Flowers with ICA Toska 215

Some of you might know that I am learning and testing my cameras and lenses mostly in the garden. No graphs or charts, just plain flowers. Lately I realized that 100 years old ICA A-G produces some interesting results with NEX-F3 assistance. The lens is Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 1:6.3  F=13.5 cm. It is sharp and contrasty wide opened, excellent performance for the lens that was designed and built when colour photography even didn’t exist. With APS-C size sensor this lens becomes about 200 mm long but thanks to camera bellows the rig is almost perfect for close up photography. You can see my hack here.

* 2012-07-03 update: more pictures added

X-PRO 1 - four hacks for $ 36.50

After quick research on the internet I decided to replace some of the original components:

35 mm lens hood and cover with generic screw-in metal hood + cap  ($11.50), on several occasions I almost lost both original hood and flimsy rubber cap

Around the cottage with X-PRO 1 and Minolta Lenses

Couple photos that were taken around the cottage with X-PRO 1 and some of my favorite Minolta legacy lenses.

MD FISH-EYE 16 mm 1:2.8

More samples:

A Stormy Lake Project (with ICA A-G 1912)

This project was about capturing "life by the lake" with a 100 years old camera and NEX-F3 "digital back" attached. I was concerned if my skills would be adequate to capture the spirit of the cottage life with  this strange camera setup.

All images were shot on the tripod with an old folding camera and Sony NEX-F3 attached. You can see my gear setup here. Sometimes colours were off (easy fix) and I missed more than 50% of fast moving objects, but I had a lot of fun!

X-PRO 1: JPEG vs RAW (LR4.1+SILKYPIX+OOC jpeg)

Hello!

After posting initial output from LR 4.1 I had received an overwhelming response to re-test with different setup.

Thank you for all recommendations and suggestions. So I decided to re-test with the following modifications.
1. Use standard FUJINON 35mm lens @ 5.6
2. Re-shoot long and close range scenes using jpeg and RAW @ 200 ISO
3. Add SILKYPIX output for the reference

Another recommendation was to use a custom X-PRO1 profile for LR4.1 but couldn't find one yet.

NEX-F3 + Minolta MD 200 mm 1:2.8

You might know that most of the Minolta legacy lens followers consider Minolta MD 200 mm 1:2.8 as "magnificent", "classic" and "cult lens". It is great lens indeed. Big, heavy, lots of glass and very well built. Read more at Rokkor Files

X-PRO 1 + MD ROKKOR-X 85mm 1:1.7 (part 1)

This lens is known for its excellent color rendition and bokeh. MD version is very rare, it was produced for about one year only. I was chasing it for a long time and finally I got one in absolutely mint condition. I brought it into my garden lab immediately!

* More images added 2012-06-29

X-PRO 1 + Nikkor AI-S 28mm 1:2.8

Finally I got sometime to play with X-PRO 1 and Nikon lenses.  Nikkor AI-S 28mm is excellent, it's very well built, sharp, contrasty and, it has 8 elements in 8 groups! The lens uses floating elements - see close-ups below.

ICA A-G (Toska 215) history

In 1909, the four German camera makers Hüttig AG, Kamerawerk Dr. Krügener, M Wünsche AG and Carl Zeiss Palmos AG joined forces to become the Internationale Camera Actiengesellschaft (ICA AG)  in Dresden. Later in 1926 the company joined Zeiss Ikon. 

ICA A-G Toska 215 (full name) was manufactured sometime between 1911 and 1921 and cost around $25.   That’s all I know.

 

NEX-F3 + MC TELE ROKKOR-PF 135mm 1:2.8

Few shots from my morning stroll.

NEX-F3 + MC TELE ROKKOR-PF 135mm @ 2.8

NEX-F3 + MC TELE ROKKOR-PF 135mm @ 2.8

Cheers!

vk

ICA Tessar 135/6.3: image quality

I am testing my new rig (NEX-F3 with a 100 years old ICA camera) and like results a lot.

Tiny old Tessar 135/6.3 performs very well, delivering excellent sharpness and vivid colours.

100 Years Apart

Finally, with the help of my friend Jim, I managed to mount NEX-F3 (2012) on ICA A-G Dresden (circa 1912). I was so excited to test this combo that didn't even dust the camera off :) The lens is Carl Zeiss Tessar 13,5 cm 1:6.3

X-PRO1 + Konica Hexanon AR 50mm 1:1.4

Still learning and testing legacy lenses in my backyard lab:)

ISO 100 @ 2.8

Sun in my garden with X-PRO 1

All shots were taken almost in direct sunlight, I just put my camera under the flowers and shot. Fujinon 35mm, AF, ISO 100(L), jpeg

 X-PRO 1 + Fujinon 35mm @ 5.6

More samples:

Catching sun in my garden with X-PRO 1

All shots were taken almost in direct sunlight, I just put my camera under the flowers and shot. Fujinon 35mm, AF, ISO 100(L)

 X-PRO 1 + Fujinon 35mm @ 5.6

X-PRO 1 + Fujinon 35mm @ 5.6

Pear

Study in still-life. X-PRO 1, MC ROKKOR-PG 58mm @ 1.2

 Thanks,
vk

NEX-F3 + MC ROKKOR-PG 58mm 1:1.2

I am still learning this little camera and how it works with old legacy lenses. This time I tested Minolta MC ROKKOR-PG is 58/1.2 lens. When paired with NEX-F3 it provides 87mm focal lens (equivalent) and a very shallow depth of field.  The lens is big and heavy.

