3 Attachment(s)
Re: Small Format SOFT focus lenses
Here is my experiment. I took an Cooke 10,5" Anastigmat series II with soft focus adjustment and mount it to Canon digital camera via "paper tube and tape" method. This is an old version with only slight soft focus effect, but since locking pin is broken, I unscrew the front two lenses all the way. What do you think about soft focus effect in this test photos?
Attachment 150859
wide open
Attachment 150860
f16
Attachment 150861
f8
Re: Small Format SOFT focus lenses
Marko, it's interesting how it maintains the effect even at f16. I'd like to see it on some other subjects, too.
No one has mentioned the low end Lens Baby lenses. Mostly they're junky, but one is pretty good. My wife needed a head shot recently and after trying a few with my normal Nikon D7200/50mm combo, I brought out the Lensbaby Soft Focus. This is not their kit lens, which is just a single element, but a real lens with a flat field and good to the edges. I got it because I had been looking at their new $500 fancy metal soft focus macro lens and noticed that this one does almost the same thing for a lot less money (probably why they discontinued it when they brought out the fancy one).
I was happy with the results, which remind me of my Verito.
I think part of the problem with short lenses is that they are faster, not the magnification relative to LF. It's tempting to think in terms of how many stops you stop down from full and use them open wider than with LF, but it works better to think in absolute stops. I use my Verito just short of f8 for more normal portraits, and the Baby at f5.6 was still too glowy. The same f6.8 or so that I use on 8x10 would have been better and I think it would compete with the Verito.
https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7692/2...d885b7b1_z.jpg
https://www.flickr.com/photos/mdarnton/26719593582
Re: Small Format SOFT focus lenses
Herbs and Ferns, Soft Focus
Gelatin-silver photograph on Freestyle Private Reserve VC FB photographic paper from a Kodak 120 format Tmax 100 negative exposed in a Mamiya RB67 camera fitted with a custom modified 65mm lens with standard optics removed and replaced by a single meniscus lens. A #25 red filter was used to curb chromatic aberration.
Re: Small Format SOFT focus lenses
Really works for me.
Thanks for your complete description of process. Very helpfull!
Re: Small Format SOFT focus lenses
Re: Small Format SOFT focus lenses
Re: Small Format SOFT focus lenses
Re: Small Format SOFT focus lenses
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Maris Rusis
Herbs and Ferns, Soft Focus
Gelatin-silver photograph on Freestyle Private Reserve VC FB photographic paper from a Kodak 120 format Tmax 100 negative exposed in a Mamiya RB67 camera fitted with a custom modified 65mm lens with standard optics removed and replaced by a single meniscus lens. A #25 red filter was used to curb chromatic aberration.
The softness looks good; seems like a lens to play with more often.
The composition looks good too, which soft focus shows off more than a straight photo. The dark trunk in the upper center stands out nicely, and the others areas of light and dark are harmonious.
Re: Small Format SOFT focus lenses
Thanks to Randy Moe, Peter De Smidt, and jp for your encouraging words. Here's another effort:
Gelatin-silver photograph on Fotospeed Rembrandt bromo-iodide textured photographic paper, image size 21.3cm X 16.4cm, from a Tmax 100 negative exposed in a Mamiya RB67 single lens reflex camera fitted with a modified 65mm lens with standard optics substituted by a Wollaston Meniscus lens. Titled and signed recto, stamped verso.
Re: Small Format SOFT focus lenses