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Contents A Fascination for

Waiting for the Perfect Light ...... 9

Golf Photography ������������������� 2 As of April: The Great Outdoors .................... 5

Camera Lens News Blog ����������� 10

Tessar –

Exhibitions in 2011 �������������������� 11

History, Legend, Success ............ 8

A newsletter for anyone who enjoys using, writing about, buying and selling Carl Zeiss camera lenses.

Carl Zeiss Camera Lens Division

Camera Lens News

39

March 2011

Camera Lens News Nr. 39 Carl Zeiss

March 2011

Page 2

A Fascination for Golf Photography

With my Distagon T* 3,5/18mm ZF, I was shooting stock images for “Tourism in Skane” at one of Swedens most southern courses, Ljunghusen GK.

Swedish photographer Michael

in the south of Spain, a business

the tournaments of the Men‘s PGA

Denker is a golf enthusiast

partner and I set up the Eat Golf!

European Tour and I am hoping to get

who has turned his hobby into

magazine – though unfortunately

involved in the Ladies European Tour

a career. He travels all over

we had to abandon that project

this year.

the world taking pictures that

three years later when the financial

highlight the beauty of nature

crisis hit. But those few years were

What do you aim to express

and the unique qualities of each

enough to reignite my interest in

through your pictures?

individual golf course.

golf and inspire me to start taking

The fact that I play golf myself and

photos again. Since 2009 I have been

understand the intricacies of the sport

focusing entirely on golf photography.

means that I can put real emphasis

So, Michael, how does someone become a golf photographer?

on bringing out the unique qualities

I knew from early on that

What exactly do you

of each golf course in my pictures.

photography would become an

specialize in?

Instead of just focusing on the beauty

important part of my life, but initially

Well, people generally recruit me as

and aesthetics of these man-made

my main focus was on getting into

a photographer to take pictures of

landscapes, I also investigate the

photojournalism and setting up

a golf course and everything that

challenges each course poses for

my own magazine. So I studied

goes along with it: the different

golfers. How can the course be

photojournalism at San Francisco

holes, nature, the buildings and

interpreted and played? How does

State University and art photography

obviously the people playing golf!

it fit into its natural surroundings? Is

at the University of Western Sydney.

The pictures tend to be destined

the green surrounded by mountains,

After spending a few years working in

for advertisements, brochures or

lakes, the ocean, tall trees or deep

press and advertising in Sweden and

posters. However, I also work as a

bunkers? That’s the kind of thing

ending up as the editor of a magazine

sports photographer on some of

I want to show golfers through my

Camera Lens News Nr. 39 Carl Zeiss

March 2011

Page 3

Photo taken with Distagon T* 2,8/21 ZE at Royal Golf Club Bahrain.

Photo taken with Distagon T* 1,4/35 C/Y at Muscat Hills Golf Course, Oman.

Camera Lens News Nr. 39 Carl Zeiss

March 2011

Page 4

pictures, something that might even help them improve their game.

How many golf courses have you photographed so far?

Which is your favorite?

I have worked on at least 30 golf courses in various countries since I started specializing in this field in 2009. One of my absolute favorites is Valderrama in southern Spain, which was designed in 1974 by Robert Trent Jones, one of the most renowned golf course architects. It is just an amazingly beautiful course

Do you have a role model

Bahrain was a very unique experience,

with a venerable tradition behind it

for your photographic work?

very fast paced. I was working on the

and highly professional management.

