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Why I love my 120 Makro

B

bensonga

Member
In my case, it's a CFE 120 that I used for the first time today. So perhaps I don't quite love it yet, buy I'm sure that's only a matter of time and familiarity.

In any case, here's my first shot, a Amarita Muscaria mushroom that I understand is quite poisonous....but very photogenic.

Gary
 

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bensonga said:
In my case, it's a CFE 120 that I used for the first time today. So perhaps I don't quite love it yet, buy I'm sure that's only a matter of time and familiarity.

In any case, here's my first shot, a Amarita Muscaria mushroom that I understand is quite poisonous....but very photogenic.

Gary
Click to expand...

Nice, I ate one myself...
Still kickin' ;)
 
Welcome to the joys of the Makro-Planar. I've had my CF version for about 2+ years now and it is possibly my favourite H/CZ lens. I've separately posted my first images and thoughts about the lens in an earlier thread.
This is a small file of one of my first shots.
 

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St Clair, I am quite sure the 120mm is my favourite lens - it just has a "look" that it produces like no other. It is also superb to handle.

This was one of my first images taken with it to test the closer focusing albeit hand held. The centre knife-edge frond was where the critical focus was made and shot wide open on 400 ISO film.
 

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Weston fronds

The Currier Museum in Portsmouth, NH opened a Brett Weston exhibit last night. Many fronds and pictures similar to these (in black and white, and the printing was wonderful).

Did you convert this to b&w to see how you liked it?
 
Dspeltz, I did convert it to B&W but while I liked it, I did not like it as much - the tonality was not strong enough to get it to stand out much - may be due to my poor technique in PS :)
 
My own testchart

I have made my own testchart to check out if I can see a difference in IQ between the CZ C S-PLANAR 5,6/120 and the CZ MAKRO-PLANAR CFE4/120 .
The S-PLANAR was built in the early 1960s and the CFE-MAKRO PLANAR is the latest version .
The test images were taken with the CFV-39 to check if the resolution of the two lenses is sufficient enough for the CFV-39 sensor with its 6,8 micron pixels .
I checked , both lenses with f5,6 at a distance of 1,5m , because I was especially interested in the IQ at low distances .
When using the PHOCUS lens correction facility I could see a very slight correction for distortion . BTW the same amount for both lenses .

The images from both lenses appear to be of the same IQ in the middle and at the outer areas . I can not really see a difference , not even at 200% in PSCS4 . For USM I used the default from PHOCUS .
Here is my testchart , size is A2 and i glued 5 of them together on a board .
View attachment 1936

Here is my conclusion . When you need or want a PLANAR 120 mm lens , and you do not need the faster lens (F4 instead of F5,6) and you want to save a lot of money , you can also go for a S-PLANAR in good condition .

It is of no use to show a jpg result image here , but for those of you , who would like to see the result , I can send you the fff file and you can use PHOCUS to find out yourself .

I have made the same test for the following lenses :
CFE4/40 IF , CFE4/50 , CF3,5/60 , CF2,8/80 , CF 3,5/100 , and the 120mm lenses .

Jürgen
 
I conducted a similar test on 120 CFE and 120 S-Planar T* using Kodak 100VS film and arrived at similar findings as yours. Both lens are equally good both at close distance (a few inches) and at infinity. I can't tell the difference.
 
At infinity the Makro Planar beats the older S-Planar design.

This was done deliberately by Zeiss to make the Makro Planar a lens that could be used for larger distances as well.
It means the S-Planar is marginally better at close range.


Paul
 
Paul

If you do not stop to praise the S-PLANAR over the MAKRO PLANAR , I will NOT send your wonderful C S-Planar , (you gave me for test purposes) , back to you . I will then just keep it . :z04_whip2_1:Come here S-PLANAR .
It would perfectly fit in my collection .

Jürgen
 
Jürgen,


I do not have to think twice.

Till now my only problem was I could not prove you have one of my much loved S-Planar lenses.
With post 12 my lawyer will have quite sufficient evidence to proof the S-Planar is mine.

The only thing that needs to be done is set the amount for compensation.
I am thinking of a substantial financial support to buy a CFV 39 DB.
My share will be the purchase tax. The rest of the invoice will be for you to settle.

Keep in mind as good as new S-Planars are not easy to find these days. :z02_deal:


Paul
 
Failure

Paul

A failure like the one in post #12 will not happen again .:z04_head_wall:
You can be shure of that .
There will be other occasions to correct that .
I have booked an evening class for diplomatic behaviour .

Jürgen
 
No need for diplomacy Jurgen as long as you pay your part of the CFV 39.

I have been thinking of what new possibilities this DB will give me.
Should be fun.



Paul
 
YWC said:
I conducted a similar test on 120 CFE and 120 S-Planar T* using Kodak 100VS film and arrived at similar findings as yours. Both lens are equally good both at close distance (a few inches) and at infinity. I can't tell the difference.
Click to expand...

Is this lens Goes with 203FE body to its dedicated electronics and meter etc. and Is it still a good lens for Portrait and other general photography?
Appreciate a suggesion.
regards.
Cyril:z02_respekt:
 
It has been said before:
The 60-120 zoom lens is probably the best zoom lens ever made.

Disadvantages as you already know are the weight and the speed of the lens.
Largest aperture of 4.8 means it is less suitable for portraits if you like to isolate the subject from a background that is out of focus.
The 150 Sonnar in F/FE or CF guise is often used for portraits.


Vic.
 
With no doubt, it is a great lens and not just for macro photography, but also for portraits; i have seen some from a friend of mine that surprised me!

I can not afford it so I bought an extension tube. It is not the same, of course, but it gives me a new universe of textures and details.

Hope someday I can have a Makro planar. Till that day I will be happy as long as film manufacturers continue producing!


Greetings
 
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