Dallmeyer Super Six lens--ultimate bokeh
Feb 15, 2017 07:24:43 #
So after months of rumination, I decided to spend big bucks when a Dallmeyer Super Six 102mm f1.9 lens came up for sale.
This is a special double gauss design made by an English lens company (J.H. Dallmeyer). They consist of six elements in four groups, made with extremely expensive rare earth glasses, thus the designation "Super Six". There was a series, running from 1 inch to 8 inches in (mostly) quarter inch increments, all with the same design and all with a maximum aperture of f1.9. They were made from the 1930s until the 1970s, when the company went out of business.
These lenses are highly prized and fetch lordly sums, a true cult item for lens collectors. I am not interested in collecting, but the design of these lenses gives them a very special bokeh, which is unlike that of any other lens.
The lens I bought has no iris, being designed to be used at full aperture only. It consists basically of the elements mounted in a long naked focusing helicoid, with a flange to bolt it to a view camera plate. It took some doing to adapt this to my Nikon, but I managed, and, oh my, I find the results just great :)
Here are some shots to show the character of this lens. I hope you like them.
This is a special double gauss design made by an English lens company (J.H. Dallmeyer). They consist of six elements in four groups, made with extremely expensive rare earth glasses, thus the designation "Super Six". There was a series, running from 1 inch to 8 inches in (mostly) quarter inch increments, all with the same design and all with a maximum aperture of f1.9. They were made from the 1930s until the 1970s, when the company went out of business.
These lenses are highly prized and fetch lordly sums, a true cult item for lens collectors. I am not interested in collecting, but the design of these lenses gives them a very special bokeh, which is unlike that of any other lens.
The lens I bought has no iris, being designed to be used at full aperture only. It consists basically of the elements mounted in a long naked focusing helicoid, with a flange to bolt it to a view camera plate. It took some doing to adapt this to my Nikon, but I managed, and, oh my, I find the results just great :)
Here are some shots to show the character of this lens. I hope you like them.
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Feb 15, 2017 07:50:33 #
Wow Toby! I'm impressed most by your ability to capture sharp images of flying birds with such a shallow DOF, and then there's the bokeh. 
Feb 15, 2017 08:03:44 #
I like them a lot!! I love wide open. You have an opportunity to get images that others can't. The bokah is similar to some of the vintage Russian lenses. And what is in focus looks to be quite sharp. Have fun.
Feb 15, 2017 09:01:36 #
I just googled these lenses and saw the prices. as high as $28,000. I bet you will be getting a lot of use out of this one.
Feb 15, 2017 10:37:39 #
Feb 16, 2017 19:24:19 #
Feb 17, 2017 00:05:13 #
Feb 17, 2017 01:22:15 #
Feb 17, 2017 05:03:56 #
Feb 17, 2017 07:03:11 #
Stunning Images.!!!
Wonderful work with some very interesting lenses...Thanks for explaining & sharing..!!!
Love the Bokeh..!!
Wonderful work with some very interesting lenses...Thanks for explaining & sharing..!!!
Love the Bokeh..!!
Feb 17, 2017 07:13:20 #
Feb 17, 2017 08:10:34 #
Lance Pearson wrote:
Nice shots with the lens. What body did you shoot it on?
Shot on a Nikon D800E. This lens covers 6x9, so would be even more interesting if I had a MF body.
Feb 17, 2017 08:11:29 #
Feb 17, 2017 08:21:12 #
Lance Pearson wrote:
thanks. Nice glass.
This is how I managed to mount it. I've now added a hood too, as it flares crazily--has only a weak single coating.
Feb 17, 2017 08:26:59 #
Lance Pearson
Loc: Viriginia
It was made before the significant tech on coatings existed it sounds like. A good hood would help with the flares. Today for the most part a hood can be more minimal I've found with modern lenses.
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