Charts and test will give you a direction to look. But what pleases the eye may not be contained in any bench test. Each lens system has a signature, and either it please you or it doesn't. Photography is rife with techno-hounds who ponder way more than they shoot. And thank god for it, because they do all the research for those busy making images.
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Something is going on with Zeiss
- Thread starter dirk
- Start date
I believe the topic of contrast is fudamental in practical photography. If some of you do not wish to talk about contrast related to lens performance and the MTF charts,how about contrast related to the act of taking photos. To me,many of the great photos do stand out of the paper. When I take the pic,sometimes I choose the position to put my camera because in this way it would produce maximal contrast to the photo. The contrast I am talking about includes microcontrast of the subject such as the fine lines of the skin,contrast between the nose and its shadow,contrast of the subject and the background and the colour contrast.
Although I am not a professional photographer, as part of my work I have to produce the maximal 3D effect. This topic should be of interest to many of us. How does other people do it ?
Although I am not a professional photographer, as part of my work I have to produce the maximal 3D effect. This topic should be of interest to many of us. How does other people do it ?
To Mr. Alex Wilson:
I am 100% in agreement with your sentiments, but a lifetime in science compels me to correct your assertions concerning the human eye. You are correct, refraction of the eye (like any lens) is, to a degree, dependent on the wavelength of the light. However it requires no more "exertion" for the eye to focus on a red image than one of any other color. Perhaps a slight alteration in accomodation from color to color, but probably unmeasureable. The eye is not more sensitive to red light, to the contrary it is less sensitive. (Radiologists wear red goggles when leaving the darkened reading room in order to prevent the pupils from constricting, thus preserving their dark accomodation.) The maximum sensitivity of the eye is in the green region of the spectrum. Forgive me if this is a bit pedantic. It is in no way meant to contradict your observations and photographic experiences.
Cheers,
Mike.
I am 100% in agreement with your sentiments, but a lifetime in science compels me to correct your assertions concerning the human eye. You are correct, refraction of the eye (like any lens) is, to a degree, dependent on the wavelength of the light. However it requires no more "exertion" for the eye to focus on a red image than one of any other color. Perhaps a slight alteration in accomodation from color to color, but probably unmeasureable. The eye is not more sensitive to red light, to the contrary it is less sensitive. (Radiologists wear red goggles when leaving the darkened reading room in order to prevent the pupils from constricting, thus preserving their dark accomodation.) The maximum sensitivity of the eye is in the green region of the spectrum. Forgive me if this is a bit pedantic. It is in no way meant to contradict your observations and photographic experiences.
Cheers,
Mike.
You are making it sound more complicated than it really is...for me photography is about light and the art of seeing. The photographer who learns to control the light source and combines this with ability to see, to compose, can make an interesting image. Some love to talk about it some like to do it. Yes the tool is very important and a lifetime of science or engineering is great but it does not a photographer make, practice, practice,practice ....but as I read this forum I realize I want something completely different from this, constant arguing over numbers with little or no photography (yeah photography) to show for it. I mean I like to discuss the technical aspects as much as the next avid photographer but when it gets in the way of producing actual work well whats the point...like talking about cars but never driiving one.
Ah well time to make some photographs, will they all be technically perfect, probably not but I'll have some fun doing it......
Ah well time to make some photographs, will they all be technically perfect, probably not but I'll have some fun doing it......
V
vdipiet
Once again Bravo! Dermot. I agree with you completely!
> However, Mike, the brain interprets RGB objects adjacent to one > another as being on layers, Red being above the other colors in normal > circumstances. The order depends on the background. These little > chromogenic hints may help the brain with 3D depth.
With a white b.g, the order may be different.
Asher
With a white b.g, the order may be different.
Asher
Isn't it interesting that Kyocera basically dumps manual focus Contax line, N-mount system is not selling very well either and yet Ziess partners with Cosina to produce a Cosina-made rangefinder for $1600. It remains to be seen how many people will pay $1000 more than for Cosina-made Voigtlander R2A/R3A, because quality is a big question here as well as added value - what if any added value Zeiss Ikon in this reincarnation will have that will warrant $1600 price tag?
Also, no signs of any lenses on the market yet. Lots of marketing noise about the product that noone can buy...
Also, no signs of any lenses on the market yet. Lots of marketing noise about the product that noone can buy...
Hi Mike,
there seems to be quality problem in the production. As you might know, Zeiss does not allow to have lenses with the Zeiss name on it in the shelves, if they do not meet the Zeiss quality requirements for every single lens. It seems that Cosina thought, it would be a lot easier and cheaper to make Zeiss quality lenses than it turned out to be in reality. According our sources, this is why there is a delay with the lenses produced from Cosina.
The body has no delay, it was scheduled for May and I have not heard yet anything different.
there seems to be quality problem in the production. As you might know, Zeiss does not allow to have lenses with the Zeiss name on it in the shelves, if they do not meet the Zeiss quality requirements for every single lens. It seems that Cosina thought, it would be a lot easier and cheaper to make Zeiss quality lenses than it turned out to be in reality. According our sources, this is why there is a delay with the lenses produced from Cosina.
The body has no delay, it was scheduled for May and I have not heard yet anything different.
This is all nice and good, but $1600 for what? What exactly does Zeiss Ikon have that R2A/R3A doesn't have that would make $1000 pricetag difference justifiable? I have read all I could find on zeissikon.com website and I don't see any added value in there, besides the name. Sure rangefinder baselength is longer than Voigtlander, but does it really cost extra $1000?
I for one, would probably only buy Zeiss Planar 85mm (it will be made by Zeiss in Germany). I don't know whether I will be seriously interested in the rest of stuff. In fact, because C/Y line appears to be finally dead, I will have to make a decision now:
a) sell all the stuff I have (6 lenses + 1 body), while there are still people interested. Use the money to get used Leica plus one lens.
- OR -
b) look all over the internet for another used C/Y mount Contax body as a backup and stick to the system until both bodies stop functioning.
Both cases aren't exactly what I had on my mind when I ventured to get into Contax in the first place.
I for one, would probably only buy Zeiss Planar 85mm (it will be made by Zeiss in Germany). I don't know whether I will be seriously interested in the rest of stuff. In fact, because C/Y line appears to be finally dead, I will have to make a decision now:
a) sell all the stuff I have (6 lenses + 1 body), while there are still people interested. Use the money to get used Leica plus one lens.
- OR -
b) look all over the internet for another used C/Y mount Contax body as a backup and stick to the system until both bodies stop functioning.
Both cases aren't exactly what I had on my mind when I ventured to get into Contax in the first place.