Projection lenses are the hidden gems of bokehcentric photography. These are lenses used in movie and slide projectors. They are often quite fast, have no aperture, and are designed to be quite sharp in the center of the frame. Of course they have no focusing mechanisms and no mounting threads, and so they need to be adapted for shooting with digital cameras. They are usually quite cheap, and often produce splendid results. I will lump most of the ones I have here, and mention the lens name in captions.
Zeiss Kipronar 140mm f1.9 projection lens. The Kipronars are the cheapest of the three series of Zeiss projection lenses, but for me they have the most interesting bokeh. They do suffer from pretty pronounced longitudinal chromatic aberration, but this can be corrected in post, and with a bit of sharpening they exhibit a lovely character. I got mine for $70–they are not expensive
Aldis 150mm f2.8 projection lens. Another interesting triplet
Taylor and Hobson 2 inch projection lens. Short flange distance and only covers APS-C, but ilnteresting bokeh IMO
Aldis 150mm f2.8 projection lens. Another interesting triplet
Minolta Rokkor 75mm f2.5 projection lens. Another very nice triplet. I found mine for $10
Benoist Berthiot 140mm NeoCinestar projection lens (reversed with reduced aperture)
Minolta Rokkor 75mm f2.5 projection lens. Another very nice triplet. I found mine for $10
Zeiss Triplet (that is the name)–I wasn’t too fond of the look, which struck me as bland, until I reverse-mounted the lens, at which point I got the bubbly look seen here
The Meopta Meostigmat 130mm f1.8 has very smooth bokeh and is quite sharp. It is, however, big and heavy
Aldis 150mm f2.8 projection lens. Another interesting triplet
Kodak Angenieux 100mm f2.8 projection lens
Minolta Rokkor 75mm f2.5 projection lens
Zeiss Kipronar 140mm f1.9 projection lens. The Kipronars are the cheapest of the three series of Zeiss projection lenses, but for me they have the most interesting bokeh. They do suffer from pretty pronounced longitudinal chromatic aberration, but this can be corrected in post, and with a bit of sharpening they exhibit a lovely character. I got mine for $70–they are not expensive
Russian 16-KP 50mm f1.2 projection lens
Aldis Anastigmat 85mm f2.8 projection lens
Aldis 85mm f2.8 projection lens. A triplet at 1/10 the cost of a Meyer Trioplan and very similar in look
Kodak Angenieux 100mm f2.8 projection lens
The Meopta Meostigmat 130mm f1.8 has very smooth bokeh and is quite sharp. It is, however, big and heavy
Aldis 150mm f2.8 projection lens. Another interesting triplet
Lotus pods–Dallmeyer Max-Lite 2 inch projection lens
Dallmeyer Max-Lite 2 inch projection lens
Meopta Meostigmat 50mm f1.0. This lens have a painfully short flange distance, and even at best will only focus to 20cm or so with a mirrorless camera. If you are doing close up work, though, its smooth bokeh and wide aperture are interesting
The Meopta Meostigmat 130mm f1.8 has very smooth bokeh and is quite sharp. It is, however, big and heavy
Aldis 150mm f2.8 projection lens. Another interesting triplet
Zeiss Kipronar 140mm f1.9 projection lens. The Kipronars are the cheapest of the three series of Zeiss projection lenses, but for me they have the most interesting bokeh. They do suffer from pretty pronounced longitudinal chromatic aberration, but this can be corrected in post, and with a bit of sharpening they exhibit a lovely character. I got mine for $70–they are not expensive
Aldis 150mm f2.8 projection lens. Another interesting triplet
Russian 16-KP 50mm f1.2 projection lens
Aldis 150mm f2.8 projection lens. Another interesting triplet
The Meopta Meostigmat 130mm f1.8 has very smooth bokeh and is quite sharp. It is, however, big and heavy
Dallmeyer Max-Lite 2 inch projection lens
Aldis 150mm f2.8 projection lens. Another interesting triplet
Aldis 150mm f2.8 projection lens. Another interesting triplet
The Meopta Meostigmat 130mm f1.8 has very smooth bokeh and is quite sharp. It is, however, big and heavy
The Meopta Meostigmat 130mm f1.8 has very smooth bokeh and is quite sharp. It is, however, big and heavy
Dallmeyer Max-Lite 2 inch projection lens
The Meopta Meostigmat 130mm f1.8 has very smooth bokeh and is quite sharp. It is, however, big and heavy
Russian 16-KP 50mm f1.2 projection lens
Zeiss Kipronar 140mm f1.9 projection lens. The Kipronars are the cheapest of the three series of Zeiss projection lenses, but for me they have the most interesting bokeh. They do suffer from pretty pronounced longitudinal chromatic aberration, but this can be corrected in post, and with a bit of sharpening they exhibit a lovely character. I got mine for $70–they are not expensive
Kodak Angenieux 100mm f2.8 projection lens
Zeiss Kipronar 140mm f1.9 projection lens. The Kipronars are the cheapest of the three series of Zeiss projection lenses, but for me they have the most interesting bokeh. They do suffer from pretty pronounced longitudinal chromatic aberration, but this can be corrected in post, and with a bit of sharpening they exhibit a lovely character. I got mine for $70–they are not expensive
Aldis 150mm f2.8 projection lens. Another interesting triplet
Dallmeyer Max-Lite 2 inch projection lens
Dallmeyer Max-Lite 2 inch projection lens
Lotus leaves on the ice–Dallmeyer Max-Lite 2 inch projection lens
Zeiss Kipronar 140mm f1.9 projection lens. The Kipronars are the cheapest of the three series of Zeiss projection lenses, but for me they have the most interesting bokeh. They do suffer from pretty pronounced longitudinal chromatic aberration, but this can be corrected in post, and with a bit of sharpening they exhibit a lovely character. I got mine for $70–they are not expensive
Zeiss Kipronar 140mm f1.9 projection lens. The Kipronars are the cheapest of the three series of Zeiss projection lenses, but for me they have the most interesting bokeh. They do suffer from pretty pronounced longitudinal chromatic aberration, but this can be corrected in post, and with a bit of sharpening they exhibit a lovely character. I got mine for $70–they are not expensive
