Author Topic: Schneider-Kreuznach Xenon 40mm f/1.9 (Robot Star mount) ***** (Read 2957 times)

peterb666 · « **on:** August 15, 2010, 06:56:57 AM »

I have posted photos from my 1953 vintage Schneider-Kreuznach Robot Xenon 40mm f/1.9 from my Robot Star IIa before but it doesn't look as though I have given it a thread in the Lens Sample archive so here goes...

I am using an Olympus E-P1 and have a 6-stop ND filter and 3-stop soft grad on the lens to get long exposures. This is an afternoon shot, not my usual dawn thing as I slept in this morning. Not an ideal shot as the rock blends in with the background but still pleased with the amount of detail.

Cathedral Rocks-3 by peterb666, on Flickr

peterb666 · « **Reply #1 on:** August 15, 2010, 07:05:16 AM »

Note this lens is still in production (somewhat updated but the same basic lens design), if you have a newer or older version, please tell us about your lens and post some images.

adash · « **Reply #2 on:** August 15, 2010, 08:19:29 AM »

Maybe they have a totally new design with the Xenon name. Like Zeiss does with some lenses. The picture would be better off with a clear horizon as a background.

peterb666 · « **Reply #3 on:** August 15, 2010, 04:53:15 PM »

I agree with the horizon but there was nowhere I could go to move it relative to the rocks. The stacked filters with a grad in there sucked out some of the green from the trees on the headland and that would have helped if that had not occurred.

The newer versions of the lens use the same optical construction but have better coatings. Mine have a fairly basic single coating which is still pretty amazing for a 1953 lens. The main changes are to the body of the lens and they may have changed the aperture control as it has quite non-linear spacing between the stops.

The newer versions should have much better contrast and be less prone to flare (actually mine is quite good from that respect anyway).

The lens itself is very soft wide open but that, plus the low contrast actually makes it an excellent portrait lens on the E-P1.

voyager · « **Reply #4 on:** August 16, 2010, 11:05:34 PM »

Not bad! Actually I kind of like the idea of this lens.

Schneider-Kreuznach Xenon 40mm f/1.9 (Robot Star mount) *****