A Russian at the OKTOBERFEST

[rpcrowe]

I took my 58mm f/2 Russian Helios (copy of the Carl Zeiss Sonnar) to the Oktoberfest celebration in El Cajon, California. I had it mounted with an adapter on my crop sensor Sony A6500 which was a delight to shoot with this old (manufactured in 1984) totally manual lens. I have never had an easier time shooting with a manual focus lens. I shot everything wide open at f/2. I did use focus peaking. When the eyes lit up bright red, I was in focus.

I was most interested in the unique swirly bokeh produced by the Russian lens. It is most apparent in image #1...

1.


Images 2 and 3 do not have as prevalent a swirl in the bokeh. But, IMO, this lens is flattering to female subjects and can sepaate the subject from the background...

2.


3.

[Shadowman]

Nice series.

[Tom Barry]

I like seeing old lenses given new life through modern technology - especially when used by an expert photographer. Well done, indeed.

[wilgk]

Nice set

[rpcrowe]

Thanks all... The downside of this adaptation of the older lenses (especially those like the Helios that have special features such as the swirly bokeh) is these old lenses are no longer being sold at paper weight prices.

On the other side of the coin, before the adaptation of old lenses, all they were good for was paperweights or ash trays I had a camera repairman friend who used an old, junked aerial camera lens as his ash tray. It was a strange feeling to see someone snuff out a cigarette on on the front element of an 8-inch wide lens

[John 2]

…………………………………………. It was a strange feeling to see someone snuff out a cigarette on on the front element of an 8-inch wide lens

Ouch!

That's a nice set oRichard. My favourite though, is the first. The first two certainly include context but in addition he is really enjoying the Fest.