In pursuit of something different Mathieu Stern, who runs the Weird Lens Museum website, has adapted an old projector lens to fit on the front of his Sony a7 lll.
The lens he used is a Rollei 90mm f/2.4 MC that would have originally been fitted to a 35mm slide projector. Mathieu says he found the lens without its projector in a yard sale, and paid $5 for it. In the three minute video above Mathieu shows the lens in action and a number of photos captured in the sun that seem to have well controlled flare and low contrast.
As the lens has no iris the aperture can’t be varied from F2.4, but based on the results he attained, that doesn't appear to be a problem. Mathieu discovered the lens fit perfectly into a M52 helicoidal tube which then allowed him to vary the apparent length of the lens so he could focus at a normal range of distances.
The helicoidal tube has an M42 screw mount, so all he needed to do then was find an M42 to Sony E mount adapter so the whole kit would fit on his a7 lll. Sure, it's not the most elegant solution, but it got the job done. Below is a gallery of images captured with the setup and shared with permission from Mathieu.
Sorry if I am shocked. Rolli what kind of brand is that?! I may first think the lens was designed for a 35mm projector, maybe a 6cmx6cm. Rolii did work around that format. The real surprise is that this company made even useful optics. First the lens was not made in China. It may even be made in Germany, who ever heard of German optics. Also the lens has two design faults. One, it is too slow. Fine lens are always F1.4 or faster, F2.4 no way. Also fine optics also have no less than 12 elements. Or maybe older finely made older lens are simple, but elegant. Even if the lens are made in Germany. I had a cheap 35mm SLR with a fixed lens. For close-up work. I would take the front element off my fathers binoculars, one them and put it on the front of the lens. For some reason it would stay there and get pictures of flowers. Be creative, there are a lot of old glass out there, with mirrorless it is easy to experiment. Just stay away from that bad German stuff ( I hope you see the sarcasm )
I don't think bokeh is a strength of projector lenses. They are optimized for flat surfaces.
Also, I think high contrast pan color images are also a poor choice, due to a lack of chromatic aberration correction. From my understanding, the resolution of most projectors is less than CA, so most manufacturers don't bother with optimizing that.
I can't help but feel sorry for the very dissapointed kids sitting around in a cinema waiting for "Mary Poppins Returns" to commence Whilst the projectionist tries to source another lens.
Lol, this is a slide projector lens not a movie projector lens but the mental picture of a photographer's disappointed kids sitting next to a broken projector because of their dad's hobby made me chuckle!
This is no surprise, movie projection lenses that went for $3000+ are around 10% their original price second handed, you can bet that they had solid design and QC and will yield very favorable results if you could live with some inconveniences.
I mean I like the bokeh but... how is this an article?
"In pursuit of something different..." you mean he saw the images literally thousands had taken with these lenses, and chose to use them himself? How is that the pursuit of something different?
You guys have an adapted lens forum where hundreds of old lenses are sampled, including dozens of projector lenses.
A quick search on flickr for any known projector lens will bring up thousands of results.
If this article was written like 9 years ago maybe...
Try to auto focus with that lens, just try to focus it manually without additional accessory - the lucky ones have a small workshop where they can adapt other accessories or a 3D printer and the corresponding knowledge. Try to stop it down. And: These weren't cheap with ~200 EUR / $ at todays prices!
Old manual glass is so freaking cool. The images have beautiful imperfection. Today I just picked up a Helios 58mm f/2 with a Canon adapter and the portraits look glorious on my EOS M50. Basically a classic 85mm f/2.8 look, but creamy and SHARP! I also have a Photax Paragon 135mm f/2.8 which I use on the EOS R and it makes lovely soft portraits in daylight. Somehow it gets washed out and bad in any other light than day. I love the Sun 24mm f/2.8 which works as a 35mm street lens on APS-C (though the 22mm/2 makes it collect dust). Also own a Pentacon 50mm 1.8, Tamron 70-210/4, JCPenney 80-200mm/3.9, and a Jupiter 85mm/2, the later is my absolute favourite piece of glass in existence.
