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View Full Version : Using a Rodenstock Imagon



John Marriage
17-Jan-2010, 03:27
I've just bought a 250mm Imagon with its 3 aperture plates, ND filter and hood. I'd love to get some advice as a Soft Focus Beginner on how best to use it (on either a Sinar or an MPP 5x4 camera). Especially for abstract / landscape / still-life subjects rather than portraiture. The thing it did not come with is any instructions. Are there any books or articles? I read the SF article on the home page here - most interesting but not enough about actually using one.

Thomas Greutmann
17-Jan-2010, 05:25
Check this thread in this forum:

http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?t=31866

Bob Salomon
17-Jan-2010, 08:05
The Imagon needs at least a 5:1 lighting ratio to do it's job. The aperture should only be controlled with the disks as the correction of the edge of the Imagon is cut-off if you use the aperture control in the lens or shutter. The sofest results are with no disk. Then the next softest is with 5.8 to 7.7 disk with all of the edge holes open, next softest would be with that disk with all holes closed. With no disk the aperture is at 5.8. With the 5.8 to 7.7 disk the exposure is 5.8 with all holes open and 7.7 with all edge holes closed. The next softest result is with the 7.7 to 9 disk with all holes open, next would be with all holes closed. The lens is very sharp with the 9 disk with all hole closed.
The disks can be set with edge holes partially closed, if desired. The Imagon needs a strong main light in order to create the halation that is the mark of the Imagon. You should not be using flat lighting as the key light like an umbrella or soft box.

As the focus changes with the settings of the disks it is very important that you focus with the disk in place and set as you want. If you change the disk or the hole openings the focus will shift. When a strong point light source is in focus with an Imagon a cross is formed on the gg. So a small, bright flashlight at the subject position at the point of sharpness will aid you in focusing the Imagon and to learn what a sharp Imagon image looks like on the gg, compared to an out of focus image. If you want to reduce exposure use the ND filter so you maintain the desired softness effect.
Rodenstock did have a book on the Imagon that was published more then 20 years ago in Germany. It was only in German. There also were photographers who used the Imagon extensively who also wrote and demoed with them in the 60s through the early 90s but they were mostly portraiture specialists. You might look to see if you can find any of their articles have been put on line or see if your library has any. Among others they were Monte Zucker, Frank Cricchio, Burghardt Schmactenburg and Tibor Horvath.

Bjorn Nilsson
17-Jan-2010, 09:53
There is quite a lot of info on the Imagon lens on this site: http://www.cameraeccentric.com/info.html where you can find at least three documents (brochures, articles, manuals) on the Imagon. (Apart from that there is a wealth of info on other older lenses and cameras.)

//Björn

Bill_1856
17-Jan-2010, 11:48
That's an expensive piece of glass. Seems to me that it would have been reasonable to do the research BEFORE dumping a load of bucks into it.

John Marriage
19-Jan-2010, 16:34
Thanks to all for your help and advice, especially the pointer to a previous discussion thread with much of value. I seem to have irritated Bill 1856; I didn't mean to irritate anyone! I have looked at a lot of images made with soft focus lenses - even been inspired. So it seemed reasonable both to embark on an exploration, and also, when starting, to look for hints at a more practical level with the lens actually to hand.

John T
19-Jan-2010, 18:20
John,

I completely agree with you. No matter what others do with a lens, there is no better way of seeing what a lens can do than to use it yourself. Besides, if it doesn't work you can sell it.

I don't know why Bill is so hot and bothered

Brian Ellis
19-Jan-2010, 18:37
Thanks to all for your help and advice, especially the pointer to a previous discussion thread with much of value. I seem to have irritated Bill 1856; I didn't mean to irritate anyone! I have looked at a lot of images made with soft focus lenses - even been inspired. So it seemed reasonable both to embark on an exploration, and also, when starting, to look for hints at a more practical level with the lens actually to hand.

The people who research thoroughly before they buy are the same people who bring all their lawn furniture in before they leave on vacation, who read the instructions first before putting anything together, and who always have their rain gear with them. It's much more fun to buy first and learn later. That way you don't get bogged down in details ahead of time. So don't worry, you followed the right order. It's only money.

Mark Sawyer
19-Jan-2010, 22:52
The Imagon is a lovely lens, and I keep promising myself to spend more time with mine. There are lots of "official" rules to using one, (the lighting ratio, never use it wide open, use the H-stops, not the f/stops...) but I break the rules constantly with lovely results. Okay, maybe they're just lovely to me... :)

Maybe more than most other soft lenses, it's ultimately one to be played with to see what works for you.