I also just bought this lens on a whim, but in the typical P6 mount. Since I also own the Irix 15mm, I'm pleasantly suprised to hear you say that you consider them to be nearly equal! I found many of your shots very lovely, particularly those following at 4:00! Many lens reviews don't seem to go beyond the technical and leave one guessing about the creative approach one will have to figure out.
Thank you! I have had a lot of people over the years ask for tips on use and so my goal is to provide a good review that sets people up to understand a lens quickly, have some ideas on how to use it, and get to work on making their own images with it.
It's interesting on full frame if you use a tilt shift adapter, in which case the very long flange distance of pentacon 6 allows plenty of room for the mechanics, and the huge image circle allows huge movements without vignetting.
Good point. I wouldn't have thought of that, but yes, it would work very well. Some medium-format lenses are great for that. Others ... others are not.
Flektogon with fisheye arsat 30mm (it was long time ago) was my most beloved set on 6x6 slr. 180mm sonnar... used them on tops of Tatra mountains. I loved using these 3 lenses with polarysing filter, sometimes +deep red filter. But I was very young, now my taste for b & w photos is different and simple joy of 35mm and digital is enough for my back.
Thanks, professor! Great video! Rich reference to know what this lens is really for and look for a more affordable substitute - in case el paisano is running out of la plata.
I think the reason Zeiss ignored you is because it's a different company from the one that made it. The Zeiss company today is a descendant of the West German Zeiss, not Carl Zeiss Jena. Maybe you could contact Jenoptik which is descended from Zeiss Jena.
Honestly, from a technical perspective, the Zenzanon lenses for the SQ series are likely better all around than the S series lenses. Coatings and designs had advanced a lot by then.
Wow, those are really lovely pictures of the mountainous scenery! Definitaly made me want to get a square format camera for the outdoor use, as my current setup of Mamiya RZ67 with 65mm FLE is a little chunky, and 6x6 hits different from 6x7.
Having recently moved to the place, your pronunciation of Jena made me chuckle a bit, but another commenter has already pointed that out (although I'd emphasize that it's a long e sound). Jena really is quite a fascinating city, sitting in a deep river valley surrounded by heights all around. The impact that Carl Zeiss left on it can definitely be felt everywhere: on my daily walk to work I pass a statue of the man himself and several buildings that housed his first workshops; I can see the Jenoptik tower on my way to the cafeteria, and I work in the skyscaper (creatively named JenTower) designed to look like a telescope to symbolize the importance of the optical industry in the city.
I wish i could find some more information on this conversation. I own a 50mm for my now defunct pentacon. Wish i could see about converting it to my bronica s2. Im sure it would take some doing but if it gets it off a shelf and shooting again that would be lovely
I asked SK Grimes about converting a Biometar 120mm from P6 to Bronica and it's a VERY hard thing to do because it requires a lot of precision in the million.
I love my Carl Zeiss Jena 50mm f/4 Flektogon lens for my Pentacon 6X6, but as you say: the flare is difficult to control and the weight...., but I wouldn't part with it and seldom used it off a tripod. But then you should always use a tripod, particularly with medium format cameras
@@DavidHancocklast zebras produced have almost perfect mc without MC letters written, but this is only repeating old people around me. First ones was sharper. But this is also only old people thoughts.
I only have the Nikkor 2.8 of the other 50mm options. I like the overall image character better in the Zeiss and would rate it as slightly sharper stopped down, softer wide-open. I've not heard many great things about the Nikkor 3.5 and have never read a review of the Zenzanon, and I can't speak directly to either.
@@DavidHancock Interesting! I own the 50/3.5 Nikkor and 50/2.8 Zenzanon but I don’t have the 50/2.8 Nikkor. IMO the 3.5 Nikkor is an excellent performer; extremely sharp with good contrast & no notable distortion but it flares easily so a hood is required. The Zenzanon is great because of its size & speed but has some minor barrel distortion, lower contrast, and is a little soft wide open. I’ve always heard the 50mm f2.8 Nikkor is the best optically so it’s great to read your comparison. I’ll have to look for a Flektogon now!
I was going to ask the same question. I have the Nikkor 50mm f/2.8 which I really like. A bit more distortion than the Zeiss, but the extra stop of light is useful.
I also just bought this lens on a whim, but in the typical P6 mount. Since I also own the Irix 15mm, I'm pleasantly suprised to hear you say that you consider them to be nearly equal!
I found many of your shots very lovely, particularly those following at 4:00! Many lens reviews don't seem to go beyond the technical and leave one guessing about the creative approach one will have to figure out.
Thank you! I have had a lot of people over the years ask for tips on use and so my goal is to provide a good review that sets people up to understand a lens quickly, have some ideas on how to use it, and get to work on making their own images with it.