While it's true I got my first Sony Nex to be able to re-use the Takumar, and Soligor -Miranda lenses I've owned since new, I rarely use them anymore due to the superb images I get from more modern lenses. Perhaps I got enough of that dreamy quality back when they were new. Each to his own, though, and the options are always there.
Some time ago, I attached a Leica projector lens (Hektor 85 mm) to a Leica M Typ 240: http://www.waloszek.de/m240_hektor85_e.php In case that you are interested... Best regards, Gerd
It would be really cool should he use old projector and modern lens to take a photo! Otherwise ... absolutely anyone can do it. Seems like DPR did not generate enough tragic with new Oly camera so need to publish something. :)))
not sure what we are talking about, everytime I see the portraits, i look at the models, their faces, their expression and overall looks. The first one was a great one !
Images that the old lens helps deliver are technically very pleasing. But as for the portrait purpose, the images are photographic nonsense: what images answer? Who is the model? What she does? What she likes? What is her place in the world? None of it any of the images conveys. So it is all a snap to demonstrate old lens, far and removed from real portrait photography, which can be done with ANY lens.
@Zvonimir Tosic - The images look like well done portraits to me, regardless of the lens or technical aspects. Since when do I need to know anything about the portrait subject to appreciate the aesthetic composition, posing and subject charisma?
I think you lose some real credibility when you said this was photographic nonsense and far removed from real portrait photography. Any of these photos could be paid portrait shots for senior pictures, to model clothing or plenty of other editorial purposes.
The presentation was nonsense. I am a portrait artist, I studied art history, I do portraits in various art techniques, and I know what really good photographers – who know the demand of the art – can deliver. This was a technical demonstration of the lenses, but the artistic part is lacking altogether. Which is understandable – it is beyond the scope of the DPR and the majority of their audience.
@Zvorimir Tosic - With respect, it doesn't not matter what you studied because art has nothing to do with academia or history. Your comment was inappropriately toxic, negative and without taste. It is reasonable to dislike the images, since art appreciation is subjective, but to call it photographic nonsense and far removed from photography just seems petty and envious of the attention. If you are comfortable with that appearance, then carry on.
You sound offended by these photos. The purpose of this article is to show off the cool LENS setup/attributes. It's not an article about how to be Platon on a budget or something...
I know what you're saying though. But lol, I hope you don't go around verbally shredding every picture you see that has a person looking at the viewer. ;)
FWIW, what the 1st portrait tells me about the girl is that she is a somewhat discontent urbanite wrestling with her embrace of modern street fashion and style while never being satisfied with any of it, and even feeling a sense of resentment about it. Hence the dark clothing. And feeling superior to it all. Hence the smirk. A queer contradictory satisfaction/dissatisfaction. Offset and backlit by the glorious power and luminance of the setting sun.
This is a contradiction portrait that shows us the photographer likes to poke fun at his subject. It shows us who the girl AND photographer are.
Zvonimir, I love your list existential questions, bro. They made me laugh. The Habsburgs ought to be proud their relevance is not all lost. But I laughed more when you listed the medals pinned on your chest. I grew up a few towns south of you and I know in our part of the world tales of the struggle between dominance and submission are believed to be real and medals are supposed to assert dominance. But they don’t bro. And your accomplishments, or mine, the truth bro: Nobody cares!
Really like the results, considering the cost. Of course this lens isn't good for everything but here it looks good. So, complaining about how bad it looks would in my opinion only be justified when it's expensive (and I've seen those as well).