 Below are couple samples from my outdoor lab in the garden :)

X-PRO 1: JPEG vs RAW (LR4.1+SILKYPIX+OOC jpeg)

Hello!

After posting initial output from LR 4.1 I had received an overwhelming response to re-test with different setup.

Thank you for all recommendations and suggestions. So I decided to re-test with the following modifications.
1. Use standard FUJINON 35mm lens @ 5.6
2. Re-shoot long and close range scenes using jpeg and RAW @ 200 ISO
3. Add SILKYPIX output for the reference

Another recommendation was to use a custom X-PRO1 profile for LR4.1 but couldn't find one yet.

X-Pro1 Firmware Update Ver.1.10

Upgrade is available at:

http://www.fujifilm.com/support/digital_cameras/software/firmware/x/xpro1/index.html

Important! Do not forget to put back all your settings, including "SHOOT WITHOUT LENS" = ON :)

First shot with new firmware:

Fujifilm X-PRO1 + Nikkor AI 50 mm 1:2

After this upgrade X-PRO 1 works even better with MF legacy glass.

Best,

vk

X-PRO 1 + NIKKOR ED 180 mm 1:2.8

All I can say - that's one crazy lens!

Cheers,
vk

NEX-F3 + KONICA HEXANON AR 50 mm 1:1.4

I also had Sony NEX-F3 + KONICA HEXANON AR 50 mm f1.4 with me at Eaton Hall. IMHO, considering the price, you can't go wrong with this camera for legacy lenses.

As always, I don't do formal reviews, just sharing my experience, opinion and photos.

X-PRO 1 + MD W.ROKKOR-X 24mm 1:2.8

I spent some time today at Eaton Hall in King City (Ontario, Canada) with Fujifilm X-Pro 1 and Minolta MD W. Rokkor 24mm f2.8

MD W.ROKKOR-X 24mm is a highly regarded lens in MILC community. There are numerous raving reviews on the net with pictures of brick walls, charts and graphs. But as always, I don't do formal reviews, just sharing my experience, opinion and photos.

X-PRO1: Color Filters vs Color Filters

Out of curiosity I decided to compare digital filters that are part of the camera set-up menu to actual  glass filters.

Minolta MD FY 16mm f/2.8 is not just a great wide angle lens but it also comes with the set of built-in filters.Yes folks, those color filters  are built in and part of the lens! You just need to turn the front ring.

X-PRO1 + MC TELE ROKKOR-PF 135 mm 1:2.8

Couple shots taken in my garden with  Minolta MC TELE ROKKOR-PF 135mm 2.8. The lens was wide opened but focusing was pretty easy, even in the dim evening light. No focus peaking as in  NEX-F3, but still fairly easy.

 The lens works very well with mirror less cameras and produces excellent images.

Thank you,
vkphoto

NEX-F3 quick test in 50 mm range

Hi,
another quick test: Sony kit lens at 55mm 5.6, Konica Hexanon AR 50mm 1.4 and Minolta MC Rokkor-PG 58mm 1.2

X-PRO 1 and Nikon FE2/FM2 eyepice compatibility

I can only guess, but Fuji didn't "re-invent the wheel", eyepiece in this case. They are almost 100% identical in my opinion.

before the swap

in the process

and after

so which one is Fuji and which one is Nikon ?

Cheers!

vk

Legacy lens adapters for Fujifilm X-PRO 1

Finally I got some time today to try 2 new adapters for Fujifilm X-PRO 1 (MD-FX and Nikon -FX). Build quality is very good, better than those I bought for NEX, but cost more.

One (called Pixco) came with box, hologram stamp and manual :)), another one arrived in plain plastic bag. Both work well.

Gariz Half Case for Fuji X-Pro 1 (with camera now)

The case fits the camera very well, with convenient access to battery/memory card compartment and focus mode selector. This case doesn’t add bulkiness and you can easy mount it on the tripod. Quality of leather is top notch, bottom plate is even better and overall it looks very cool.

High ISO : CANON 5DMII : Sony NEX-F3 : Fuji X-PRO 1

Folks, this is a very non-scientific comparison. I did it for myself and shared results because some of you asked. Shooting conditions: JPEG, lens around 50 mm lens, F 5.6. File format:
_IMG_ = Canon,  DCS = Sony,  DSCF = Fuji

It is what it is. Ask questions, but please, don't ask to re-shoot :))