Trying out a unique prototype lens
Retro//Reflection - Issue #28
Once or twice per month I send out a letter with a handful of (my) photographs and share a bit of insight on the ‘why?’ or ‘how?’. As an enthusiastic photographer, anything goes.
Maybe you’ll learn something?
Or perhaps it will spark some inspiration?
In my daily job I work at an engineering company that specializes in high tech precision systems and scientific instruments. Sometimes these can also include optics. A while ago a lens manufacturer asked us if we could assist with a new optical design they where working on. They had some design challenges and ask if we could help developing a proof of concept and first prototype model.
Anyway, I can’t disclose too many details about this company but they are ready to soon announce this new lens to the world. In the prototype phase I was asked to try out and thoroughly test this new design lens so they made a working prototype to fit my Fuji X-system camera and I could have a go.
I asked if I was allowed to show some of the images I captured with this lens, and since they want to start hyping it up as soon as possible, I’m hereby allowed to share the first photos!1
I can also already announce what makes this lens so unique and remarkable: the aperture defines the outline / shape of the final image! So in general: f/3 produces triangles, f/4 squares (I guess this one might become a favorite!), f/5 pentagons and so on. It goes up to f/22, but then the corners might become a bit soft due to diffraction.
Here are some examples:
As you can see some are not perfectly symmetrical: that’s because it has a second aspect ratio ring, which can be set from extreme asymmetrical to perfectly symmetrical. It’s ‘analog’ (no discrete increments), so the possibilities are endless.
It also has another cool feature: go wider than f/3 and it’ll become a circle, but the wider the aperture gets, the stronger the bokeh will be! It goes all the way to f/0.95 which makes just the 5% center of the image in focus, for maximum creative effect!
Of course it’s an all manual lens, with a focal length of about 35mm full-frame equivalent2. I’m not sure but I think they are planning of releasing mounts for all major camera manufacturers, including the M42 mount3. Fuji X users are in luck since they designed the prototype for my Fuji X-T5, so naturally they’ll release that one first.
If you’re enthusiastic, you do have to be patient though: release is scheduled for next year - probably around the same day as this post is published4.
That’s it for this issue. Thank you for reading until the end. Feel free to leave a short comment or message. Appreciate it!
Until next time, cheers,
Ronald
ronaldsmeets.info
ps: this article/letter/post is free, because I’m not doing this to make a profit. Also, I don’t like subscriptions at all. However, if you do want to show your support, a coffee always helps me writing and posting here ;-)
A big scoop for Substack!
Or APC, I’m not sure …
For the extra vintage experience!
Please have a look at the publish date of this post ;-)
This made me smile. Happy AF Day!
🤣