Absolutely. Greg Gorman is a real

Volvo Golf Champions, a first for the

Every time I visit it just gets better –

inspiration. (Not to be confused with

event and as such it is all new and

I‘m always finding new things to

the famous golfer Greg Norman!) I‘ll

challenging. Also it is run together

photograph there.

never forget the time I interviewed

with a big amateur tournament final,

him, way back at the start of my

the Volvo World Golf Challenge; they

What camera equipment

career as a journalist. He is famous

go back to back.

do you usually take on your

for his portraits of film stars such

golf course shoots?

as Sharon Stone, Johnny Depp and

The course is obviously always in

I use full frame DSLR cameras and I

Leonardo di Caprio. Greg made a

pristine condition for such events and

primarily use ZEISS lenses: the

huge impression on me, both as a

we took the opportunity to take new

Distagon T* 3,5/18 ZE, Distagon T*

person and as an artist. Especially

photos. It was recently redesigned by

2,8/21 ZE and Distagon T* 1,4/35 C/Y,

the way that he has stayed true to

Colin Montgomerie and named the

and the Makro-Planar T* 2/50 ZE.

himself and kept on doing his stuff

Royal Golf Club.

I am very taken by their versatility.

without letting himself be affected by

They each have their different

the whole celebrity culture thing.

strengths and give the results a kind

The course still has a lot of its heritage in place, but not the form one might

of three-dimensional feel. Two of

What are you working on

think but a “donkey” (oil pump) visible

their best features are their micro-

at the moment?

at the 17th and the course itself is

contrast capabilities and the superb

I have just come back from an

divided by oil lines. From there, I went

bokeh – the flare control is also

amazing trip to Bahrain. I was

to Oman and the recently opened

fantastic for me because I often end

working on the first Volvo Golf

Muscat Hills course while in the region.

up experimenting with shots at dawn

Champions at the Royal Golf Club

Not your Typical two weeks, but lots

and dusk. My two absolute favorite

Bahrain at the end of January and

of fun.

ZEISS lenses are the Distagon T*

photographing the course for

3,5/18 ZE and the Distagon T*

marketing purposes on behalf of the

2,8/21 ZE. They give me everything

course owners.

I need to take beautiful and professional pictures of golf courses.

www.golfcourseimagery.com www.twitter.com/golfcoursephoto

Camera Lens News Nr. 39 Carl Zeiss

March 2011

Page 5

The Great Outdoors As a chemist and natural

Taking pictures at full aperture is not

independent of the focal length (see

scientist, Italian Riccardo Polini

very typical of macro photography

Infobox 1). When I took close-ups

is particularly fond of flora

because you usually only get sufficient

with my Makro-Planar T* 2/100 ZF.2,

and fauna. He always takes

depth of focus with a closed aperture.

I was that much more astounded

along two ZEISS lenses on

In fact, the depth of focus with

by the clarity of the image in the

his excursions into the great

a reproduction ratio of 1:2 and

viewfinder and by the unbelievable

outdoors: a Makro-Planar T*

an f-stop of 16 is also only a half

contrasts that reflect the quality of

2/100 ZF.2 and the Distagon T*

centimeter and this value is virtually

the lens.

2,8/ 21 ZF.2. The nature photographer was raised in Rome where he still lives.

Enjoy reading his report.

Some time ago, I replaced my 105 mm f/1.8 lens with a MakroPlanar T* 2/100 ZF.2. I was looking for a high-speed, medium format tele lens for portraits that delivers outstanding quality at full aperture.

On top of that, the Makro-Planar T* 2/100 ZF.2 seemed ideal for close-ups in nature in addition to the portraits.

I was completely impressed by the quality of the images which are really crisp with amazing Bokeh.

Focus on the details I began taking close-ups at full aperture using the Makro-Planar T* 2/100 ZF.2 to satisfy my curiosity; the results were simply remarkable.

I achieved a very beautiful blurring effect around the subject (see photo of wild orchid) and the subject itself was perfectly isolated from the background.

Wild Orchid (Orchis purpurea); Makro-Planar T* 2/100, f2,8, 1/2000s, 200 ISO (D300)

Camera Lens News Nr. 39 Carl Zeiss

March 2011

Page 6

Nature photography is nothing

2/100 ZF.2 enable optimal focusing –

Pushing the boundaries

without a good tripod

ideal for landscape photography. It

with the Distagon T* 2,8/21.

