Large Format Lens Comparison - Still Life. Barrel Lens vs. Conventional Lens
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- Опубліковано 26 сер 2024
- In this video Alastair re-visits shooting a couple of still-life setups with a large format barrel lens. In our previous video he decided it wasn't really a very good lens, but on a closer inspection, and shooting it side-by-side with a Tele-Xenar large format lens, he finds the images are really rather good.
Cool results! I'd imagine the projection lens' lower contrast could come down to lack of anti reflection coatings. The Tele Xenar has multi-coatings where the projection lens wouldn't need coatings as, by design, it would be projecting light rather than recording reflected light. As far as I know the Ektar and Xenar are both Tessar formula and I have the f8 version of that projector lens... I've not tried it yet.
I wonder if that's the case. Certainly the projection lens is very un-coated.
You nailed it.
You are making me laugh. I love your histories. It's always something to learn.
Photography, as opposed to taking photos, has always been about experimenting with your experiment as well as light.
interesting shutter hack, although you could, on say a sinar have a separate shutter, and add it to a "middle standard" or on the bellows side of the front std, and connect the bellows to this shutter, giving a timed release, or say an insertable curtain or "bulb" shutter, as used on plate cameras.
It's certainly the most obvious solution and thanks for the reminder. I have looked into the Sinar Shutter - and there are some other mechanical behind-the-lens shutters that would make shooting with this lens much easier. It would also open up a huge number of older barrel lens options. The only issue is that I don't own a Sinar camera. I wonder if you can hack it for a Linhof? Hmmmmmmm
just had a third option get into my head, using flash ( and a film insensitive to red light, like the developing paper, and process), you work in the 'safelight' and only expose during the flash cycle, so use power level (flash duration) as your shutter speed aka ~ 1\1500th of a second; 1\30,000th etc. depending on the power used, also the addition of ND filters, with their exposure correction factors, gives even more shutter speed options, even using a 'big stopper' as a shutter, to minimise light contamination until exposure time.
I’m rather enjoying your solutions to this issue. Might have to do another video…
To control exposure with the barrel lens, or any other lens without shutter, apply ND filters to take the stress out of, and add accuracy to, the exposure time. I've done this with enlarger lenses, including a 1920s enlarger lens that resembles yours very much. 🙂 ... and shutterless Sinar lenses on a Linhof.
Nice video, thanks.
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The ND is a brilliant suggestion! Thanks for that.
Not sure why you didn't use a type of camera where these lens excel, which would be a focal plane setup... Most of us know a field camera is the wrong camera to be testing/judging a barrel lens on.....
A field camera is definitely not an ideal setup, but I used it regardless. Here's why I didn't use a focal plane setup: One, (and the most important reason) is that I don't own a studio camera. I'm guessing an old Sinar would be the best option with the Sinar shutter - which is pretty cool but they're hard to find in good shape. Two, the barrel lens I was using was a projector lens - it was never designed to be used on a camera, anyway. And three, it cost me $20. I wanted to keep the overhead down.
Further to this, though - being presented with the challenge of shooting with no shutter is part of the thrill of shooting with a barrel lens. I'm not sure I would want to take that out of the equation. Being able to control the shutter speed is going to make things more reliable and repeatable, for sure, but where's the fun in that? If I want to do that, the Tele-Xenar will more than fill the bill.
Of course, I know darn well that I'm going to find some fantastic old Heliar lens and I'll curse my existence when I don't have a decent shutter to use with it, but in the meantime a few pieces of foam core will have to do the trick.
If you want a SHARP barrel lens try a Wollensak APO Raptar or a Georz (Baush & Lomb) APO Artar -red dot. For soft focus try a Wollensak Verito or a Wollensak Anastigmat ser II #4 or 5 with adjustable diffusion
APO Raptar's are severely underrated, they have better coverage than Artar's and are much cheaper.
Good to know. Thanks. I’ll keep my eyes open.
