Victor Nhat Nguyen
Well-known member
I'm looking for old manual primes. I have done extensive research into Nikkors and now want to know more information about pentax, yashica, m42, ect...
old manual primes recommendation and review.
- Thread starter Victor Nhat Nguyen
- Start date
Samuel H
Major Contributor
Victor Nhat Nguyen
Well-known member
I'm reading into page 36 of the vintage lens thread, and I found that you have to read a bunch of crap to find the information you want. Can we just make a new thread where all the lens can be categorized nicely with description of optical quality and price?
gonzo_entertainment
Veteran
I somebody wanted to step up and manage it sure, but I don't have the time. I'll contribute my little bit of knowledge though.
All my stuff is from the late 60's through the mid 70's
I was a Pentax K mount shooter before I came over to digital so was familiar with Pentax lenses. This let me get way out in front of the pack on the Takumars and I got most of my set before the prices doubled. I had known they were good glass for years and owned a couple with adapters to K mount that I used on my Pentax Film Cameras.
The Super Takumars are built like tanks. All metal, quite heavy. Some of the longer focal lengths like the the 135 2.5 would make a decent weapon in a bar fight. The two most common are probably the 55mm 1.8 and the 50mm 1.4 because these were kit lenses for the Spotmatic camera. You can still get either for under $100 and maybe under $50 for the 55 1.8
These are both VERY nice lenses. The bokeh is very very pleasing and at 2.8 or so they are tack sharp. The focus is heavy but smooth (exactly what you want in a cinema lens). The colors have a warm tone very different from the cooler (IMO) Nikons. Some have yellowing from the coating not being exposed to light for 20 years, but a couple days under a UV light or some time in a sunny window clears it up.
A lot of that also holds true for the other "common" Super Takumars like the 28mm 3.5 and the 35mm 3.5. Metal, heavy but smooth focus, nice bokeh, warm tomes. My main issue with these lenses is they are not especially fast (though I use them all the time) and they are so small that follow focus use it doable but tough because of the difficulty getting the FF unite close enough to engage the gear well. These are commonly avaliable for under $75 the last time I looked.
I own a couple of the slower tele lenses like the 135mm 3.5 and the 200mm 4. Same deal, build, colors, etc... nice IQ. However like the wides they are slow. You see the 135 more than the 200, but neither is over $100 last I looked.
My most loved lens is the Super Tak 135 2.5. Almost big enough to be called a "beer can" GORGEOUS bokeh. This is my closeup lens virtually always. It's nearly spectacular. Warm, a little dreamy but not soft, all metal, great focus, awesome awesome lens. I think I paid about $85 for mine, but I think they have moved into the range of $150 or so.
I'll come back sometime and hot my Yashicas and Vivitars from the same era.
All my stuff is from the late 60's through the mid 70's
I was a Pentax K mount shooter before I came over to digital so was familiar with Pentax lenses. This let me get way out in front of the pack on the Takumars and I got most of my set before the prices doubled. I had known they were good glass for years and owned a couple with adapters to K mount that I used on my Pentax Film Cameras.
The Super Takumars are built like tanks. All metal, quite heavy. Some of the longer focal lengths like the the 135 2.5 would make a decent weapon in a bar fight. The two most common are probably the 55mm 1.8 and the 50mm 1.4 because these were kit lenses for the Spotmatic camera. You can still get either for under $100 and maybe under $50 for the 55 1.8
These are both VERY nice lenses. The bokeh is very very pleasing and at 2.8 or so they are tack sharp. The focus is heavy but smooth (exactly what you want in a cinema lens). The colors have a warm tone very different from the cooler (IMO) Nikons. Some have yellowing from the coating not being exposed to light for 20 years, but a couple days under a UV light or some time in a sunny window clears it up.
A lot of that also holds true for the other "common" Super Takumars like the 28mm 3.5 and the 35mm 3.5. Metal, heavy but smooth focus, nice bokeh, warm tomes. My main issue with these lenses is they are not especially fast (though I use them all the time) and they are so small that follow focus use it doable but tough because of the difficulty getting the FF unite close enough to engage the gear well. These are commonly avaliable for under $75 the last time I looked.
I own a couple of the slower tele lenses like the 135mm 3.5 and the 200mm 4. Same deal, build, colors, etc... nice IQ. However like the wides they are slow. You see the 135 more than the 200, but neither is over $100 last I looked.
My most loved lens is the Super Tak 135 2.5. Almost big enough to be called a "beer can" GORGEOUS bokeh. This is my closeup lens virtually always. It's nearly spectacular. Warm, a little dreamy but not soft, all metal, great focus, awesome awesome lens. I think I paid about $85 for mine, but I think they have moved into the range of $150 or so.
I'll come back sometime and hot my Yashicas and Vivitars from the same era.
Victor Nhat Nguyen
Well-known member
thank you gonzo, exactly what I was looking for. Would love if you go into yashicas and vivitars.
Samuel H
Major Contributor
I completely understand your pain, reading that long, long thread... but nobody without the need seems to have the time, so that's what we have
I'll just post a couple of links more:
comments about all the vintage lenses I've tested
lens mount compatibility chart
I'll just post a couple of links more:
comments about all the vintage lenses I've tested
lens mount compatibility chart