A 35mm camera/lenses with lots of character??

DannL. · Nov 25, 2015

A 35mm camera/lens with lots of character??

I'm developing an interest in camera/lens combinations that inherently add character and distortion to the final image. Since I have several hundred feet of 35mm film, today I'm looking at the 35mm cameras. For example, I once had a Practica FX with a Westanar 50mm which produced a very interesting bokeh that appeared as hollow bubbles in the out-of-focus highlights. It had a small amount of the distrotion that you would expect from a petzval lens. And then there was that 500mm mirror lens I recall, that created donuts in the OOF highlights. The type of distortion found in some petzval lenses would be awesome.

Here's some of the specifications I'm looking into . . .

1. 35mm
2. No filters or add-ons, if possible.
3. No post processing manipulations.
4. Inexpensive, as far as camera/lens goes.
5. The "distortions" are inherent to the camera and lens
6. Vignetting - Okay
7. Barrel Distortion - Okay
8. Perspective Distortion - Okay
9. Central sharpness falling off towards perimeter - Okay
10. Swirly OOF hightlights - Oh yes!

Any other distortions that add character to the final image would be considered worth investigating. Thanks in advance for your ideas.

Paul Howell · Nov 25, 2015

Any of the fixed lens unmetered 35mm often given away as a promotional gifts, like Time or Avon, others with names that resembled major brands like Cannon, or Nikkion. some came with flashes and even motor advance. The lens are often fixed aperture, plastic doubles, shutter are spring driven with or 3 speeds. If in the US check out Shopgoodwill.com

Colin Corneau · Nov 25, 2015

Diana/Holgas are an obvious choice.

darkosaric · Nov 25, 2015

If you are interested in Fisheye Lomo camera - I have one for sale...

narsuitus · Nov 25, 2015

Try making a 35mm pinhole camera.

Paul Howell · Nov 25, 2015

Freestyle sell a 35m pinhole.

Paul Howell · Nov 25, 2015

Although not as pronounced as you listed in your post, other options Argus C35, Kodak Pony 35mm, not the 828 version, in the 60s and 70s there were a lot of scale focus 35mm sold under Argus, Tower, Bell and Howell, had 3 elements fixed lens.

DannL. · Nov 25, 2015

Thanks for the ideas so far! We may have to compile this into a comprehensive list.

And here's one I just found that could potentially go on the list . . . The Recesky DIY TLR. But, they may be expensive.

Ko.Fe. · Nov 25, 2015

dpn said:
Helios 40-2 ... distinctive, to be sure. Whether or not it produces "attractive" distinctive images is a matter of some debate.

At least it has background "swirl" which is part of OP interest

removed account4 · Nov 25, 2015

OLDE argus cameras - A's and AF's .. (not the brick )

Fotoguy20d · Nov 25, 2015

Leica Summitar or Sumarit wide open. Summar or summicron too

Sirius Glass · Nov 25, 2015

Minolta Rokkor f/2.8 21mm MC or MD lens with the lens hood. It is like walking around with a head light sticking out in front of you. A fun lens to use and really sharp.

John51 · Nov 25, 2015

I once had a Lubitel TLR. That had a kinda look to it. Can't believe some of the prices asked for these, over £30 from some sellers. Mine cost £8 when new. Have they changed the body to metal instead of plastic?

Jeff Bradford · Nov 25, 2015

The 50mm on the Argus C3 can give you some swirly bokeh.
There's also the Holga lens for Nikon.

Malinku · Nov 25, 2015

if you want a SLR stick with m42 or exakta and German or Russian lenses. Jupiter-9, or the early 58mm helios are good starting points. Both of those will give you very interesting results wide open. Well still being able to be sharp when stepped down. Also any lenses with tons of aperture blades are always good for bokeh work.

02Pilot · Nov 25, 2015

You don't mention what field-of-view you want or what you intend to do with it, which I think might be useful information.

You'll get most of what you want with any sort of toy camera, obviously some more than others. I've never seen swirly bokeh in anything less than a triplet, so that starts to move away from the toys (which are usually equipped with a one or two element lens) and into more serious cameras, but with less correction in the lenses. This suggests earlier and cheaper designs. Triplets will be the easiest and cheapest, but early double-gauss designs can be quite prone to swirling as well; the latter will be harder to find at a reasonable price, but will offer faster speeds and shallower depth-of-field.

DannL. · Nov 25, 2015

02Pilot said:
You don't mention what field-of-view you want or what you intend to do with it, which I think might be useful information.

You'll get most of what you want with any sort of toy camera, obviously some more than others. I've never seen swirly bokeh in anything less than a triplet, so that starts to move away from the toys (which are usually equipped with a one or two element lens) and into more serious cameras, but with less correction in the lenses. This suggests earlier and cheaper designs. Triplets will be the easiest and cheapest, but early double-gauss designs can be quite prone to swirling as well; the latter will be harder to find at a reasonable price, but will offer faster speeds and shallower depth-of-field.

At present I'm looking into all the available options that can be had at a reasonable cost. The days of big spending are over, I'm afraid. A normal FOV and even wide-angle would be fine. It would be used for taking ordinary stills. At present I'm using a 6x6 with a meniscus lens, which is what inspired the inquiry. And since I have all of this 35mm film, I said why not. There should be plenty of options for 35mm. After 40 years of straight photography, I'm ready to do something wild and crazy.

So far the suggestions have been great.

gone · Nov 26, 2015

The toy cameras are fun but very limited. You get tired of that after a while (or at least I did), along w/ the plastic feel and handling.

If you want swirley bokeh, good mechanics and build quality, and great IQ w/ lots of character on a budget, get an older Helios lens and put it on any screw mount 35mm camera. One of my favorite all time lenses. I usually mount them w/ a cheap Chinese adapter to Canon FD SLR bodies (stop down metering) like the FTn or FT QL. Those cameras are rugged and dependable. That way you'll get to use different focal length FD and FL lenses at bargain prices. The 135 FL is dirt cheap and has an old classic IQ. You could get the Helios lens, adapter, Canon body, and the FL 135 for under a hundred bucks easy and have a nice kit.

blockend · Nov 26, 2015

Swirly bokeh is uncorrected astigmatism. Go for a 3 element lens. The one that springs to mind is a Domiplan. Some cheaper 4-element FSU lenses swirl wide open.

alanrockwood · Nov 26, 2015

LensBaby (or is it Lens Baby?)

At the other extreme, the Sigma line of "Art" lenses.

Sewin · Nov 26, 2015

Check this website / blog.

Some interesting little budget cameras reviewed with examples of pictures.

http://austerityphoto.co.uk/

blockend · Nov 26, 2015

Sewin said:
Check this website / blog.

Some interesting little budget cameras reviewed with examples of pictures.

http://austerityphoto.co.uk/

Great link, I hadn't heard of the site previously. Looking forward to a good read!

John_Nikon_F · Nov 26, 2015

Could also grab an early 43-86 Zoom-Nikkor. Put that on a Nikkormat FTn. Probably will spend about $40 total for the kit.

-J

Sewin · Nov 26, 2015

blockend said:
Great link, I hadn't heard of the site previously. Looking forward to a good read!

Thanks,

I look in there a lot, a man after my own heart, proving you don't need to spend hundreds.

Here's another

https://tightfistedphotography.wordpress.com/

gzhuang · Nov 26, 2015

I think the Soviet stuff may be of interest to you?

A 35mm camera/lenses with lots of character??

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