Lenses 50-60mm

Carl Zeiss Jena Pancolar 50mm 1.8 on Fujifilm GFX

Carl zeiss jena pancolar 50mm 1.8 lens

Introduction

Vintage lens adapters make it easy to experience the classic character of legendary manual focus lenses from makers like Carl Zeiss, Nikon, Canon, and more. Today these adapters are more popular than ever, as photographers aim to get the most out of their mirrorless cameras using lenses old and new. Let's take a closer look at what these vintage lenses can offer.

Overview of the K&F Concept M42 to GFX Adapter

The K&F Concept M42 to GFX mount adapter is an all-metal, precision-engineered adapter that allows you to mount legacy M42 lenses onto Fujifilm GFX medium format cameras. Based on my testing, the build quality is excellent with a durable aluminium housing that feels sturdy in hand.

The adapter fits snugly with no wiggle room on both the M42 lens side and the GFX body mount. The mounting flanges are tightly tolerances to ensure proper alignment of the lens to the sensor plane. There is no slack or movement when the lens is mounted securely to the adapter.

The adapter features clicked aperture control for M42 lenses that don't have automatic aperture actuation. This gives you full manual control over the aperture when shooting. The adapter maintains infinity focus for lenses and correct frame coverage through the viewfinder.

Overall, the K&F Concept adapter provides a robust, quality solution for mounting vintage M42 SLR lenses onto GFX series medium format cameras. It's a great inexpensive option for unlocking the creative possibilities of legacy glass on your Fujifilm mirrorless camera.

Testing the Famous Carl Zeiss Jena 50mm f/1.8 Lens

The Carl Zeiss Jena Pancolar 50mm f/1.8 lens has a storied history and significance in the world of vintage glass. Originally produced in East Germany in the 1950s, this lens gained a reputation for its excellent sharpness and bokeh.

Optically, the 50mm f/1.8 Pancolar performs admirably, especially considering its age. Center sharpness is excellent, even when shot wide open at f/1.8. The edges do get a bit soft at the maximum aperture, but stop down just a bit to f/2.8 and the sharpness improves dramatically across the frame.

The bokeh on the 50mm f/1.8 is buttery smooth. Out of focus highlights are rendered softly without any harsh edges. Combined with the fast f/1.8 aperture, this vintage lens can isolate subjects from the background beautifully.

Flare resistance and contrast are also impressive for a lens this old. Shooting into the sun does result in some flaring and loss of contrast, but it handles challenging lighting situations better than expected.

The Carl Zeiss 50mm f/1.8 truly lives up to its legendary reputation. It's a joy to shoot with this piece of history. The combination of sharpness, bokeh and character make it a special vintage lens that holds up wonderfully today.

Real-World Shooting with the Zeiss 50mm f/1.8

Taking the Zeiss 50mm f/1.8 lens out for a test proved to be a delightful experience. The compact nature of the lens made it easy to carry around all day.

The fast f/1.8 aperture allowed for beautifully soft and creamy bokeh when shooting wide open. And the sharpness when stopping down to f/4 or f/5.6 was impressive for a lens designed in the 1960s.

Carl Zeis Jena Pancolar at 1.8

@1.8 (the sensor coverage on the gf is not great but this lens was never designed for this) 


When shooting a vintage lens like this, it's important to remember that the focus throw will be longer than modern lenses. This takes some getting used to but allows for finer control over focus. The all-metal construction also gives the focus ring a smooth, weighted feel that adds to the enjoyment of shooting with vintage glass.


Carl Zeiss Jena Pancolar 50mm 1.8 on Fujifilm GFX at f8

At f.8 the corners clear a bit but still not great 

 

100% crop at f8


The rendering is unique and produces images with a classic look. There's a subtle warmth and softness around edges when shooting wide open.



Considerations When Using Vintage Lenses

While vintage lenses can provide a unique look and feel, they do come with some limitations to be aware of.