A good tripod is the basis when I

is the most razor-sharp, lightweight

My other companion in the great

take pictures with my Makro-Planar

tele lens in my collection and delivers

outdoors is the Distagon T* 2,8/28.

T* 2/100 ZF.2, even in sunlight. The

amazing resolution for long-range

It is a lens for cityscapes, street

outstanding helicoid focusing on the

shots. Instead of using my (much

photography and landscapes. I have

Makro-Planar T* 2/100 ZF.2 provides

heavier) tele zoom, I mount the

to admit that I was fully intent on

very good control. I have also had

Makro-Planar T* 2/100 ZF.2 on

only buying a full format digital

good experiences with the live view

my APS-C or full frame camera,

camera if there was a high-quality

setting; much better than with my

depending on the perspective.

super wide-angle lens for it. I can

AF lenses. The live view mode means

Believe it or not, I bought a macro

now say that the Distagon T* 2,8/21

it is time for manual focusing.

lens which quickly became one of my

is one of the best super wide-angle

most frequently used tools for nature

lenses for full format 35 mm cameras

Fixed on the tripod and zoomed in

photography (for further technical

on the market. The pictures exhibit

as far as possible on the live image,

details see Infobox 2).

wonderful clarity and very low

the camera and the Makro-Planar T*

distortion throughout the focusing range for this focal length. Unlike most other Distagon lenses, the ZEISS Distagon T* 2,8/21 is internally focused and does not change its length when you change the range setting from infinity to the close-up range of 22 cm where you achieve its maximum reproduction ratio of 1:5.

This provides great flexibility when tackling very dynamic perspectives, even if you cannot get as close as with the Distagon T* 2,8/25 (17 cm with a reproduction ratio of 1:2.3).

Infobox 1 For detailed technical information about depth of field, please also read our article “Depth of Field and Bokeh” in CLN35 from Dr. Nasse (page 16–18). http://www.zeiss.com/ C12567A8003B0478/ContentsW WWIntern/3BA838BC82180811C1 2576F6004F4511 Black-veined White (Aporia crataegi); Makro-Planar T* 2/100, f/4, 1/250s, 800 ISO (D700)

Camera Lens News Nr. 39 Carl Zeiss

March 2011

Page 7

Infobox 2 I took the pictures for the Camera

To achieve a reproduction ratio

change the format from vertical to

Lens Newsletter in the regional parks

better than 1:2 with the ZEISS

horizontal.

near Rome. I often visit these places.

Makro-Planar T* 2/100 ZF.2, I use

Nonetheless, thanks to my ZEISS

either the Nikon PN-11 extension

The 500D is a very good close-up

lenses, I am able to see things with

ring or the 500D close-up lens.

lens designed as an achromat for

new eyes and I am able to discover

lenses. The 500D close-up lens

fascinating new details every time.

The PN-11 is an extension ring

is available with a diameter of

Like Marcel Proust said: The only real

with AI diaphragm coupling that

77 mm and can be mounted to the

voyage of discovery consists not in

provides an extension of 52.5 mm

Makro-Planar T* 2/100 ZF.2 with a

seeking new landscapes but in having

and was originally developed for

67-77 mm step-up ring. Combined

new eyes.

the 105 mm f/4 AI to achieve 1:1

with this close-up lens, the ZEISS

magnification. Coupled with the

Makro-Planar T* 2/100 ZF.2 allows

PN-11 extension ring, the Makro-

me to achieve a reproduction ratio

Planar T* 2/100 ZF.2 can achieve

of 1:1.3 (=0.77x magnification, i.e.

