I couldn't live without Zen !!

Ari Aikomus · May 13, 2008

Hi,

I must confess to you that I bought back Zenitar 16/2.8 fish-eye lens ! Five months ago I had my first Zenitar (it was my first real fish-eye lens too), but after a month using I sold it and bought Pentax DA 10-17 fish-eye lens...

DA 10-17 was a great lens also, but because my bad economy I sold it too (and bought new K20D camera & Bigma)...Until now my widest lens was then 18-55II kit.

So - I'm happy Zen user again ;-D ...And I think that this isn't bad situation after all ! Although Pentax DA10-17 FE was a excellent fish-eye, it's very true that cheap Zenitar 16/2.8 can do normal wide-angle works more than fine. I could say that now from experience!

For those members who don't know zenitar so well, here are some useful links:

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1036&message=17658788

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1036&message=25792119

My first Zen was very good copy of that Russian lens, but this new copy suffered from "infinity focus problem", which is actually quite common problem with zenitars - but quite easy to fix:

http://cpicture.net/zenitar/index.html

I did this fix to my new Zen and now it operate as it should work.

Some of Zen user say that zenitar is too soft wide open, but I can't confirm that...Actually I believe that it can be also that infinity focus problem which can cause bad IQ wide open.

...Here are some my tests - also zen wide open:

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1036&message=26449833

http://www.kultakaari.fi/arska/laite/zenitar/album/index.html

***

Finally some my recent photos with my new Zen:

Zen, f/2.8:

Crop (no PP), notice quite nice bokeh...:

Zen, f/8:

Crop (no PP):

Unfished:

Cheers,

Ari

--

Ari Aikomus -

'Why should I feel lonely ? is not our planet in the Milky way?'

viking79 · May 13, 2008

Nice shots, my favorite is the first of the tree. The perspective makes the tree look looming. I also like the one of the kid on the ball.

I agree, I have noticed sample variation with the Zenitar. My first one was M42 and felt as high quality as any of my Pentax glass. The second is K mount, but feels significantly cheaper (the focus isn't as smooth and the aperture ring doesn't turn as freely). They sure are a nice lens though. If you have a film camera, mount it on there for some impressive shots.

Thanks for sharing,

Eric

GuyM · May 13, 2008

I agree with you, Ari. Great value lens and particularly useful on the APS sized sensor.

Guy
--
GMT +10

D TONG · May 13, 2008

I doubt if I posted these before

Distillery area of Toronto

A defished version at very low light

--
Daniel, Toronto
http://www.pbase.com/danieltong

D TONG · May 13, 2008

Ceiling painting at the Lourvre at 1/3s with no flash and no tripod of course

Daniel, Toronto
http://www.pbase.com/danieltong

D TONG · May 13, 2008

He is pondering what to pick from my left hand. Likely it is intimidated by the lens reflection of the Zen on my right hand

Jumped one step and focus what he wanted. But why did he jump one step? God knows

Still pondering

Got it

Ready to take off now. All within 5 second according to exif

Daniel, Toronto
http://www.pbase.com/danieltong

Ari Aikomus · May 13, 2008

this Zen bird set is kind refreshing series ;-D

A nice using of that wonderful little lens!

Ari

--

Ari Aikomus -

'Why should I feel lonely ? is not our planet in the Milky way?'

Rupert60 · May 13, 2008

The Z is a neat lens, and one that you don't hesitate to use because it is so dependable under almost any circumstance. Here's one from this weekend.

--
'This is more serious than I thought.....but it is still fun!
http://www.pbase.com/rupertdog Take a look- It's Free!

Lars Holte · May 13, 2008

Defished in PPL - I think it works well.
(Previously posted in another thread).

--
Lars

http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/larsholte

Berdjan · May 14, 2008

Nice pictures, thanks for links

Ari Aikomus · May 14, 2008

Hi,

Lars Holte said:
Defished in PPL - I think it works well.

Yep, I agree - and then Zenitar produces more like a normal 14mm wide angle lens pictures.

Lars Holte said:
(Previously posted in another thread).

Nice pic!

Ari

Lars Holte said:
--
Lars

http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/larsholte

--

Ari Aikomus -

'Why should I feel lonely ? is not our planet in the Milky way?'

Lars Holte · May 14, 2008

Ari Aikomus said:
Nice pic!

Ari

Thanks - I used to sail on board one of these ...

Lars

Ari Aikomus · May 19, 2008

Okey, perhaps it's time again for a little test series...

Now I tested my trusted Zenitar 16/2.8 fish-eye lens to Pentax new Kit18-55II (at 18mm).

