Convert normal lenses to soft focus?

[Mark Sawyer]

Given the recent history of increasing interest in "name" soft focus lenses I can understand that there would not be much risk involved in buying one. I will have to admit, however, that my interest at this point lies primarily in understanding how these lenses work, i.e. which aberrations are most responsible for the look.

Ah, then you should forget all the diffusion filters and cheap substitutes, and concentrate on lenses with spherical aberration designed in, 'cause that's how the classic soft lenses were made to work! (Mind you, there's always been some optical pervert who does things wrong... Forman Hanna was a pictorialist form the 1920's-40's who used his Pinkham and Smith closed down to get a sharp negative, then printed through cheesecloth to fuzz it up. )

Mind you, different soft focus designs had different effects, even if most used the same aberration to achieve it. SA spreads in different ways and to different degrees, so some of us have a variety to explore and choose from.

[jnantz]

hi sandy

you might consider one of reinhold's wollaston meniscus lenes.
they do not cost very much $$ and come with waterhouse stops.
from all reports they are really works of art...

[leighmarrin]

A few years ago I took apart for cleaning a hazy uncoated 6" f4.5 B&L Tessar from a Graflex SLR, and accidentally reversed the rear element of the front cell. I got a "sorta" soft-focus lens, with a lot of flare. The first and third photos are done with the lens correctly assembled. The last photo is with the lens wide open.

My example using an odd lighted lamp-sculpture was probably not the best subject for testing...

http://www.largeformatphotography.in...Focus-Lens-(-)

[IanG]

I'd seen results of reversing the elements in a Tessar before but couldn't remember which so thanks Leigh.

Reinholds meniscus lenses are another great idea and often old brass originals can be found quite cheaply.

Ian

[Jody_S]

Reversing the middle element of a Triplet or 5-element lens will give similar results. I'm currently experimenting with a Fujinon Xerox 260/5.6 lens with a reversed element, I'm getting some interesting results. I will post something when I finish scanning and clean up one or two.

[goamules]

No one has mentioned yet that the front element of a Petzval, reversed and put in the rear, becomes a meniscus and is soft wide open. It's original intent was to convert a very sharp portrait lens into a landscape lens. But you had to stop them down or they were "too soft". They are achromatic, so all the softness is from spherical aberrations. Some lenses will convert easily, and screw right in. Jamin Cone Centralizeteurs were made to do it (they even have engravings to explain the portrait or landscape modes) as well as some Hermagis, and the Wollensak Vesta. Of course, Petzvals are about as expensive as soft focus lenses now!

[Jody_S]

Here are my preliminary results on 8x10 X-ray film, Fujinon 260mm f5.6 (no aperture), center element reversed. Front and rear elements are badly scratched as well. These are cheap lenses, I bought this one for $5 at a flea market but I've seen them on fleabay for $20.

[coisasdavida]

I tried the front cell of a 240mm Tele-Arton.
Here is a quick scan with wet neg and iPhone.

[Mark Sawyer]

Here is a quick scan with wet neg and iPhone.

Or as it's called on Flickr, a "fine print"...

But an interesting effect from the front cell only...

[Keith Fleming]

I have an Alphax shutter (came with a Protar VIIA set) with 45mm threads. A 45-52 adapter allows me to place a Nikon close-up filter behind the iris. Like a meniscus, the image is very soft wide open, and sharpens as I close down the iris. Even taping a close-up filter behind any empty shutter would also work--you just have to calculate the f-stops for the filter.

Most of you probably already have everything it takes to make such an improvised soft-focus lens.

Keith