For more information, visit

life-sized (1:1) magnification. At

a certain reduction) with a close-up

http://www.naturephoto.it/

1:1 the close focusing distance is

range of 35.5 cm and a resulting

37.5 cm and the working distance

working distance (distance of

is 14.5 cm. What makes the PN-11

the filter thread of the les to the

so special and unique is the tripod

subject) of 15 cm.

collar which makes it very easy to

Distagon T* 2,8/21 ZF.2, f/11, 1,3s, D700, 200 ISO (D700)

Camera Lens News Nr. 39 Carl Zeiss

March 2011

Page 8

Tessar – History, Legend, Success Carl Zeiss launches new CLN series on lens names Tessar, Planar, Sonnar, Biogon

He takes readers on an exciting

Readers also learn that the

and Distagon – examples of

journey from the end to the 19

predecessors to the Tessar are based

famous ZEISS lens names. In a

century to the present, where the

on key glass innovations of the

new series of articles for CLN,

name Tessar lives on in modern

1880s, as well as how 26-year-old

we will identify the origins of

miniature lens in Nokia mobile

physics professor Ernst Abbe and

these names and introduce the

phones or in the Vario-Tessar for

chemist Otto Schott influenced its

special properties of these lenses.

Sony cameras and in the current

development.

The Tessar will lead the way.

Tessar T* 4/85 ZM tele lens.

Tessar from Carl Zeiss. Anyone

Did you know that the word Tessar

much now. Read more about the

interested in photography has at least

is an acronym derived from the Greek

exciting history as told by our expert

heard of the name. Photographers

word tessares meaning four?

Dr. Nasse. Enjoy your sightseeing tour

around the globe still rave about this

It expresses that this lens is comprised

with the Tessar.

lens. What makes it so unique, what

of four lens elements. And did you

special features does it possess and

also know that its inventor, Paul

where does the name come from?

Rudolph, calculated the Tessar from

You can find the complete

Dr. Hubert Nasse, Senior Scientist in

its predecessors, the Protar and

article from Dr. Hubert Nasse

the Camera Lens Division at Carl Zeiss

Unar, although they had completely

on our website at

provides the answers to these and

different designs? According to

www.zeiss.com/cln

many other questions in a special

Dr. Nasse, “It contains elements of

article.

both lenses, like a child has genes

th

But we don’t want to tell you too

from both its mother and father.”

The development of the Tessar lenses from 1902 until today

Camera Lens News Nr. 39 Carl Zeiss

March 2011

Page 9

Waiting for the Perfect Light Carl Zeiss honors the winners of its Language of Light photo contest

1. Prize: Timothy Poulton, Australia

“A Pier Too Far” is the

coast,” says Tim Poulton. “Considering

were able to not only view all entries,

winning photo of the 2010

the number of outstanding images,

but were also able to determine the

Carl Zeiss photo contest: Light

I never would have thought that mine

actual winner from the list of pictures

is my Language. Australian

would win. It was definitely worth the

nominated by the jury. More than

photographer Timothy Poulton

wait.”

800 votes were cast over two weeks.

took his picture in Urunga in

With 369 votes, the winning photo

the Bellinger Kalang estuary in

“The Carl Zeiss jury nominated the

clearly outdistanced the second and

New South Wales, Australia. The

picture for the top 10 because of

third place finishers (107 and 106

perspective from which it was

the outstanding use of light as a

votes). “We wanted to actively involve

taken gives the impression of an

design element. The light creates

our community in the competition

unending wooden pier trailing

a very interesting mood with its

because we are very interested

off into the horizon.

combination of soft color gradients

in hearing what photographers

and high contrasts. The composition

have to say. And it worked well,

The rising sun frames the pier in a

is excellent and was implemented

as demonstrated by the active and

sea of color, bathing the sky and

ideally from a technical aspect,” says

extremely creative participation,”

river in tones of yellow and violet.

Martin Klottig, Marketing Manager at

emphasizes Klottig.

