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Thread: soft focus lenses

  1. #1
    Armentor1
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    Mar 2011
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    New Orleans, La
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    soft focus lenses

    Is there such a thing as soft focus enlarging lenses. Could I create a sharp negative then in the darkroom add the soft focus qualities to it?

    thanks,
    dave

  2. #2
    Big Negs Rock!
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    Re: soft focus lenses

    You can use the same techniques as you do on the taking lens. The flares you'd get in the hightlights now flare the deep shadows. It's quite interesting and unique.
    Mark Woods

    Large Format B&W
    Cinematography Mentor at the American Film Institute
    Past President of the Pasadena Society of Artists
    Director of Photography
    Pasadena, CA
    www.markwoods.com

  3. #3
    Armentor1
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    Re: soft focus lenses

    huh, sounds cool. I'll
    soften up a poor enlarging lens with Vaseline and give this a try.
    thanks mark -

  4. #4

    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    Milford Pa.
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    2,930

    Re: soft focus lenses

    Quote Originally Posted by armentor1@mac.com View Post
    Is there such a thing as soft focus enlarging lenses. Could I create a sharp negative then in the darkroom add the soft focus qualities to it?

    thanks,
    dave
    yes, they used the Verito for enlarging. they even made special water house stops with a funny cut out. not the usual round hole.
    My YouTube Channel has many interesting videos on Soft Focus Lenses and Wood Cameras. Check it out.

    My YouTube videos
    oldstyleportraits.com
    photo.net gallery

  5. #5

    Join Date
    Jan 2009
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    Denmark
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    Re: soft focus lenses

    Voigtländer made the WZ objective just for this pupose.
    WZ stands for Weichzeichner. Softness was adjusted using the iris.
    Only one size 18cm.
    Unfortunately this is very pricey item these days as it has been used as a taking lens.
    It is a double symmetrical meniscus, unless I have misunderstood Voigtländer's cross sectional diagram. Sold between 1926 and 1934. Negative size was about 4x5-

  6. #6
    Bruce Hemingway
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
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    Seattle
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    Re: soft focus lenses

    Search ebay for Pictorial Control Variable Soft Focus Lens Attachment.

    An inexpensive way to experiment in the darkroom.

  7. #7

    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    Kalamazoo
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    648

    Re: soft focus lenses

    Quote Originally Posted by eddie View Post
    yes, they used the Verito for enlarging. they even made special water house stops with a funny cut out. not the usual round hole.
    I still have a set of Verito stops FS if anyone is interested. Here's the original ad: Verito enlarging stops

    And a pic:


  8. #8
    Big Negs Rock!
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    Re: soft focus lenses

    Instead of Vaseline use KY Jelly (non scented/flavored). It's optically clear, water soluble for easy clean up, while the Vaseline cleans up with alcohol and isn't optically clear.
    Mark Woods

    Large Format B&W
    Cinematography Mentor at the American Film Institute
    Past President of the Pasadena Society of Artists
    Director of Photography
    Pasadena, CA
    www.markwoods.com

  9. #9

    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Posts
    280

    Re: soft focus lenses

    you can get these "pictorial control" thingies from ebay cheap:

    http://cgi.ebay.com/Pictorial-Contro...#ht_891wt_1185

    Easy to use, and you have some control.... i have one, but only used it ones. If off-course is also usable in the end of a taking lens.

  10. #10
    lenser's Avatar
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    Jul 2007
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    Tim from Missouri
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    1,698

    Re: soft focus lenses

    Kodak made a wonderful soft filter for enlarging. It is molded with several crossing lings in the glass. It also happens to fit perfectly into the red filter accessory gizmo for the Omega D series enlargers so you can use it to swing into and out of the light path at will.
    "One of the greatest necessities in America is to discover creative solitude." Carl Sandburg

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