4, 2009 Share #32 Â Posted November 4, 2009 There is a review here: Shutterbug: The Leitz Thambar 90mm f/2.2 Â The portrait is typical, no? For me it is too soft to be interesting, but maybe the failing is mine. I just think someone buying this lens for portraiture only might be disappointed. Â I did see a Thambar pic of a dog somewhere that looked very sharp, and I'm wondering if the lens has a second life when it's stopped way down without the filter? So if the soft-focus thing does not work out for you, you still get a nice 30's vintage lens. Â The original instruction booklet is interesting, by the way. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sungnee Posted November 4, 2009 Share #33 Â Posted November 4, 2009 I have the Thambar and I use it exclusively for portraits, on film M's. Â What I did when I first bought it was to ask a sitter to pose for me and I took one frame for each aperture, with and without the centre spot. There aren't that many shots to go through because the soft effects disappears at apertures beyond the red line (there is a red line starting from F/2.2). Â Each time I use it, I look at the set of reference photos and then I decide which aperture (with or without centre spot) to use. Â As you will have guessed by now, I don't have an M8 or an M9, but I think with digitals, the chore can be dispensed with because you can review the shot immediately on the LCD. Even if the LCD is not good enough, you can still cycle through all the combinations and then delete the files you don't like. There is no additional cost. Â Overall I think the digital M's should give the Thambar a new lease on life, and I'm disappointed that not more users have realised this, after 3 years. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted November 4, 2009 Share #34 Â Posted November 4, 2009 I don't know if it is an urban myth but it has been said that a Thambar rings all the bells at airport security, as it is slightly radioactive. If this is true, it is probably also not a good idea to carry it in a trouser pocket ;-}} Â Wilson Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mc_k Posted November 4, 2009 Share #35 Â Posted November 4, 2009 thanks for the good info Sungnee Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted November 4, 2009 Share #36  Posted November 4, 2009 I was offered a Thambar today and am considering buying it. Lens is in good condition with caps and the centre filter - the optics are a bit hazy according to the seller but no fungus. I could not see the haze as had no reading glasses with me - my varifocals are being repaired. Exterior of lens is is very nice condition with no obvious brassing. I'll check some recent auction prices tonight and then decide. Lens is not quite as rare as some people suggest as nearly 3000 were made - but collectors' demand is high. This example is in better exterior condition than others I've seen. They do not surface for sale very often. Shall I or shan't I ?... Decisions, decisions.  Cheers  dunk  It depends on your collector's mood... a serious collection of SM lenses must include a Thambar (as well as "Alpine" Elmar - Hektor(s) 7,3 - "Fat" Elmar 90...) : is one of the most famous Leitz prewar lenses. As for USING it ... well, once a year is already a good performance... unless you decide to specialize in some kind of portraits (which could indeed be an interesting field... as other have said is a lens with which experience is really an important factor, both for f stops mastering and for lighting evaluation) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted November 4, 2009 Share #37  Posted November 4, 2009 I don't know if it is an urban myth but it has been said that a Thambar rings all the bells at airport security, as it is slightly radioactive. If this is true, it is probably also not a good idea to carry it in a trouser pocket ;-}} Wilson  If it's so... I think is not for radioactivity but for metal detecting... : Thambar is a really bulky piece of metal... the lens most similar to it in appearance is indeed that first 20 cm Telyt.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rickp13 Posted November 4, 2009 Share #38  Posted November 4, 2009 to paraphrase mae west........  "is that a thambar in your pocket, or are you just glad to see me?"  good luck, dunk  rick Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted November 4, 2009 Share #39  Posted November 4, 2009 to paraphrase mae west........ "is that a thambar in your pocket, or are you just glad to see me?"  good luck, dunk  rick :D Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ro8881 Posted November 12, 2009 Share #40  Posted November 12, 2009 Hi, I just bought a Thambar two weeks ago in Shanghai, seems in very good condition. Exited, I went to nearby XinTianDi, a conservation project/restaurant area, and snap some pictures with it. Here are some unedited photos, taken with M8, approx   Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!   f2.8/3.2 Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!   f2.8/3.2 ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/98624-leitz-thambar-90mm-f22-on-m9/?do=findComment&comment=1113433'>More sharing options...
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