Steve Cushing Impresionist Fine Art Photography

Steve Cushing Impresionist Fine Art Photography

Embracing imperfection, recording emotions, one impression at a time…

1958 Schneider-Kreuznach Super Xenar 50 f2.8



Stacks Image 85
Stacks Image 87



The Lens details of a series of images taken by Steve Cushing on mirrorless camera.

Fitting is a 42mm mount with a 45.46mm Flange Distance - this lens will fit and achieve focus to infinity mirrorless cameras and on DSLRs.

History

Schneider-Kreuznach is the abbreviated version so they name is actually longer still it was made by Jos. Schneider Optische Werke GmbH. They are a manufacturer of industrial and photographic optics. The company was founded on 18 January 1913 by Joseph Schneider as Optische Anstalt Jos. Schneider & Co. at Bad Kreuznach in Germany. The company changed its name to Jos. Schneider & Co., Optische Werke, Kreuznach in 1922, and to the current Jos. Schneider Optische Werke GmbH in 1998.

In 2001, Schneider received an Oscar for Technical Achievement for their Super-Cinelux motion picture lenses. It is best known as manufacturers of large format lenses for view cameras, enlarger lenses, and photographic loupes. It also makes a limited amount of small- and medium-format lenses, and has at various times manufactured eyeglasses and camera rangefinders, as well as being an OEM lens maker for Kodak and Samsung digital cameras. It has supplied the lenses for various LG devices and the BlackBerry Priv. It also supplied the lenses for the Kodak Regent camera in the 1930s and other classic cameras such as certain models of the Rolleiflex starting in the 1940s, the Kodak Retina and Kodak Retinette camera series in the 1950s and 1960s, and certain specialty lenses for Hasselblad. In 1961, it created Feinwerktechnik GmbH, a manufacturer of electrical-hydraulic servo valves.

The history of German lenses mirrors German history and all of its highs and lows. World War I, the global financial crisis and World War II were years of ups and downs. From 1933 and through World War II many german manufacturers supported the Nazi regime as did most major German industries. When World War II began in September 1939 there was an air of invincibility in Germany, and in keeping with traditional practice, lens maker products proudly borne the makers trademark and city of origin of the product. Forced foreign labourers (Fremdarbeiter) were brought to work at manufacturing facilities.

In 1945 the U.S. Third Army advance, and on April 13 the regimental combat team 80th Division cleared Jena where they found the Carl Zeiss factory complex. It had sustained what they described as "surprisingly little effective bomb damage"

After the defeat of Nazi Germany in WWII, in compliance with the Yalta agreements the U.S.military forces departed. In June or early July the Russian military forces occupied Jena and the remainder of what became East Germany (German Democratic Republic). Russians 'appropriated' the original optical equipment and designs from Carl Zeiss factory in Jena. Carl Zeiss know-how was one of the most prized possessions of the post-war era and helped accelerate innovation in the USSR's optical industry, By one year later, the Russians had evacuated much of the remaining technical and management staff and about 92% of the Carl Zeiss Jena manufacturing facilities to the east. But the Russian fear of possible further conflict with the western allies rendered moving any production capability into a more defensible Russian province a sensible strategic step.

Most folk have heard of Zeiss which was founded in 1846 and is one of the most enduring manufacturers of anything mechanical anywhere in the world. Similarly they have heard of Leitz which is nearly as old with their Leica cameras and lenses as famous as any photography apparel. Voigtlander completes the pantheon of optics from Germany. But unknown to many there is a fourth German optics company that, whilst getting far less attention, is almost as old and just as important in German optics manufacturing. That company is Schneider-Kreuznach formed in 1913. Unlike Leica, Schneider-Kreuznach has been almost exclusively a lens manufacturer, and the cameras these lenses have fitted to are legendary and varied; Hasselblads, Rolleis, Kodak digital cameras, and more recently LG smartphones.

Schneider-Kreuznach lenses have gone to the moon, and they’ve won an Oscar for technical achievement.

This Lens

This lens was designed by Dr. Albrecht William Tronnier. While Bertele is well-known for his Sonnar design, and Zöllner famed for the creation of the Zeiss Biotar lens, Dr. Tronnier is almost unknown. Yet Dr. Tronnier is one of the unsung heroes of 20th century German lens design. Indeed Tronnier was one of the most talented lens designers of his era and invented the Xenon lens design in 1925 when he was only 24 years old.

The full aperture is F:2,8, and the design is unsymmetrical with five semi-cemented components. The image is excellently corrected for coma considering the large aperture.



Stacks Image 95
Stacks Image 97
Stacks Image 99




Later models have less blades and only four lens elements. It is really hard to distinguish the various models of this lens which vary considerably internally. The lens used here is a supper Xenar with five elements in 4 groups and there is also a Xenar with four elements in three groups almost the same as the Tessar. Early models were marked by a S but later models were not - how to tell - open the lens and look at the front elements which is hard to do when buying the lens!

Lens in Use

  • In-focus areas are almost extremely sharp.
  • Colours are rendered extremely vividly.
  • Blues can become very saturated.
  • Yellows are very strong.
  • Superb 1950s German craftsmanship.

For shooters who prefer a more desaturated look, this lens is sure to annoy.

Rather than creating a sea of blur and bokeh balls, the Schneider produces a very nuanced and textural effect in the out of focus areas.

Summary

In a world of so many “nifty fifty lenses” that all do roughly the same thing and produce similar looking images, the Schneider stands out not only because it avoids many vintage-lens pitfalls (it doesn’t vignette, it’s sharp corner to corner, and it’s weirdly flare resistant) but most notably because it makes images with an incomparable look. Not many affordable 50mm lenses produce such distinctive and unique images, but this little Schneider does, and that must be worth something.

The coating of Schneider-Kreuznach lenses, especially the ones from the 1950s, produce some of the most vivid and saturated colours I’ve seen from a classic lens.

When shooting in strong sunlight colours can become oversaturated. Blues, yellows and especially reds can become overpowering. However, in cloudy conditions the Xenar punches up the colours.

High build quality and the ability to make interesting images are obvious reasons to love a lens. If you like the image rendition of the Helios 44 or the 50mm Biotar, then this lens takes their best attributes and gives it something extra.

For general information on lens design and lens elements go to the homepage HERE




IMAGES WITH THIS LENS



Stacks Image 201

CLICK FOR
Images with
Lens




Site Search




Stacks Image 111
Stacks Image 108

Steve Cushing Photography