First introduction to angle of view of these lenses:

Zenitar 16/2.8, 16mm (uncorrected fish-eye view):

Zenitar 16mm (corrected with proxel software):

KitII, 18mm (no corrections):

***

And then 100% crop samples (zenitars samples are from proxel corrected images, all shots with K20D camera and almost without PP and sharpening)...

Crop1 (center):

Crop2 (between center- lower corner):

Crop3 (edge,upper center):

Crop4 (left corner)

***

next post: f/4 & f/5.6 apertures

--

Ari Aikomus -

'Why should I feel lonely ? is not our planet in the Milky way?'

Ari Aikomus · May 20, 2008

crop1...

crop2...

crop3...

crop4...

***

next post: f/8 aperture
--

Ari Aikomus -

'Why should I feel lonely ? is not our planet in the Milky way?'

D TONG · May 20, 2008

Ari Aikomus said:
crop1...

Ari Aikomus -

'Why should I feel lonely ? is not our planet in the Milky way?'

Somewhere is wrong that the F4 image is sharper than F5.6?

I have found recently a way to do test shots. See if you think it is easier to discern/decipher the merit/demerit of different lenses

http://forums.steves-digicams.com/forums/view_topic.php?id=591175&forum_id=94

Daniel, Toronto
http://www.pbase.com/danieltong

Ari Aikomus · May 20, 2008

Hi & thank you very much for feedback (it's quite rare phenomen nowadays ;-)),

DA*200mm plus Kenko 1.5TC vs A300mmF4

D TONG said:
I have found recently a way to do test shots. See if you think it is
easier to discern/decipher the merit/demerit of different lenses

http://forums.steves-digicams.com/forums/view_topic.php?id=591175&forum_id=94

Thank you for post your DA*200mm plus Kenko 1.5TC vs A300mmF4

test link - it's very interesting to see how well new DA200+1.5 TC managed against A300 lens!

D TONG said:
Somewhere is wrong that the F4 image is sharper than F5.6?

No, I don't think so..., but of course these aren't so "scientific" tests, you know. There can be some user errors (Zenitar is manual focus lens, and it isn't always easy to get perfect focus with wide fish-eye lens, like Zen - although I took five test shots at each aperture and chose sharpest samples to show), and there can be error with zenitar lens itself (its aperture/blades don't operate always very symmetrical - can cause some softness especially in corners).

...However I still prefer these my samples quite trustworthy, and I think that example this Zenitar f/5.6 sample is sharper...

...than this Zenitar f/4 sample:

Once again...f/5.6 sample:

and f/4 sample:

Cheers,

Ari

--

Ari Aikomus -

'Why should I feel lonely ? is not our planet in the Milky way?'

CopCarSS · May 20, 2008

I really liked the perspective of the first shot. Nicely executed!
--
Chris
Denver, CO

Hartin · May 20, 2008

Ari Aikomus said:
DA*200mm plus Kenko 1.5TC vs A300mmF4

D TONG said:

I have found recently a way to do test shots. See if you think it is
easier to discern/decipher the merit/demerit of different lenses

http://forums.steves-digicams.com/forums/view_topic.php?id=591175&forum_id=94

Click to expand...

Thank you for post your DA*200mm plus Kenko 1.5TC vs A300mmF4
test link - it's very interesting to see how well new DA200+1.5 TC
managed against A300 lens!

Some member on Steves should point out that this test is not done at the same f-stop. The TC must be considered. f/4.5 * 1,5 = f/6.75. The A300/4 is at a disadvantage.

--
P e n t a x Wide angle freak!

Ari Aikomus · May 20, 2008

Hi,

Hartin said:
Hartin said:

Thank you for post your DA*200mm plus Kenko 1.5TC vs A300mmF4
test link - it's very interesting to see how well new DA200+1.5 TC
managed against A300 lens!

Click to expand...

Some member on Steves should point out that this test is not done at
the same f-stop. The TC must be considered. f/4.5 * 1,5 = f/6.75. The
A300/4 is at a disadvantage.

OK, I see...thank you for cleared that up.

Hartin said:
P e n t a x Wide angle freak!

You are Wide angle freak ? So, what's your favourite wide angle lens with Pentax and what you think about these cheap Zenitar lenses as wide angle solution.

Ari

--

Ari Aikomus -

'Why should I feel lonely ? is not our planet in the Milky way?'

Ari Aikomus · May 20, 2008

--

Ari Aikomus -

'Why should I feel lonely ? is not our planet in the Milky way?'

I couldn't live without Zen !!

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