Your question is one deserving a lengthy essay answer that would still only
scratch the surface. But you've caught me in our turtle in a campground.
Some limited thoughts.
I'm pretty deep into this abyss, with a drawerful of lenses of the sort you
ask about.
"Vintage" is not a good indicator of anything. For example, the first real
telephoto for 35mm SLRs was the Nikkor Q 200/4. Even it's first version is
optically top quality, better than either OM 200 mm. OTOH, a later Alpex
200/3.5 is full of pleasing glow wide open. I have both; the Nikkor is not
on my list of alt Lenses and the Alpex is.
There are basically three sorts of devices that may give results you like.
1. Early, fast lenses. My Canon 58/1.2, released in Feb, 1962, has quite
interesting, painterly rendering at large apertures. The OM 55/1.2 is a
much later design, and too optically good for my idea of Alt Photography.
There are no OM lenses that qualify.
2. The other sort are those made by LensBaby and Lomography with
intentional optical "flaws" to create less than perfect optical rendering.
A casual look at LensBaby may create the idea that they have endless
similar lenses. A closer look shows that they offer a wide range of
different specific sorts of renderings.
It looks like I have about 15 Alt Lenses and about a dozen LensBaby optic
swap lenses and stand alone lenses.
3. Nikkor Soft filters. These are very different from the raindrop or grid
pattern filters or grease smeared on a clear filter, or stretched nylons,
etc. Subtler, and more like old time lenses.
I agree with you about swirly bokeh, interesting occasionally, but not
mainstream. I have one lens for 4/3 and one for FF.
More to say, and lots of examples, but later.
Some images to chew on
https://goo.gl/photos/X3z53ZKAK3MEZrT79
Travelin' Moose
On Wed, May 25, 2022 at 10:34 AM, Wayne Shumaker <om3ti@xxxxxxxx> wrote:
> I've been doing a bit of exploring of vintage adapted lenses. An
> interesting site with lots of great photos:
>
> https://toby-marshall.com/
> or on Flickr
> https://www.flickr.com/photos/49372114@N00/albums/with/72157677844313036
>
> as well as Flickr groups show some interesting bokeh from vintage lenses.
> I particularly like some of these:
>
> https://toby-marshall.com/galleries/bokeh-tales/canon-ltm-50mm-f1-2/
>
> https://toby-marshall.com/galleries/bokeh-tales/aires-coral-4-5cm-f1-5-lens/
> as well as others.
>
> I'm curious what others think and suggestions for vintage lenses. Seems
> many now have cult status and premium prices. I'm particularly fond of the
> painterly look. Swirly bokeh not so much.
>
> My only vintage lenses are the Oly 50/1.8, the older oly 55/1.2, and a
> vintage 8 element Super-Takumar 50mm F1.4. I don't have any great shots to
> show just yet. Is the Oly 35-70 considered vintage these days. It is one of
> the few with ED glass (like the 100/2). I'm starting an album now
> (currently only 1 vintage photo):
>
> https://photos.app.goo.gl/TR5Ud27mgL5cvdoJ8
> Super-Takumar 50mm/1.4 8 element and a non-vintage sonie 24-105 shot.
>
> I'm also wondering how much the composition plays in producing the
> painterly look. Or even getting such looks from modern lenses.
>
> I was going to search back through the archives, but hoping others (Moose)
> can point me to some of the past posts here or photos.
>
> WayneS
>
> --
> _________________________________________________________________
> Options: http://lists.thomasclausen.net/mailman/listinfo/olympus
> Archives: http://lists.thomasclausen.net/mailman/private/olympus/
> Themed Olympus Photo Exhibition: http://www.tope.nl/
>
>
--
_________________________________________________________________
Options: http://lists.thomasclausen.net/mailman/listinfo/olympus
Archives: http://lists.thomasclausen.net/mailman/private/olympus/
Themed Olympus Photo Exhibition: http://www.tope.nl/
|