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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