Low contrast lens for Hasselblad

PhotoTeK · May 20, 2010

Try an old Roliflex with a triplet lense, they make flattering portraits & romantic landscapes and cost less than a couple of 'blad filters.

Mustafa Umut Sarac · May 21, 2010

PhotoTek , Welcome to APUG. Do you mean Rolleicord with a zeiss triotar ?
May be You are right.

trip_wt · May 21, 2010

Something else to look at would be a Bronica S2/S2a (also earlier models D, Z or S but they are rarer I think). They are 6x6 SLRs with a focal plane shutter and, crucially, have a built in focusing helical. This will allow you attach any old lens while keeping SLR focusing and handling.

I believe our friendly forum moderator David Goldfarb has done something like this and may be worth sending a message if you think about going down that route.

AgentX · May 21, 2010

Rolleicord with triotar came to my mind as well; maybe a Lubitel, as well??

jlpape · May 21, 2010

Q.G. said:
Or that Speed Graphic that was mentioned...

True, 2F/2F did mention that these will accept a 6x6 back.

Q.G. · May 21, 2010

AgentX said:
Rolleicord with triotar came to my mind as well; maybe a Lubitel, as well??

We mustn't confuse bad lenses with lenses that create images the O.P. is after.

jlpape · May 21, 2010

PhotoTeK said:
Try an old Roliflex with a triplet lense, they make flattering portraits & romantic landscapes and cost less than a couple of 'blad filters.

What is a triplet lens? And how would I know if a particular Rolleiflex has one?

jlpape · May 21, 2010

trip_wt said:
Something else to look at would be a Bronica S2/S2a (also earlier models D, Z or S but they are rarer I think). They are 6x6 SLRs with a focal plane shutter and, crucially, have a built in focusing helical. This will allow you attach any old lens while keeping SLR focusing and handling.

I believe our friendly forum moderator David Goldfarb has done something like this and may be worth sending a message if you think about going down that route.

Thanks, Looks like this will require a specialty mount?

jlpape · May 21, 2010

Q.G. said:
Or that Speed Graphic that was mentioned...

Looking at the graflex.org web site, it looks like not only does this allow the use of a wide variety of lenses with lens board changes but, as 2F/2F mentioned, there is also a variety of roll film back formats available. This is starting to look interesting in that I do not have to initially switch fully to LF, but can keep to MF and ease into LF if so desired. I think that I also read that you can fairly easily make your own lens boards out of composite board. Any other good sources for Speed Graphic info?

JamesSF · May 22, 2010

In the pre-multicoating days, pre 1962 or so, lens designers were said to have one of two choices - either a lens that had great resolution or great contrast. The tessars with four elements and triotars and generally the lenses with fewest elements had great contrast and were sharp in the center, but soft at the edges. The six element symmar style lenses were better corrected from edge to edge.

You might try the first Rollei Planars or maybe even an early Hasselblad Planar. I had a 6x9 folder from the thirties that was very sharp but extremely low in contrast. You would probably have to use a lens hood to protect from flare.

Also I have a totally unprovable theory that contrast might not be linear, at least in older lenses, such as my rigid Summicron of 1959 where the highlights seem to have higher contrast than the middle grays do.

James

Q.G. · May 22, 2010

JamesSF said:
You might try the first Rollei Planars or maybe even an early Hasselblad Planar.

There was an early version of the Planar used by Hasselblad, but it was made for a few years only (until about 1960 i think it was) and is rather rare. Look for serial numbers below 3000000.
All 80 mm Planars since (with the exception of the also modern design CB 80 mm) are of the same design.

Having said that, i don't think the early one is significantly different.

Low contrast lens for Hasselblad

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