The picture symbolizes a moment of

the Carl Zeiss Camera Lens Division.

absolute peace. The Sydney-based

From 15 December 2010 to

photographer pulled out all the stops

Competition held on Flickr photo

16 January 2011, photographers

for this masterpiece: he waited several

platform for the first time –

from all over the world were invited

hours with his ZEISS Macro-Planar

active community participation

to transform their ideas into exciting

T* 2/50 ZF.2 to capture the perfect

The members of the Flickr community

images and show us how they

light. A Pier Too Far stands for a

selected the image of A Pier Too Far

interpret Light is my Language. The

journey through life and all its ups

as their favorite among the top 10.

contest was open to anyone using

and downs. “The light emphasizes the

Carl Zeiss held the contest on Flickr

ZEISS lenses. Light can be expressed

magnificent world of the Australian

for the first time. Flickr members

in many different ways as shown in

Camera Lens News Nr. 39 Carl Zeiss

March 2011

Page 10

the many entries with reflections,

the rush of industrialization, the likes

with light. His overall intention was

messages in the blurred areas of the

of which many people in Europe,

to create an impressive atmosphere

photos, Bokeh, colored elements from

North America and other countries

through the specific use of light. In

time exposures or the soft appearance

no longer know. The smoke, the light

all, the sunlight shining through doors

of barely noticeable light. “The three

beaming through factory windows

and windows was supplemented by

winning photos demonstrated a high

and the glow of molten steel combine

four different floodlights.

deal of creativity as well as specific

to create a unique atmosphere.

composition,” stated Klottig.

I particularly like the different light sources in the picture and the details

Attractive prizes for the top three

that are illuminated,” says Carl de

For more information on the

A ZEISS Makro-Planar T* 2/100 ZF.2

Souza.

winners and their photos, please

was awarded to Tim Poulter for his

go to www.zeiss.com/photo.

winning photo. Carl de Souza, from

For third place, Clarence Lam from

the UK, received a cinemizer Plus,

Singapore earned a Sony DSC-TX9

including a Nokia N8, for second

compact camera with ZEISS optics.

place. Working for the AFP news

The photography student used old

agency, he took his picture of a steel

props for his photo, for example a

mine in Islamabad during a three-

broken typewriter that he painted

month stay in Pakistan. “It captured

silver to generate a beautiful effect

As of April: Camera Lens News Blog Thousands of photo enthusiasts

Carl Zeiss Lenses on Facebook and

documentations. If you use the blog

receive our Camera Lens Newsletter

Twitter. Fans of the PDF-version of the

in connection with our social media

featuring articles all around photo­

CLN will of course continue to receive

platforms it will also enable you to

graphy and Carl Zeiss products. To

it quarter yearly by e-mail.

recommend most interesting articles

involve you, dear reader, even more

to your friends or your community.

in the future and keep you constantly

Presumably we will be starting during

informed about current events we are

April 2011 with the new blog and

We cannot wait for your feedback

transforming our Newsletter into a

will of course keep you informed on

and look forward to many valuable

new blog.

all social media channels and our

discussions with you.

homepage, too. Through this blog we Our new blog is interacting closely

would like to intensify the exchange

with our social media platforms

of information with you, dear readers,

Facebook, Twitter and Flickr. If you

and give you the possibility of a direct

like to be updated knowing the latest

feedback regarding our articles. We

news, you can subscribe the RSS-feed

will continue to publish videos and

of the new blog or crosslink with the

to show interviews, statements or

Camera Lens News Nr. 39 Carl Zeiss

March 2011

Page 11

Exhibitions in 2011 NAB

CliQ

Camera Lens News

11–14 April 2011

6–11 September 2011

Las Vegas

Las Vegas

http://www.nabshow.com

http://www.cliqworld.com

A newsletter for all who use, buy, sell, like, report about and are interested in Carl Zeiss camera lenses.

Booth C8049 Cine Gear Expo

PhotoPlus Expo

3–4 June 2011

27–29 October 2011

Los Angeles

New York

http://www.cinegearexpo.com

http://www.photoplusexpo.com Booth 263

IBC 9–13 September 2011 Amsterdam http://www.ibc.org

All information in Camera Lens News is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication.

Publisher: Carl Zeiss AG Camera Lens Division Marketing 73446 Oberkochen Germany Phone: +49 (0) 7364/20-6175 Email: photo@zeiss.de Internet: www.zeiss.de/photo