Your take on Zeiss Sonnar 180 f/2.8 for Pentacon Six

baachitraka · Feb 9, 2015

I looking one good portrait lens in MF in focal length equivalent to 85-135mm in 135.

This Zeiss Sonnar 180 f/2.8 for Pentacon Six is rather interesting, what is your take on this lens?

snapguy · Feb 9, 2015

Sonnar

The one I had on my Praktisix (and later modified to use on my Nikon F) was fabulous, fabulous, fabulous.

Richard S. (rich815) · Feb 9, 2015

No idea how that lens compares to my 180/2.8 Sonnar for my Contax SLRs but if so its terrific, rarely been disappointed by any Sonnar lens myself.

erikg · Feb 9, 2015

I guess the only knock on it is that it is big, but is that an issue? If you look around for images made with it it seems like the perfect long portrait lens, so beautiful in all areas, distinctive but not so much that it takes over. For some people its great enough to put up with a camera that, to be kind, is a bit crude.

ruby.monkey · Feb 9, 2015

Big. Heavy. Renders beautifully - the classic Sonnar look wide open, that makes the subject stand out from its surroundings. Sooner or later the aperture mechanism will break.

Slixtiesix · Feb 9, 2015

Great lens, great focal length for 6x6! Quite sharp and you´ll barely find a lens with nicer bokeh in MF. I actually think when it comes to background blur, this lens is the best you can get together with the Planar 110/2, maybe even better! There are various versions of this lens. I found the built quality of the later, black MC version a bit flimsy. Never handled the older "Zebra" lens, but I know other lenses from the Zebra-era and expect it to be sturdier. Don´t know for sure! However, it is only single coated and many people recommend to get the MC version. They are not that expensive these day´s, so go for it.

kobaltus · Feb 9, 2015

Perfect portrait lens with pentacon six, film and digital nikons with adapter. On old zebra model nothing will brake . Zebra mod. are better built than newer black models and often optically better. Mine is about 50 years old, single coated, very sharp and contrasty. But you must be in good shape to carry this heavy beast around.

my flickr : https://www.flickr.com/photos/92377102@N08/

Mustafa Umut Sarac · Feb 9, 2015

250 Soviet lenses , any of them is great and the LOMO Anamorphic Square Front Cine lenses on 6.

Pioneer · Feb 9, 2015

My impression?

I love mine!

Big!

Excellent portrait lens.

Big!

A beautiful, painterly rendering without being soft.

Big!

Must be very careful with focus at f2.8.

Did I say Big?

Awesome bokeh.

Use a tripod and you will be happy.

Carry it in a backpack, not around your neck.

Because its big and heavy!!

EDIT - The Pentax 645 150 is a much better portrait lens and a lot lighter. (Sorry Mustafa.)

railwayman3 · Feb 9, 2015

Apparently originally designed for the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin:-
https://www.cameraquest.com/olymp180.htm
(so 80 years ago that it was designed!)

gone · Feb 9, 2015

Always wanted one. Always wanted someone else to tote it for me too, so I never bought one.

From what I've seen just on the web, if you can't take a great portrait w/ one of these something is seriously wrong. For B&W, I would probably prefer the single coated version actually. At least that's been the case for every single lens I've bought in the last 35 years, w/ but one exception. If I can get an uncoated version of a lens vs a single or MC coated one, that's the one I want.

baachitraka · Feb 9, 2015

There is one selling for €144 from a local shop, which is black and MC.
I do not own the camera yet but this price is rather very attractive...

Dr Croubie · Feb 9, 2015

Actually, 144 quid for an MC isn't bad (Red MC or just regular?)

The 'Olympia' version was the original, it's got a gajillion blades, you can tell them apart easily because of the shape, the tripod ring, the aperture see through a hole etc.
I'm not sure if the glass was recalculated between that and the other version, but the rest of them look about the same shape (physically, at least).
I've got a Zebra version and a Red MC. The zebra I have to sell one of these days (it's got slight fungus on front element that doesn't affect the photo).

I'd share samples, but they're all bad scans that need redoing, and the rest are digital (I took some great shots of a concert from the back of the room with it)

Pioneer said:
My impression?

I love mine!

Big!

Excellent portrait lens.

Big!

A beautiful, painterly rendering without being soft.

Big!

Must be very careful with focus at f2.8.

Did I say Big?

Awesome bokeh.

Use a tripod and you will be happy.

Carry it in a backpack, not around your neck.

Because its big and heavy!!

Couldn't have said it better.
BIG!
Buy a tripod or start lifting weights!

baachitraka · Feb 9, 2015

Its red MC.

Dr Croubie · Feb 9, 2015

Actually, scratch that, you don't need to lift weights.
Just lift the Sonnar.

Although, to be completely fair, the 180 Sonnar is by no means big nor heavy, in comparison.
It's about the same size as my Canon 70-300L (canon a smidge lighter, sonnar wider).
It's smaller than a 300/4 Sonnar, which is in turn absolutely dwarfed by a 500/5.6 Orestegor. I barely use my 500mm because it's definitely 'tripod-only'.

piu58 · Feb 10, 2015

I own a Zebra version for many years. It ist a very fine lens, constructed for using wide open. It is really sharp even at f/2.8 which gives some chances to use it without a tripod.

RalphLambrecht · Feb 10, 2015

snapguy said:
The one I had on my Praktisix (and later modified to use on my Nikon F) was fabulous, fabulous, fabulous.

+1 but mine was a 180mmf/4 and it was for the Hasselblad;sharper than models typically like it. It alwaystook some PS work to take the 'edge off.

erikg · Feb 10, 2015

For those who are shooting these on 120, what is the best camera for it? I tried one on a Kiev but I know there are other options. Just curious.

Slixtiesix · Feb 10, 2015

Kiev 60 or Pentacon Six. There are also modified Versions of the Kiev 88 (made by Arax and Hartblei) that can take P6 lenses. Also, some of these lenses were converted to Pentax 67, Hasselblad and SL66, but they rarely show up for sale. I think you can also use them on Mamiya 645 but I´m not sure if modification or a simple adapter is needed.

Pioneer · Feb 10, 2015

I can use mine on my Pentax 645 with a simple adapter. I prefer it with the Pentacon Six though.

piu58 · Feb 11, 2015

> best camera for it? I tried one on a Kiev

I used P6 and Kiev an stayed with the Kiev 60. It is even uglier than the P6 but more reliable and has a brighter an larger viewfinder. The P6 longenth all aperture time when temperature went under the freezing poiint.

aRolleiBrujo · Feb 11, 2015

Cool thread! I just bought an old one this morning! I can't wait to use it on my Pentacon Six TL! My next goal, was actually my first goal, of getting the 50mm f/4 Carl Zeiss Jena MC Flektogon

My new barrel of fun! by a.rodriguezpix, on Flickr

Your take on Zeiss Sonnar 180 f/2.8 for Pentacon Six

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