Luminous Landscape Forum

Equipment & Techniques => Medium Format / Film / Digital Backs – and Large Sensor Photography => Topic started by: Murray Fredericks on November 24, 2009, 09:52:29 pm

Title: Alap Lens Advice
Post by: Murray Fredericks on November 24, 2009, 09:52:29 pm

Hi All,

following the Alpa 'sharpness' discussion (and mine has always delivered quite exceptional results...) I am looking for recommendations for a couple of new lenses.

Firstly the lenses must be able to cover the P65+ with movements essential...

1. Either 1 or 2 lenses to sit between my 35mm and the 90mm, and

2. Possibly something longer than the 90mm (and can say a 120mm be shot using only the viewfinder?)

Qualities I am looking at are

a. Sharpness - and overall sharpness with movements applied

b. Performance at wider apertures (eg f/5.6) for lower light.

The finished work is to be used in huge enlargements so any variations will become apparent.

Cheers

Murray

Title: Alap Lens Advice
Post by: Christopher on November 24, 2009, 10:23:22 pm

Well first most lenses are not good wide open. They perform best around 8-16.

However, most Rodenstock are certainly a lot better wide open than any Schneider I know of.

Currently I use two lenses I really like, the R. 40HR-W and the 90HR-W, both allow movements with the P65 and are extremely sharp.

Ups, just saw that you were looking for something in between. 35-90

Well perhaps the Schneider 47XL or 72XL, however I doubt that they will be on pair with the current top line Rodenstock, especially not wide open.

Title: Alap Lens Advice
Post by: archivue on November 25, 2009, 04:19:49 am

the rodenstock 40 seems to be a very good lens... but it exhibit more distortion than a 35 xl and a 47 xl

so, it all depends on your shooting style !

I've read somewhere, that there was some new schneider lenses coming... something around 28, and around 43.

If you don't mind too much about distortion, then the 40 should do the trick !
I have the 90 from rod, my best lens... but i don't shoot with a P65...

Title: Alap Lens Advice
Post by: schaubild on November 25, 2009, 04:27:11 am

Quote from: archivue

the rodenstock 40 seems to be a very good lens... but it exhibit more distortion than a 35 xl and a 47 xl

so, it all depends on your shooting style !

I've read somewhere, that there was some new schneider lenses coming... something around 28, and around 43.

If you don't mind too much about distortion, then the 40 should do the trick !
I have the 90 from rod, my best lens... but i don't shoot with a P65...

Thanks to their new software, distortion with Schneider, Rodenstock and even the Zeiss Biogon is no longer an issue on Alpa.

Title: Alap Lens Advice
Post by: archivue on November 25, 2009, 10:19:27 am

Quote from: schaubild

Thanks to their new software, distortion with Schneider, Rodenstock and even the Zeiss Biogon is no longer an issue on Alpa.

of course, but you have to remenber the F stop, the distance, and the amount of shift and process the image via an other software... that's time !
i'd like to be able to use that software, but i'm not an alpa user for now...

Title: Alap Lens Advice
Post by: asf on November 25, 2009, 03:23:37 pm

Quote from: archivue

of course, but you have to remenber the F stop, the distance, and the amount of shift and process the image via an other software... that's time !
i'd like to be able to use that software, but i'm not an alpa user for now...

It's a PS plug-in and is simple and quick to use. Results are superb.

You do not have to remember the f stop or distance.

Title: Alap Lens Advice
Post by: archivue on November 25, 2009, 03:43:28 pm

Quote from: asf

It's a PS plug-in and is simple and quick to use. Results are superb.

You do not have to remember the f stop or distance.

That's sound nice !

Title: Alap Lens Advice
Post by: Murray Fredericks on November 25, 2009, 03:51:22 pm

So...

it's either a 47mm and a 72mm,

OR

does anyone own something around the 60mm that would do the job?

Cheers

Murray

Title: Alap Lens Advice
Post by: asf on November 25, 2009, 03:58:56 pm

I have the 47 and 60 HR

The 60 is excellent but the 72 has a larger circle and no distortion. Perhaps it is better for stitching.
The 47 is excellent for stitching.

If you were closer I'd let you test them

As I don't have a p65 or anything like it I can't test for you ...

Title: Alap Lens Advice
Post by: archivue on November 25, 2009, 04:03:00 pm

the 72 is a good lens,

around 60 you have a new lens coming :
Rodenstock HR Digaron-S 4.0/60 mm (http://www.alpa.ch/index.php?path=products/lenses/adapted_alpa_lenses&detailpage=158)

Title: Alap Lens Advice
Post by: asf on November 25, 2009, 05:21:34 pm

Quote from: archivue

the 72 is a good lens,

around 60 you have a new lens coming :
Rodenstock HR Digaron-S 4.0/60 mm (http://www.alpa.ch/index.php?path=products/lenses/adapted_alpa_lenses&detailpage=158)

This lens isn't new, I've had it for about a year and don't think it was new then

Title: Alap Lens Advice
Post by: Murray Fredericks on November 25, 2009, 05:23:13 pm

Quote from: archivue

the 72 is a good lens,

around 60 you have a new lens coming :
Rodenstock HR Digaron-S 4.0/60 mm (http://www.alpa.ch/index.php?path=products/lenses/adapted_alpa_lenses&detailpage=158)

SO the new one has a 70mm image circle and the old one has a 60mm  - that seems like a possibility...

Thanks

Murray

Title: Alap Lens Advice
Post by: archivue on November 25, 2009, 07:51:09 pm

ERROR !

sorry... i was thinking of the new W lenses...

such as :
digaron W 50 (http://www.alpa.ch/index.php?path=products/lenses/adapted_alpa_lenses&detailpage=293)