Beech forest in spring
Camera: Zeiss Ikon Ikonta C (521/2) 6x9 cm
Lens: Novar Anastigmat f/3.5 10.5 cm, uncoated
Film: Ilford HP5 Plus 400
Exposure: 1/200 sec and f/5.6, hand-held
Film developed and scanned by MeinFilmLab
Edited under Adobe Lightroom
Another approach for producing a soft picture look, this time by using a pre-war Ikonta fitted with an uncoated triplet lens and adjusting the aperture rather wide open. The same scenery was captured previously using different cameras and films. For better comparison, the picture series were taken under quite similar light conditions (about the same daytime in sunny weather), but on different days.
Using the Novar triplet lens with the aperture quite open (f/5.6) results in a distinct softening, which adds to the softening from the limited depth of field. Note that the depth of field of the 10,5 cm lens for 6x9 format is even narrower than that of the 75 mm lens for the 6x6 format. Also, the Ilford HP5 helps, because this film is less contrasty than for example Kodak Tri-X. Possibly, some lens haze and camera shake may have increased the softening.
Although I enjoy the fine detail of the stopped down Novars or Tessars, distinct sharpness is not essential for many photos and therefore is not a must for me. Lower sharpness and contrast make photos softer and more pictorial or painterly. For some reason I like this dreamy look. Using a pin hole camera would be an alternative for producing a softer look and a similar fall-off in sharpness from the center to the boarders.
Beech forest in spring
Camera: Zeiss Ikon Ikonta C (521/2) 6x9 cm
Lens: Novar Anastigmat f/3.5 10.5 cm, uncoated
Film: Ilford HP5 Plus 400
Exposure: 1/200 sec and f/5.6, hand-held
Film developed and scanned by MeinFilmLab
Edited under Adobe Lightroom
Another approach for producing a soft picture look, this time by using a pre-war Ikonta fitted with an uncoated triplet lens and adjusting the aperture rather wide open. The same scenery was captured previously using different cameras and films. For better comparison, the picture series were taken under quite similar light conditions (about the same daytime in sunny weather), but on different days.
Using the Novar triplet lens with the aperture quite open (f/5.6) results in a distinct softening, which adds to the softening from the limited depth of field. Note that the depth of field of the 10,5 cm lens for 6x9 format is even narrower than that of the 75 mm lens for the 6x6 format. Also, the Ilford HP5 helps, because this film is less contrasty than for example Kodak Tri-X. Possibly, some lens haze and camera shake may have increased the softening.
Although I enjoy the fine detail of the stopped down Novars or Tessars, distinct sharpness is not essential for many photos and therefore is not a must for me. Lower sharpness and contrast make photos softer and more pictorial or painterly. For some reason I like this dreamy look. Using a pin hole camera would be an alternative for producing a softer look and a similar fall-off in sharpness from the center to the boarders.