classic lenses, modern films = new possibilities?

[Bingley]

A lot of us like the look of photos shot with classic rangefinder lenses from the '30s, '40s, or '50s. While some photographers seek to recreate a vintage look with these lenses, the combination of a classic lens and a modern film emulsion could also produce results that could not be achieved at the time the lens was manufactured. Not a vintage look, necessarily, but something different. I'd be interested in knowing whether others pair up particular older lenses with particular modern films for a specific purpose.

So, is there a particular classic lens/modern film combination that you like for a certain kind of shot?

[xayraa33]

Jupiter 8 + Efke KB 100

I like the look of this lens and film combo.

[Keith]

My favourite combination at the moment is my Canon 50mm f1.2 with Neopan 400 ... in low light for softish portraits it really is the bomb!

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g196/wheelie52/RFF%20Storage/BoticParty_0.jpg

[Bingley]

Nice work, guys!

[Bingley]

To elaborate, Keith's shot in particular shows off a classic canon lens w/ a modern, fine-grained fast film of the kind that did not exist in the 1950s. The results, I think, are stunning.

I had a chance to borrow a very clean 1936 Elmar 90/4 last summer, and was surprised at the results that lens produced w/ a saturated color film (Kodak 400UC):

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1178/1333979196_8aaf9b469b_o.jpg

[Avotius]

Absolutely, my yashica gsn with new modern films has produced some truly unique results. They dont make em like they used to.

[hurdy_gurdyman]

I just had to comment on Steve's picture of the cow being milked. I looked at it and was literally spooked into the past for a second. I pictured me squatting down watching dad milk the cow, as I did a lot, around 45 years ago. The memories just flooded. Having the faces hidden in the picture is what caused a lot of this.

Thanks for the memories!

Dave :)

[charjohncarter]

Here is a 105mm Pentax Super Takumar 6x7 (c. 1969) with Tmax400 (TMY400-2):

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2393/2352873314_39523c283e.jpg?v=1206212555

[Bingley]

I just had to comment on Steve's picture of the cow being milked. I looked at it and was literally spooked into the past for a second. I pictured me squatting down watching dad milk the cow, as I did a lot, around 45 years ago. The memories just flooded. Having the faces hidden in the picture is what caused a lot of this.

Thanks for the memories!

Dave :)

Dave -- I really appreciate your comment; thanks so much! There is an exhibit every year at the California State Fair sponsored by the U.C. Davis Vet School that features cow milking and a lot of new born piglets, lambs, and calfs. The photo possibilities are endless! :)

[Bingley]

Here is a 105mm Pentax Super Takumar 6x7 (c. 1969) with Tmax400 (TMY400-2):

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2393/2352873314_39523c283e.jpg?v=1206212555

Gorgeous. Thanks. Now, if you shot this image w/ Tri-X circa 1969, I think the image would be quite different.

[charjohncarter]

I tried to shoot this kind of image in 1969, and they were very different (read grainy and lousy). We (meaning me) like to reminisce about the old days, but in truth everything now is better. And new films are really better. Thanks Bingley.

[Bingley]

I tried to shoot this kind of image in 1969, and they were very different (read grainy and lousy). We (meaning me) like to reminisce about the old days, but in truth everything now is better. And new films are really better. Thanks Bingley.

Exactly. It seems to me that modern films have given a new lease on life to classic lenses, expanding the possibilities for what those lenses can do. Your shot, and Keith's above, are good examples of what I'm refering to.

[Keith]

I think T-max and Neopan 400 in particular do have a very modern look ... it's quite distinct and when I first started shooting the Neopan I wasn't sure that I liked it. I'd come from HP5 and found the Neopan totally different.

That pic of charjohn's is lovely and does demonstrate, in my opinion, qualities that aren't going to be apparent with the older emulsions!

Another Neopan with 1.2 Canon shot.

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g196/wheelie52/RFF%20Storage/BoticParty_15.jpg

[Terao]

Another Canon 50mm f/1.2 fan.
This was shot with Kodak chromogenic which definitely wasn't available back then. Sharp, low grain, extraordinary for ISO400...

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2277/2352516417_1386a816f0_b.jpg

The Canon is the only old lens that I use regularly now. In my opinion its unbeatable in terms of price/performance. If you're scanning its low contrast output really helps, and I just don't see its alleged corner softness/falloff. Above shot was @ f/1.2 shot with a Bessa R4M.

[charjohncarter]

Keith, Terao, lovely, lots of shadows, nice images. Of course, you had help from the subjects.

[Keith]

Here's another example of what we're refering to and it says a lot for the quality of these older uncoated lenses. These were taken with my old 1930 Leica 1a just after a bought it ... the camera has the fixed 50mm f3.5 Elmar which luckily is as clean as a whistle. The film was Kodak BW400CN.

I have to admit to being a little stunned when I first saw what this tiny nearly eighty year old camera was capable of! :eek:

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g196/wheelie52/RFF%20Storage/Leica11930_26.jpg

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g196/wheelie52/RFF%20Storage/Leica11930_10.jpg

[Bingley]

Keith --

That little Elmar is amazing, isn't it? Your first shot above brings that out, IMHO. I've got a '47 version of the same lens (coated), and I've been pleasantly surprised by what it can do w/ a nice modern film like Portra 400NC:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3063/2302980809_895892017f_o.jpg

or Superia 400:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3132/2341800431_42b80d4ff3_o.jpg

[Bingley]

Terao -- A lovely portrait, again illustrating what these older lenses can do when married up w/ a fast, fine-grained film!