Retina lenses compared

[JPD]

I wondered how my two Retina IIc cameras with Xenon and Heligon compared, and if their accessory tele and wide lenses are usable, so I took some test shots on Efke 25. I had half the roll left, so I also tested a Ib with 2,8 Xenar and a pre-war IIa with 2,8 Xenon (the five element Xenar type, very different from the post-war double gauss Xenon). Nothing scientific, but I got the results I wanted and scanned the negs. The only sharpening is flickrs own when the pictures were automatically rezised.

Full frames:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1094/4731638466_935f21434c_b.jpg

IIc Xenon and Heligon 2,8/50:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1338/4730941041_c3ca4c6a45_b.jpg

Again:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1244/4730941141_7833630c1a_b.jpg

Curtar-Xenon and Heligon C 5,6/35:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1035/4730941195_4a46cf0405_b.jpg

Longar-Xenon and Heligon C 4/80:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1331/4730941357_8eff792aa6_b.jpg

Ib Xenar and pre-war IIa Xenon 2,8/50:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1115/4730941495_38454e968a_b.jpg

Ib Xenar and IIc Xenon 2,8/50 Edge:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1110/4731075015_858a0d9074_b.jpg

The largest aperture I used was 4, because it gave 1/500 and I didn't want to overexpose. I could have taken the shots indoors using a test chart or newspapers with finely printed text, but it would have been too boring...

 

[Pumal]

How about the Schneider-Krauznach 2.0/50 of the IIIc?

 

[JPD]

How about the Schneider-Krauznach 2.0/50 of the IIIc?

I don't have any Retinas with the 2,0 lenses at the moment.

 

[vedmak]

when you said "compared" what exactly are you looking for in the lens? Resolution, contrast, bokeh? I would take a good bokeh lens over the sharp one.

 

[JPD]

when you said "compared" what exactly are you looking for in the lens? Resolution, contrast, bokeh? I would take a good bokeh lens over the sharp one.

"Sharpness" only, because I didn't focus on anything close, and the negs are scanned on a flatbed with automatic "this and that" that affect the contrast.

I told you this wasn't a "scientific test". I had a roll of KB25 and wanted to see if the accessory tele and wide lenses were usable, and if the Heligon really was sharper than the Xenon. This was also the first time I used my pre-war IIa. I didn't think about testing the bokeh! Maybe I should! I have only used Retinas for everyday photography, like the family around the christmas table, dad with his new car, mother rolling meatballs... I use larger formats for bokeh.

 

[BobD]

Interesting test -- thanks for posting.