The Gateway Lens: Carl Zeiss Jena Biometar 80mm f2.8
Lens used for this project shot.
One of the first things that people doing research into tilt shift lenses these days come across is mention of a DIY tilt setup. This usually entails using a medium format lens on a (D)SLR, often in conjunction with a toilet plunger, to achieve the tilt effect.
That's how I first came across this lens with such an alluring name... Carl Zeiss Jena Biometar...ah Zeiss... I know that name... but back then, the going price for these guys ($150 and upwards) was still "expensive" so I ended up purchasing its clone, the Volna-3 80mm f2.8. Fast forward a few months, and I have my first Pentacon Six TL with a couple of lenses, including this Biometar. The allure of the Zeiss/Planar design bokeh and the possibility of adapting it to a DSLR via a tilt adapter was too strong, and if I were going to get some MF lenses, why not grab an MF body along the way, no? After all, it's usually cheaper to buy a cam/lens set than to just buy the lenses.
Fast forward another several months, and I got me pretty much the whole range of the CZJ optics, as well as a dedicated tilt/shift lens for the Pentacon Six format. And a Hasselblad kit, too. Seriously, I do feel like that Heroine addict asking myself "Now how the hell did I end up here??" :-D
The CZJ Biometar is the East German equivalent of the Carl Zeiss Planar 80mm f2.8 designed for Hasselblad, et al. They're definitely not the same lenses, but really close enough, and optically speaking, they are neck to neck in performance [source].
It is a Xenotar type modified gauss/planar design, just like the Ai-Nikkor 105/2.5 from the other day [source]. The black MC version has significantly better flare control compared to the zebra version that preceded it. It is great on a Pentacon Six or a Kiev/P6 mount medium format camera, and it is great on a full frame DSLR with some help from a Hartblei tilt adapter.
It's just a damn fine lens, period.
Huh, this got explored, too... weird :-D But thanks y'all
Comments and faves
Dean Luis added this photo to his favorites. (30 months ago)
june1777 (30 months ago | reply)
Yeah. I love this so much.
Dr. RawheaD (30 months ago | reply)
Word.
Now, I just need to get a Pentax/Contax/Mamiya and try it on 645 :-D
Angevinn, iyoupapa, giupaint, armand_212, and 5 other people added this photo to their favorites.
tropicalrips (24 months ago | reply)
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called camera portraits, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
This photo was invited and added to the Camera Portraits - Feel free to use the new comment code group.
Michael Laurent added this photo to their favorites. (18 months ago)
Michael Laurent (18 months ago | reply)
A black Kiev... looks great! How is the finish of it?
I've got the normal silver one and its all taped black now to slim it down a bit - it's a bit of a beast if you take it out...
Dr. RawheaD (18 months ago | reply)
I really liked it.... until the winder crapped out on me. Now it overlaps about half the frame each shot :lol: It's gone into semi-retirement. I use a Kiev-6C now with my Pentacon Six lenses.
I really want to look into converting my P6 mount lenses to Hasselblad mount so that I can use them with my 2000FCW. CZJ lenses are awesome; Pentacon Six and Kiev bodies all kinda suck. Which I don't mind, till I really do :-D
ZZZAO added this photo to his favorites. (17 months ago)
ZZZAO (17 months ago | reply)
I have one with my pentacon six...I love it! Your Kiev60 is really great!!
theaspiringphotographer, the švabo, bnzai9, and dodolgarutman added this photo to their favorites.