Gosh, I don't think any of the pictures shown or those in the video are anything to write home about. I am pretty sure I saw some of Mathieu's work before and I loved it, but this bunch is not special in any way.
pro photographers use not just this old Rollei but many other great old lenses, unfortunately modern lenses are just for wedding photographers, just sharp and that all, without own character, made by plastic and cost expensive. Old and cheap Domiplan in some situation can make way better photos then any modern super expensive 24-70/2.8 zooms. But now, after this publication, Canon, Nikon and Sony will ask to dpreview, why they published this article and for what they pay money to dpreview for promote new and super expensive lenses?
OMG! The next thing dpreview will be doing is showing old cameras, 10MPxl, 12Mpxl, 16MPxl APS-C and earlier rather than full-frame and 42Mpxl equipment you can find at thrift stores and garage/rummage/boot sales.
And yes, the Big Three o(r is 4, or 5 or 6?) withdraw sponsorship.
The gearheads will be disappointed, but some of us are about the 'art'.
Cameras always changing, good lenses always stay as good lenses. Take old Cooke lens and try and you will see the results. Also, photography is not a megapixels, or sensor sizes, its a photographer at first and optics, at second...
Check out the series of YouTube about professionals using inferior equipment like BarbieCameras and other 'toys. I'm far from professional but to make a point with a gearhead friend who is also anti-digital I got a ThriftStore 5Mpxl Canon G5 for $15 (actually a new battery, charged and card cost more than that!) and have produced some impressive takes. Yes it is limited in what it can deal with, lighting, dynamic range, and some images need colour correction post-processing (concrete in daylight comes out with a blue tint). But pick a good subject and think about composition ....
Good photographer will make masterpiece photos with many old camera too, not just with old lenses. For example, I am not big fun of Canon cameras, but I am sure, with old Canon 7D or 40D is possible to make great photos, and with many other cameras too. For many kind of photography we don't want more then 15-20 MP, even 12MP.
What's a good photographer? One that uses "fast" primes wide open?
"Attractive model", a matter of discussion. She has a symmetrical face though and a potential, but from what I see here, the photographer doesn't put it to his advantage...
And lastly - "the equipment doesn't matter": Why is this article on dpr anyway? It's all about the equipment.
Maybe DPR should have posted the 3MP versions from the guy's blog, that's still small though, right click an expanded image and open in a new tab to view 100%...
Lenses like these are prime candidates for DIY apodization, if they're fast enough, and you can get inside of them. That would easily eliminate the nervous bokeh in image 3, and make all backgrounds melt away like image 2.
There is no surprise. This is what it is supposed to look from such a lens. And, if you like it you like it. BTW, it is a Rollei slide projector, which is a decent projector and has a decent lens.
A stunningly beautiful subject. Absolutely very impressive composure! Thinking I can think of more than several lenses (including current Fuji glass) that would have done as well, or better in the hands of this very accomplished photographer. Images are great, not sure you have convinced me about the lens.
The problem with all YouTube vloggers is that they use this horrendous muzak in the background. Everyone does it and it is so off-putting and nasty. I understand that real music is expensive to licence, but why do all photography videos have to use this appalling noise?
IDK, but seeing people re-using old lenses makes me want to go back and start hunting at garage and estate sales. Sometimes those people don't know what they're selling (or rather, the possible value) and are sometimes a great way to score a good deal. This article just reminds me about some of the interesting finds you can find at garage sales and estate sales in regards to photo equipment.
Sadly, the point is that "photographers" are desperate for attention and will do anything to get an article since taking pictures no longer suffices for this bored generation.
Also, knowing how to adapt a projector lens can be useful especially if you want a cheap way to shoot anamorphic. Anamorphic projector lens are usually the way to do it if ya can snag one.
I t reminds me a friend who in old days managed to mount a lens from a WWII bomb plane's aiming system on a Hassie 501... Very sharp in the middle with an astonishingly beautiful vignetting in the edges.
look for "Plunger Cam" I think some of the first attempts at this was with literally a toilet plunger and a Hasselblad 2000F. The key for the medium format was to get a camera that had a focal plane shutter
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