Stop spreading the word - prices will skyrocket and I won't be able to afford any more of them. Actually they are some of the very best lenses next to commercial ektars.@@ericdomazlicky6413
one other hack which will work on any camera, is to use the film holder and 120 roll holders' darkslide as a shutter, and timing with this, esp. if you use x-ray film, or ilford's contact printing paper, each has a very low asa, of ~1-3 giving the adequate exposure time of a few seconds,to a minute, so allowing for this hack not to vibrate the shot, as for long exposures this motion is dissolved away, due to the time even the closing of the shutter does not affect this.
Love the great equipment on this channel.
It may have been mentioned in the other shootout, but wouldn't a Speed Graphic (with its build in shutter) take care a lot of the workflow with a barrel lens?
Thanks for the feedback. An in-camera shutter solution would work well here - either the Speed Graphic or a Sinar built-in shutter would work well in this situation. Unfortunately I own neither, and I kinda like my ham-handed approach to shutters. Keeps me humble! ...and gives great opportunities for new videos!
That lens is designed to produce printing plates, maybe for fine art photographic publications.
Interesting. I didn’t know they projected an image for printing plates.
I love your content keep it up😉
Thanks very much!
Interesting and thanks for doing it.
It’s given me an idea - if I treat my Planar 110mm FE as a barrel lens with a top hat, could I use it on my 503Cx as a back up to my 203FE ? If my 203FE ever fails, the beautiful lens might be destined for eBay. However, with a Big Stopper it might work wide open on the 503Cx. Worth a thought ?
Not sure. There is the small matter of the mirror in the body in the way. Could put the lens on, focus, lock the mirror up, pull the dark slide (if you are allowed to do it that way) and then shoot with the top-hat shutter setup. Interesting question, I'll have to investigate it - certainly if you come up with a definitive answer, by all means please let me know.
@@UnderexposedwithAlastairBird No .... mirror down to focus, mirror lock up with rear curtain protecting film, fire cable release to open rear curtain, 4,3,2,1 exposure, release cable release to close rear curtain. Use neutral density filters to extend exposure time. F/2.0 on a 500 Series camera. Voila.
@@UnderexposedwithAlastairBird is your 203FE fixed and returned ? Awaiting the Xenotar vs Planar comparison. 🙂
@@Super.Quasar Fantastic! I have to try that out.
@@Super.Quasar The 203FE is still sitting on the shelf. One of many things I need to get out the door. I gotta do that soon. Too many pieces of equipment to keep track of!
I have the Schneider Tele Xenar 360 f/5.5 in barrel configuration. Can you tell me which shutter yours is in? I see Linhof branded on it but can you be more specific? I’m shopping for a shutter for my lens so that I can use it in the field with fast shutter speeds. I use it with a custom lens cover by hand now.
Let me take a look and get back to you.
@@UnderexposedwithAlastairBird 🙏
@@RonEMarks Hi Ron, Ok, the shutter is a Compur Shutter, serial is 770417, if that makes any difference. It's pretty old-school, no ability to open the lens unless you set it to 't' or 'b'. I can't put my hands on my callipers but the inside size for the front element is ~26mm or so. Let me know if you want some pics or if you have any other questions I can answer.
@@UnderexposedwithAlastairBird thanks! I’ll try to do more research. I hate to bother. Thanks again!
Please point me toward some $20 barrel lenses, the one your showing is like $200 roughly.
I would love to, but I bought that lens for $20 about 15 years ago! Prices have really changed!
@@UnderexposedwithAlastairBird Of course I was excited about the lens and totally missed the part about getting so long ago. Stoked to get a projector lens and play with it.
Camera make?
The camera is a Linhof Technikardin from the early 1990s, I believe.
Cool! :)
Quick load!
Everybody loves the Quick Loads! I miss them.
Ive never been a big fan of that AmeriKKKan can’t keep my mouth shut so speak without breathing at the speed of light. This would have been an interesting video if it was slowed down and delivered to the punters at the speed it warranted.
I’m Canadian. And yes, I speak quickly. It is a burden (not joking) and something I am really trying hard to work on.
interesting shutter hack, although you could, on say a sinar have a separate shutter, and add it to a "middle standard" or on the bellows side of the front std, and connect the bellows to this shutter, giving a timed release, or say an insertable curtain or "bulb" shutter, as used on plate cameras.
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