It's interesting on full frame if you use a tilt shift adapter, in which case the very long flange distance of pentacon 6 allows plenty of room for the mechanics, and the huge image circle allows huge movements without vignetting.
Good point. I wouldn't have thought of that, but yes, it would work very well. Some medium-format lenses are great for that. Others ... others are not.
Flektogon with fisheye arsat 30mm (it was long time ago) was my most beloved set on 6x6 slr. 180mm sonnar... used them on tops of Tatra mountains. I loved using these 3 lenses with polarysing filter, sometimes +deep red filter. But I was very young, now my taste for b & w photos is different and simple joy of 35mm and digital is enough for my back.
Nice! Yeah, I find each year that carrying a bag of heavy gear is less appealing than the one before, too.
Thanks, professor! Great video! Rich reference to know what this lens is really for and look for a more affordable substitute - in case el paisano is running out of la plata.
Thank you!
I think the reason Zeiss ignored you is because it's a different company from the one that made it. The Zeiss company today is a descendant of the West German Zeiss, not Carl Zeiss Jena. Maybe you could contact Jenoptik which is descended from Zeiss Jena.
That's a really good thought and I'm going to look into that right now. I also didn't know that, so thank you.
oh i wanted a p6 flecktagon in 1998. Never got one. I ended up jumping into the bronica etr and gs1 when used camera prices were so low in 07.
Honestly, from a technical perspective, the Zenzanon lenses for the SQ series are likely better all around than the S series lenses. Coatings and designs had advanced a lot by then.
Wow, those are really lovely pictures of the mountainous scenery! Definitaly made me want to get a square format camera for the outdoor use, as my current setup of Mamiya RZ67 with 65mm FLE is a little chunky, and 6x6 hits different from 6x7.
Thank you! I went to 6X6 from 6X7 for exactly that reason. The RB67 was just too much to carry.
Having recently moved to the place, your pronunciation of Jena made me chuckle a bit, but another commenter has already pointed that out (although I'd emphasize that it's a long e sound). Jena really is quite a fascinating city, sitting in a deep river valley surrounded by heights all around. The impact that Carl Zeiss left on it can definitely be felt everywhere: on my daily walk to work I pass a statue of the man himself and several buildings that housed his first workshops; I can see the Jenoptik tower on my way to the cafeteria, and I work in the skyscaper (creatively named JenTower) designed to look like a telescope to symbolize the importance of the optical industry in the city.
Thank you! I would love to visit Jena someday. It would be fun to bring some vintage Zeiss lenses to photograph the city, too.
I wish i could find some more information on this conversation. I own a 50mm for my now defunct pentacon. Wish i could see about converting it to my bronica s2. Im sure it would take some doing but if it gets it off a shelf and shooting again that would be lovely
I asked SK Grimes about converting a Biometar 120mm from P6 to Bronica and it's a VERY hard thing to do because it requires a lot of precision in the million.
I love my Carl Zeiss Jena 50mm f/4 Flektogon lens for my Pentacon 6X6, but as you say: the flare is difficult to control and the weight...., but I wouldn't part with it and seldom used it off a tripod. But then you should always use a tripod, particularly with medium format cameras
I concur about the tripod, too. It is a very bad habit of mine that I do most all medium-format shooting handheld.
@@DavidHancockwhich one did you used? Zebra, pre-mc, mc or the last ones with rubber?
Zebra
@@DavidHancocklast zebras produced have almost perfect mc without MC letters written, but this is only repeating old people around me. First ones was sharper. But this is also only old people thoughts.
How would you say the Flecktogon compares to the other 50mm options for bronica?
I only have the Nikkor 2.8 of the other 50mm options. I like the overall image character better in the Zeiss and would rate it as slightly sharper stopped down, softer wide-open. I've not heard many great things about the Nikkor 3.5 and have never read a review of the Zenzanon, and I can't speak directly to either.
@@DavidHancock Interesting! I own the 50/3.5 Nikkor and 50/2.8 Zenzanon but I don’t have the 50/2.8 Nikkor. IMO the 3.5 Nikkor is an excellent performer; extremely sharp with good contrast & no notable distortion but it flares easily so a hood is required. The Zenzanon is great because of its size & speed but has some minor barrel distortion, lower contrast, and is a little soft wide open. I’ve always heard the 50mm f2.8 Nikkor is the best optically so it’s great to read your comparison. I’ll have to look for a Flektogon now!
I was going to ask the same question. I have the Nikkor 50mm f/2.8 which I really like. A bit more distortion than the Zeiss, but the extra stop of light is useful.
Well, if you ever want to sell yours... this new Bronica enthusiast would gladly help you get rid of it. 😅
:D I think this one will stay in the case.
@@DavidHancock Fair enough!
If it's of German origin, wouldn't it be pronounced Yen-na?
Yes. My German pronunciation is so bad there's a warrant out for me there.