soft focus lenses

[steve simmons]

Allen Jay, who wrote a book on soft focus lnses, is interested in hearing from photographers using new and vintage soft focus lenses. View Camera will feature some of this work in an upcoming issue.
He can be contacted at

allenjays@webtv.net


steve simmons

viewcamera magazine

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Does anyone know where that book can be obtained? He used to offer it from his website, but when I became interested enough to purchase it, it wasn't anywhere to be found. As I understand, most of the content of the book was manufacturers' information, brochures, and advertisements for the old lenses. Maybe you could invite him to contribute a multi-part series on soft focus lenses, following the model set by Kerry Thalmann and Arne Croell in their articles on Zeiss Jena, Nikon, Schneider, Caltar, and Rodenstock lenses.

 

[BradS]

I second everything that David said.

 

[JG Motamedi]

David,

I just bought a copy of his book on eBay. He sells under the name "thecameradoctor". However, he told me that I bought the last one, and won't be printing making any more. I am sure however that if there is a demand, he could easily print more. In any case, you are probably best off contacting him directly and asking him. Note that the book--which I haven't yet received--is not cheap ($50). I will post something about the book when I get it.

jason

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Thanks, Jason.

 

[JG Motamedi]

I heard from Jay this afternoon, and apparently he is looking to put together a "salon of prints made from soft-focus photographers".

 

[Aggie]

Have Jay get hold of Per Volquartz. He has the new cooke soft focus lens, and is doing a portrait project. Now I don't know which lens he is actually using for the project, but it would be worth investigating.

 

[Ole]

I think f32.net might be a good place to ask. There's been a lot of discussion of soft focus lenses. Besides, Barbara Lowry from Cooke Optics keeps an eye on us there.

 

[AllenR]

Jay recently had four copies up for auction on e*** with a note that he doesn't often auction them, and that when this printing is gone he does not know when he might reprint them. My copy should be here in a few days.

If you want a copy, I would suggest contacting him at the email address in Steve's posting.

Allen

 

[JG Motamedi]

Apologies for the mistake, but Jay Allen's ebay moniker is "thecameradoc", not what I written above.

 

[JG Motamedi]

I received Jay Allen's "Pictorial, Soft-Focus, and Portrait Lenses from the Past" a few days ago, and wanted to post a few comments.

The book is bound copy of 55 page computer print-out, describing 50 different portrait and soft focus lenses. These run from the well known and easily available (Imagon, Verito, Heliar) to the rare and obscure, like the Pinkham & Smith Series I through VII lenses. The book is a series of quotes and tables from the original manufacturer's brochures and manuals. Unfortunately, Allen fails to cite (or even use quotation marks) these brochures and manuals, so the reader has no idea where one brochure ends, and and another begins. More importantly, it is more or less impossible to check the veracity of the book. I spotted a few errors, and worry about others. However, getting information about many of these lenses is near impossible, so Allen's book--while not of much value for a researcher--might be of great use for somebody trying to sort through eBay, figuring out the difference between a Dallmeyer A or D, or between a Pinkham & Smith Series II or IV...