Re-assessing my (un)sharpest lenses

[cowanw]

Courtesy of B.S.Kumar, I now have, in my stable, a seemingly singular soft focus lens; a Komuranon-SF Soft Focus 300mm f/5.6 Lens on a copal 3s shutter. I had thought, being retired, that my years of gas had resolved; but no!
The lens was estimated to be similar to the Heliar effect. Nevertheless I thought I should compare it to other lens I had access to.
We frequently get requests for examples of the sharpest lens and less frequently get requests for the look of soft focus lenses. We have a number of fine threads of images of soft focus lenses but thy may suffer a bit from having different subjects, different exposures, different lighting and different development and printing.
So here is a completely boring set of images of the same subject, same lighting, same fstop (as far as possible) and same development and printing.
The computer screen sharpens the image compared to the print which I did nothing about. Digitalizing the prints changes the colour tones, which I desaturated back to a degree.
The first set of three images are ranked in softness; most to less - the Imagon 300mm H5.6, the Kodak Portrait 305mm F5.6, and the Komuranon 300mm at F5.6. Much softer than a Heliar the Komuranon threw a distinct halo of light bleeding into dark; not as wide an area as the Kodak or the Imagon, but the soft and sharp character of the Imagon was slightly prominent. So I ranked them all as similar.

[cowanw]

There were some interesting observations along the way. F5.6 is not the same for each lens. This was particularly so for the Imagon (not surprisingly re: H5.6) with much less exposed negatives. There were differences in focal length which would result in small changes in bellows length but there was a noticeable difference in light transmission in lenses beyond that factor and beyond the obvious maximum aperture restrictions. I used the Sinar shutter in my camera with flash to avoid shutter differences and printed to bring middle greys to a similar tone.
This set of images, in decreasing softness; a second Komuranon SF, Verito 11.5 inches F5.6, Pinkham and Smith Series IV #2 12 inch f 5.6.

[cowanw]

Moving to a more restrained Soft Focus effect with the Universal Heliar 11.75 inches F5.6 at its most soft, the Cooke variable 13.1 inch F5.6 at its most soft, and the Dynar 300mm which is an original formula Heliar choked to F6. The latter is moving into much sharper territory.

[cowanw]

The Dallmeyer Adon is an interesting lens; confusing in that it seems to share its name with other lenses of different formula and purpose, but this lens is an early zoom telephoto lens (and not a add on adaptor). It served Ansel Adams in his earlier photographs including 'Monolith the face of Half Dome' (1927). I use it at its softest least telephoto length, about 300mm F8.
Despite its marketing, the Cooke PS945 is less soft than its Pinkham predecessor and ranks here with a series of mid-level lenses never marketed as anything but general type lenses.

[cowanw]

The Velostigmat II 11.5 inch f 5.6 at soft setting (not uncorked which makes a big difference) is ever so slightly different from its sharp setting if refocussed. The 11.5 inch F6 Versar, 12 inch F6.8 Vinco and the 12.5 inch F8 Voltas are all of similar sharpness. Perhaps underrated, they all are pleasant portrait lenses.

[cowanw]

As I mentioned, the Velostigmat II at its sharp setting is indeed slightly sharper compared to its factory set softer setting when refocussed. The Cooke variable 13.1 inch F5.6 is sharper still and the Universal Heliar comes in even sharper. The Universal Heliar has the greatest range of soft to sharp of this small group of adjustable lenses. Perhaps this is the most versatile of these lenses.`

[cowanw]

The sharpest of the set are The Cooke XVa 311mm F6.8, the Kodak Commercial Ektar F6.3 and sharpest of all, the Raptar 302mm F5.6.

[Vaidotas]

This is most elaborare soft focus lens comparison I’ve seen.
Focus plane varies a bit as I can see from the texture of cap.
I’m always longing what look offers Pinkham here, my favorite.
And biggest surprise was Wollensak Raptar 304 with that tender sharpness.

[Bernice Loui]

Keep in mind lighting imposed a significant variable to how any sorta-focus lens renders images on film..


Bernice

[cowanw]

Thanks for looking, Vaidotas. Yes it is difficult to keep the subject from moving a bit and some of the soft focus lenses are somewhat optional for best plane of focus. The Pinkham is my favorite as well, but I agree that many other lenses offer a smoothness that is very pleasing.
Regards
Bill