Zeiss Softars at DVinfo.net

Frank Granovski · September 29th, 2002, 02:38 AM

Can someone tell me if the B+W Zeiss Softar 1 and 2 are the same as the Heliopan Zeiss Softar (1 and 2)? I realize both Heliopan and B+W use Schneider glass.

Ken Tanaka · September 29th, 2002, 11:00 AM

Frank,
I am not 100% certain but I believe that, in fact, they are the same. I think that the "Softar" name is owned by Schneider Optics and represents a patented glass treatment process. They license this name to Zeiss, Rollei, B+W and perhaps others for their products. Darned expensive diffusion filters, eh?

Frank Granovski · September 29th, 2002, 04:19 PM

Yes, they are a bit expensive. Thanks for the info. I want to get them as clip-ons, so I can get the softar film look with my glasses. Life is a movie....

Jeff Donald · September 29th, 2002, 06:45 PM

I owned a set of Zeiss Softars back in the '80's when I shot Contax for a while. The surface of the filter looked like a golf ball. A very neat pattern of dimples. It is the only soft focus filter I've ever seen with that pattern.

Jeff

Frank Granovski · September 29th, 2002, 10:02 PM

I was going to buy the 1 and 2 Softars, but found out that they only start with the 49mm thread size, and up. My cams have a 43mm thread size. Then I discovered Cokin's new screw-in filters. So I bought the Sunsoft and 81A and 81B. Man..., they work nice! Only problem was, I had to order them from France. I have a link on my website on where to buy them. It's a good source. Oh, and the Cokin "soft" filters are cheap, unlike....

www.dvfreak.com

Jeff Donald · September 30th, 2002, 05:16 AM

Back in the '80's a Dr. friend of mine (advanced still photographer) was shooting one of his assistants wedding. She evidently had terrible acne as a child and it had left her face severely scarred. My friend went to a camera store and they sold him a soft focus filter. He did some test shots and was disappointed with the results and asked my advice. I looked at the photos and suggested he return the soft focus filter to buy a Ziess Softar filter. He really balked at the price (even $20 years ago the price was steep) but went ahead and purchased the Softar. Now with the Softar in place, he redid his tests and was astonished by the results. His response, "the Softar did more for her complexion than $10,000 of plastic surgery ."

If you really want the Ziess Softar, get a 43 to 49 step-up ring.

Jeff

Frank Granovski · September 30th, 2002, 01:42 PM

You know..., I agree. However, that would mean I'd have to take off my beautiful lens hood and chuck it. But I was actually thinking about this, going with the step-up/step-down ring (depending which side of the cam you're coming from) and dishing out the $200 Bucks for 1 Softar. (Yes, they cost almost $200 here in Canada).

Don't laugh, but the first filter I bought for that cam (with the 43mm filter threads) was a Leica UV. That was $80 Bucks. Luckily I didn't leave the store without first trying to screw the thing on. It wouldn't screw on! The threads were not standard, they were designed for Leica cameras only! Or their M6 only. I never did get to the bottom of that one, but exchanged it right away for a Heliopan UV---which they did have in the 43mm size. Oh, and the Heliopan slim line UV was a whooping $12 Dollars cheaper! (Whoopee)

September 29th, 2002, 02:38 AM	#1
Frank Granovski Outer Circle Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hope, BC Posts: 7,524	Zeiss Softars Can someone tell me if the B+W Zeiss Softar 1 and 2 are the same as the Heliopan Zeiss Softar (1 and 2)? I realize both Heliopan and B+W use Schneider glass.

September 29th, 2002, 11:00 AM	#2
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	Frank, I am not 100% certain but I believe that, in fact, they are the same. I think that the "Softar" name is owned by Schneider Optics and represents a patented glass treatment process. They license this name to Zeiss, Rollei, B+W and perhaps others for their products. Darned expensive diffusion filters, eh? __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com

September 29th, 2002, 04:19 PM	#3
Frank Granovski Outer Circle Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hope, BC Posts: 7,524	Yes, they are a bit expensive. Thanks for the info. I want to get them as clip-ons, so I can get the softar film look with my glasses. Life is a movie....

September 29th, 2002, 06:45 PM	#4
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	I owned a set of Zeiss Softars back in the '80's when I shot Contax for a while. The surface of the filter looked like a golf ball. A very neat pattern of dimples. It is the only soft focus filter I've ever seen with that pattern. Jeff

September 29th, 2002, 10:02 PM	#5
Frank Granovski Outer Circle Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hope, BC Posts: 7,524	I was going to buy the 1 and 2 Softars, but found out that they only start with the 49mm thread size, and up. My cams have a 43mm thread size. Then I discovered Cokin's new screw-in filters. So I bought the Sunsoft and 81A and 81B. Man..., they work nice! Only problem was, I had to order them from France. I have a link on my website on where to buy them. It's a good source. Oh, and the Cokin "soft" filters are cheap, unlike.... www.dvfreak.com

September 30th, 2002, 05:16 AM	#6
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	Back in the '80's a Dr. friend of mine (advanced still photographer) was shooting one of his assistants wedding. She evidently had terrible acne as a child and it had left her face severely scarred. My friend went to a camera store and they sold him a soft focus filter. He did some test shots and was disappointed with the results and asked my advice. I looked at the photos and suggested he return the soft focus filter to buy a Ziess Softar filter. He really balked at the price (even $20 years ago the price was steep) but went ahead and purchased the Softar. Now with the Softar in place, he redid his tests and was astonished by the results. His response, "the Softar did more for her complexion than $10,000 of plastic surgery ." If you really want the Ziess Softar, get a 43 to 49 step-up ring. Jeff

September 30th, 2002, 01:42 PM	#7
Frank Granovski Outer Circle Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hope, BC Posts: 7,524	You know..., I agree. However, that would mean I'd have to take off my beautiful lens hood and chuck it. But I was actually thinking about this, going with the step-up/step-down ring (depending which side of the cam you're coming from) and dishing out the $200 Bucks for 1 Softar. (Yes, they cost almost $200 here in Canada). Don't laugh, but the first filter I bought for that cam (with the 43mm filter threads) was a Leica UV. That was $80 Bucks. Luckily I didn't leave the store without first trying to screw the thing on. It wouldn't screw on! The threads were not standard, they were designed for Leica cameras only! Or their M6 only. I never did get to the bottom of that one, but exchanged it right away for a Heliopan UV---which they did have in the 43mm size. Oh, and the Heliopan slim line UV was a whooping $12 Dollars cheaper! (Whoopee)