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The ALPA Log

Portrait work with the ALPA 12 FPS and IQ3 100MP

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Combing the ALPA 12 FPS with modern CMOS backs and portrait lenses like the Carl Zeiss Contax 645 Sonnar T* 2.8/140mm opens up new horizons in portrait photography.

February 7, 2016
Portrait work with the ALPA 12 FPS and IQ3 100MP

Combining the ALPA 12 FPS with modern CMOS backs like the new PhaseOne IQ3 100MP opens up new horizons in portrait photography: Due to the astonishing live-view focusing is very straight-forward, fast and reliable. The build in focal-plane-shutter of the ALPA 12 FPS allows it to use a huge variety of different lenses, from vintage gems to top-modern constructions.Product Pages[/en/article/alpa-12-fps|ALPA 12 FPS][/en/article/fps-lens-module-contax-645-shift|ALPA 12 FPS Lens Module CONTAX 645 shift][/en/article/lens-module-contax-645-fix|ALPA 12 FPS Lens Module CONTAX 645 fix][/en/article/canon-ef-85mm-f1-2-l-ii|Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM][/en/article/zeiss-contax-645-sonnar-t-2-8140-mm|Zeiss Contax 645 Sonnar T* 2.8/140 mm][/en/article/phase-one-iq3-100-mp|Phase One IQ3 100 MP]Making-Of

Carl Zeiss Contax 645 Sonnar T* 2.8/140mmFor these photographs the ALPA 12 FPS was paired with a Carl Zeiss Contax 645 Sonnar T* 2.8/140mm originally developped for the famous CONTAX 645 line of medium format cameras. This “old glass” may not be 100% at eye level in terms of corner sharpness but still offers an incredible resolution mid-field. The combination of top corner-sharpness, the good correction of chromatical aberrations (both lateral und longitudinal) and not least the very pleasing bokeh makes this lens a perfect choice for portrait work.

Download LinkSample Image 1 CZ Sonnar 140 - IQ3 100MP ©ALPA/Ralph Rosenbauer 2016

Download LinkSample Image 2 CZ Sonnar 140 - IQ3 100MP ©ALPA/Ralph Rosenbauer 2016Canon EF 85mm f1.2 L II USMIf you want to achieve an “ultra-narrow” depth of field you may try to use very fast 35mm-lenses on the medium-format backs. Still the 100% view of the IQ3 100MP allows precise focusing. The narrow image circle of the 35mm lenses will produce well-visible vignetting and a strong drop in resolution at the outermost edges. But in portrait-photography both effects can even underline your intention by emphasizing the main subject of your images. In this case the Canon EF 85mm f1.2 L II USM was used full open (f/1.2!) to create an “vintage look” with strong background separation. Rather pronounced chromatical aberration and strong purple fringing call for a lot of post-processing – or a black and white conversion ;-)

Download LinkSample Image Canon 85 - IQ3 100MP ©ALPA/Ralph Rosenbauer 2016