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Meyer Gorlitz Kinon Superior f=3.5cm

Updated: 1 day ago




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This beautiful Meyer Gorlitz Superior f=3.5cm projector lens is the second lens of these series of lenses that we are testing. Similar to the 5cm variant, this projector lens was made back in 1920s and 1930, and it has a pretty simple structure. There's no mention of the f-stop on this lens because it doesn't come with a diaphragm, so any image we take with this one is with the widest f-stop possible. What's noteworthy about this lens is that its rear element is small, and the image that it creates doesn't completely cover a 35mm sensor of a full-frame camera. The cameras we used for this test were two Nikon Z7 mirrorless cameras one of which is modified to capture 830nm infrared wavelength, for so-called standard IR or deep B&W.



Stills

The still shots from this projector lens are as dreamy as any photo can get. The aperture is wide open as it is nonexistent, so the depth of field is considerably shallow, and subjects in close proximity can become completely separated from the background. As the image that this lens creates on a full-frame sensor is smaller than the size of the sensor, the image is round and vignetting in turn is exceptional. However, the subject is not curved, especially when placed in the center, and yet image becomes more curved on the edges. This effect is even more in the distant background, creating a unique dreamy effect on photos, and as you will see later, on videos. The bokeh on the out-of-focus light sources, while being perfectly round in the center, is more and more oval as we move to the edges of the frame.

It is worth noting here that the bokeh is eye-catchingly swirly in these shots. Since this is a 3.5cm or 35mm lens, it is an interesting option for exotic street-photography.




Black and White Photography


The resulting black and white photos are very interesting in my opinion. Photos are very sharp in the focused area, and with a light touch of edit on the exposure and contrast, the result is eye-catching. Without further ado, we post the B&W photos of Meyer Gorlitz Kinon Superior 3.5cm projector lens below.



Videography

Here are the color videos we took as a test on this lens. On the videos, this lens creates a surreal atmosphere, as if everything is from an unreal dreamworld. Take a look.

Here are the black and white videos that we took with this lens. They're beautiful, aren't they?


Infrared Photography and Videography

The infrared quality is similar to black and white; otherworldly. It's sharp in the focused area, and the transition from focused to out-of-focus areas is very smooth.



Flare

We tested this lens for flare as well. As you can see in the photos, the flare is not the best feature of this variety of Meyer Gorlitz projector lenses either, but nothing can be perfect.



 
 
 

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