Focusing Challenges

One of the biggest challenges with adapting vintage lenses is the manual focus. Modern cameras lack focus aids like split prisms that were common on vintage SLRs. This makes critical focus much more difficult, especially at wider apertures. Zone focusing and using depth of field to your advantage is key. Focus peaking can help, but is not always 100% accurate. Manual focus takes practice and patience.

Exposure Differences

Vintage lenses were designed for film, so they will often render exposures darker on modern digital cameras. This means you may need to dial in +1 or +2 exposure compensation when using older lenses. Since they transmit less light, you may also struggle in lower light scenarios where autofocus lenses can utilize larger apertures.

Limitations to Be Aware Of

- No autofocus
- Potential vignetting or color shifts on digital sensors
- Increased risk of flare in backlit conditions
- Potential image quality issues like haze, dust, fungus or oil on elements
- Durability and functionality concerns with very old lenses
- No lens correction profiles available or metadata 

While these limitations may seem restrictive, they are largely things you have to accept and adapt to when shooting with vintage glass. Taking the time to understand the character of each lens will help you work within their capabilities and get great results.

The Value of Vintage Lenses Today

Vintage lenses offer creative possibilities and cost savings compared to modern lenses, along with often higher quality optics.

Creative Possibilities

Vintage lenses can offer unique rendering and bokeh compared to modern lenses, which opens up creative possibilities. Many vintage lenses have lower contrast and sharpness wide open, which can provide a dreamy, soft look. The swirly bokeh from vintage lenses is also prized by portrait and still life photographers. Vintage lenses tend to have more character and imperfections that can be utilized for creative effect.

image of a girl taken with the carl zeiss jena pancolar

Cost Savings

Vintage lenses can provide great value, with quality optics at a fraction of the price of new lenses. While condition varies, it's possible to find excellent vintage glass for under $500, whereas new equivalent lenses could cost over $1000. Vintage lenses hold value well, and can be resold without too much depreciation. Building up a set of vintage primes allows creativity at a reasonable cost.

Higher Quality Optics

Vintage lenses often used higher quality materials and coatings compared to entry-level modern lenses. Brands like Leica, Zeiss, and Nikon made lenses with excellent sharpness, contrast, and color rendition. Vintage lenses were designed to be used for decades, and the all-metal build quality shows in their longevity. The craftsmanship and hand assembly of vintage lenses contributes to their fine image quality. While autofocus and technology have advanced, the fundamentals of great lens design and construction began with vintage optics.

Adapting Other Vintage Lenses

The K&F Concept M42 to GFX adapter opens up a world of possibilities for using vintage lenses from various classic mounts on modern GFX medium format cameras. While M42 screw mount lenses are plentiful, there are many other fun and interesting vintage lenses to consider.


Conclusion

This was an interesting experience using a vintage Carl Zeiss Jena 50mm f/1.8 lens on a modern GFX camera via the K&F Concept M42 adapter. The all-metal construction of both the lens and adapter felt sturdy and secure. Image quality from this 1960s-era lens was quite good, with nice sharpness and smooth bokeh when shot wide open.

While manual focus takes some getting used to, the large and bright viewfinder of the GFX made it possible to nail critical focus most of the time. Using stop-down metering to gauge exposure before shooting also worked well. The compact size and retro charm of vintage lenses like this are big advantages too.

However, there are some caveats to keep in mind. You lose out on autofocus, auto exposure and other modern luxuries. Adapted lenses can occasionally exhibit issues like light leaks or incorrect aperture operation. Still, if you're willing to slow down and work methodically, vintage lenses reward you with unique rendering and tons of character. They represent great value for the money too.

Before taking the plunge, research lens compatibility and try cheaper adapters first. But overall, vintage lenses are a fun way to unlock additional creative possibilities from your modern mirrorless camera. The old gold lenses of yesterday still have a place in the photographer's kit today.

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