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Thread: How different are Tessars from different companies?

  1. #1

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    How different are Tessars from different companies?

    Has somebody experience with Tessars from different companies?

    Are they more or less the same or there are noticeable differences?

  2. #2
    Drew Wiley
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    Re: How different are Tessars from different companies?

    The term Tessar applies to a particular element configuration that has been made by numerous companies for a variety of formats for over a hundred years. So, of course, there are going to be all kinds of variations. The most modern LF tessars are the Nikkor M, preceded by the Nikkor Q and Fuji L series. Then you drift back into names like Xenar and Zeiss Tessar, certain Ektars etc which had long internal evolutions of their own. Different vintages tend to have somewhat different renderings or personalities.

  3. #3
    Mark Sawyer's Avatar
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    Re: How different are Tessars from different companies?

    The bigger differences come in speeds, dates, and coatings, or lack thereof. In my observations, the super-fast f/3.5s aren't as sharp as the f/8s, even at equivalent f/stops, with others falling in between accordingly. Very early Tessars don't seem quite s sharp as the later ones, though they still perform well, (the same can be said of other lens designs, with the most difference in Petzvals and Dagors). Coatings increase the contrast, of course, and the early coatings are more easily damaged, though that tends to be more cosmetic. I like Tessars, and having a fair sampling, (Zeiss, Wollensak, Ilex, B&L, Kodak, Fuji, Nikon, Lomo, Astragon...) and never found one I didn't like...

    And, of course, the reliability and consistency of the shutter should be considered too...
    "I love my Verito lens, but I always have to sharpen everything in Photoshop..."

  4. #4
    (Shrek)
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    Re: How different are Tessars from different companies?

    Quote Originally Posted by erian View Post

    Are they more or less the same or there are noticeable differences?
    Yes.

  5. #5
    loujon
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    Re: How different are Tessars from different companies?

    Quote Originally Posted by Jody_S View Post
    Yes.
    +1

  6. #6
    Mark Sawyer's Avatar
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    Re: How different are Tessars from different companies?

    Yes, they more or less the same or there are noticeable differences...
    "I love my Verito lens, but I always have to sharpen everything in Photoshop..."

  7. #7

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    Re: How different are Tessars from different companies?

    Hmm. Tessars from the same company aren't always the same.

    In the beginning, Carl Zeiss Jena made f/4.5 and f/6.3 Tessars. The 6.3ers had usefully more coverage than the 4.5ers. Over time the 4.5ers were recomputed and their coverage grew. And over time CZJ developed faster Tessars, always with less coverage than slower ones. A Tessar isn't a Tessar isn't a Tessar ...

  8. #8

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    Re: How different are Tessars from different companies?

    As with many vintage designs, someone decides to remake one, even though there are millions of used ones out there. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects...&ref=discovery

    I find it interesting that in 35mm sizes, there are not that many Tessars. In LF, there were plenty.

  9. #9

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    Re: How different are Tessars from different companies?

    Quote Originally Posted by goamules View Post
    ...someone decides to remake one, even though there are millions of used ones out there. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects...&ref=discovery...
    "Someone" might have "decided" to remake it, but the outcome wasn't positive:


  10. #10
    Tin Can's Avatar
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    Re: How different are Tessars from different companies?

    Wow!

    Quote Originally Posted by Sal Santamaura View Post
    "Someone" might have "decided" to remake it, but the outcome wasn't positive:

    Tin Can

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