.... there were huge droplets of melt water on lots of things in the garden. They were crying out
to be photographed. This was taken with a K3 and a Macro Takumar (pre-set, 1:1 version) 50mm at f11.




The water is so pure and clear that the droplets make perfect lenses. The image has been inverted to
show the focused scene the right way up. You can clearly make out the conservatory roof about 20 feet distant.

Old glass still rules !

Wonderful set. I know the answer is 'experience and knowledge' but I still wonder how you get such stunning results.

Nigel got it in one

First and last for me. The tonal range and the overall sharpness are quite remarkable. Certainly a great tribute to the camera - as well as the spider using it.

This business of having to have the latest whizz bang in order to get top results is a nonsense. As LennyBloke kicked off, this is a disregarded cheapo - but only because it is old. This, and other people's offerings prove their worth time and again.

Dunno if you can make 'porn' out of these since I used natural light from one direction and tungsten from the other.
Either way, it's provided a nice pink cast to everything! I have two of these so I leave one as a 135mm and the other
as a 225mm. The photos show one or both of them.

1 This is the 135 version on a K1. Note the gap by the mount at around 4 o'clock. The lens barrel diameter is such that
it doesn't cover the adapter. There is a similar gap at 10 o'clock, both of which let light in. In practical use, it is
necessary to put the thin (10mm) No.1 extension tube on the mount to cover these holes. The aperture is a pre-set so
that isn't affected at all. (You can use longer tubes if you like to get increasingly pseudo macro effects).



2 Here are the components. The tallest is the entire ensemble at exactly 100mm. This a focal length of 225mm. The
135mm, shorter one is 70mm long. The hood is 35mm with a 43mm (!?) filter thread at the end. The lens filter
thread is an even more curious 37mm. The short bit of zebra tube is an extension lens to make the 135mm into 225mm.



3. Fully assembled, the 225mm version might be considered sexy enough to warrant the term 'porn'. The filter ring
is used as the pre-set ring and the thin knurled one behind it operates the iris from wide (f4.5) open to wherever
the pre-set might be. The fat zebra ring focuses.



4. The iris is set right back inside the tube and has 12 blades, offering an almost circular aperture at all stops.
The front element is indeed right at the front making a hood almost essential and there is only one available!



5. A two in one interchangeable lens was a bit revolutionary in 1959 but the design is decidedly clunky. It
is necessary to remove the custom t2-style mount from one component and replace it onto the other in
order to change focal lengths - hardly convenient.



6. As I commented above, I have two copies so it presents no problem! The whole thing originally came
in a long, thin protective tube, that I do not have. Neither do I have a custom front lens cap - and note that
even the rear caps are custom made. Losses are inevitable so check what parts you are getting if you
should find a set for sale.



It is decidedly vintage, extremely quirky and certainly not a straightforward lens but it IS a quality
piece of glass that can produce exceptionally good results (see earlier posting).

Lucky beggar! I would simply like the chance to look at one never mind get a photo as nice as this.

I thought that A* 200mm macro was temptation enough. Now this most wonderful item turns up! Would anyone dare put it on a camera and use it?

These and your past postings have put Malvern right on the map for me once this mess is cleared up sufficiently.

I used to watch a professional photographer go to town with a Rocket blower, taking an eternity blowing inside the mirror box at 4 x 90 degrees and then 4 x 45 degrees and then blasting the body cap that was quickly applied. He then did the same with the lens he had just removed, as well as its caps before putting them back on. Then he would do the same in reverse - blast the replacement lens (put the rear cap back on) remove the body cover and blast inside again, then quickly mount the replacement lens. He commented once that there was no way he was allowing any dust to get in at all - but agreed that his task was ultimately impossible.

One day I noticed that I had lots of dust bunnies on my images and I recalled my professional friend's behaviour. Guess what I do now, without fail, every time I change a lens?