Help getting started with an Imagon 300

[Bob Salomon]

One of the many reasons I love being part of this community! Thank you Bob, Mark and Peter!
Peter, thank you for sharing a very clear difference between the setups! Based on that, I almost think I like the look of the 7.7 disk closed. I will have to experiment!

Bob, I have two disks, 7.7-9.5 and 9.5-11.5. My lens has 6.8 on it so I assume thats what I would meter for wide open?

Yes, both of your disks are marked 300?

[Bob Salomon]

I focused, as best I could!, at the taking apertures. Focusing these lenses is an art, one that I haven't mastered.

The easiest way to focus is to look at a spectral at the point you want to focus to form a cross. The easiest way to do that is to place a flashlight at the subject. Remember, the design of the Imagon results in the lens having more depth of field at any setting then other lenses of the same focal length and aperture setting! Once you get used to the overall look of the image when you see the cross then it will become much easier to focus without the flashlight.

[Tin Can]

The easiest way to focus is to look at a spectral at the point you want to focus to form a cross. The easiest way to do that is to place a flashlight at the subject. Remember, the design of the Imagon results in the lens having more depth of field at any setting then other lenses of the same focal length and aperture setting! Once you get used to the overall look of the image when you see the cross then it will become much easier to focus without the flashlight.

Going to try Bob's tip today, so I might remember it.

Thanks, Bob and Peter.

[Randy]

I don't have an Imagon lens, but I wonder if the difficulty in focusing is anything like what I experience with my 190mm re-manufactured Wollaston Meniscus lens made by Reinhold? Sometimes it takes several minutes of racking back and forth over and over and over again before I am either satisfied that I have achieved optimum focus, or I just give up and shoot the picture.

[Bob Salomon]

I don't have an Imagon lens, but I wonder if the difficulty in focusing is anything like what I experience with my 190mm re-manufactured Wollaston Meniscus lens made by Reinhold? Sometimes it takes several minutes of racking back and forth over and over and over again before I am either satisfied that I have achieved optimum focus, or I just give up and shoot the picture.

The Imagon has two different focal lengths, the marked one which is the center of the lens and a different focal lens which is the periphery of the lens. The outer focal length’s effect is controlled by the size and opening of the various disks. Also, each disk has a different size center hole. With no disk the lens is at it’s softest setting. With the disk with the smallest center hole with the surrounding holes closed the Imagon is at it’s sharpest setting.
Each disk controls the various softness effects progressively depending on the surrounding holes being open or closed.

[Tin Can]

I stopped posting SF images here as every time I got a harsh lecture.

[Mark Woods]

Randy, that's a bummer. I love the Pictorialist style of images.

[Tin Can]

Me too

It is closer to what I actually see

Randy, that's a bummer. I love the Pictorialist style of images.

[John Brady]

Yes, both of your disks are marked 300?

Yes, both disks are marked f300

[Mark Woods]

Better get new glasses. ;-) I have pin hole lens glasses. ;-)