Vintage lens collection
- Thread starter junophang
- Start date
David W. Jones
Veteran
There is a ton of old glass out there. But you better hurry, as soon as someone posts how wonderful lenses X looks, then everybody goes into buying mode and the prices skyrocket. The Zeiss Contax lenses were dirt cheap until Nicks wonderful thread on reduser.
As a side, you could add a Contax 35mm lens to your kit and have a great Contax set.
As a side, you could add a Contax 35mm lens to your kit and have a great Contax set.
Besides 35mm I think I need something wider such as 18 or 24, with the budget in my hand I don't think I can afford that. So I'm planning to sell those and get a cheaper lineup. Any recommend?
homestar_kevin
Well-known member
They're all very nice to be honest, it just depends what you're looking for color and contrast wise.
I have gone the Nikon AIS route and love those, but I also have some Canon FDs that are great and over the years I've had at least a 50mm from Pentax-m, Super Takumars, Olympus Zuiko, Contax Zeiss, Yashica, Mamiya Sekor, and more and really liked them all.
Can't keep them all, but I enjoyed playing with them!
The biggest factor in your current situation is what camera you're using or plan to use.
There's also a ton of info online about a lot of this glass now.
If you search for your camera model then what lenses you're trying to check out, you'll most likely find a youtube or vimeo video or test or a flickr page.
It's not bulletproof, but it is really nice to be able to see some stuff before you buy
I have gone the Nikon AIS route and love those, but I also have some Canon FDs that are great and over the years I've had at least a 50mm from Pentax-m, Super Takumars, Olympus Zuiko, Contax Zeiss, Yashica, Mamiya Sekor, and more and really liked them all.
Can't keep them all, but I enjoyed playing with them!
The biggest factor in your current situation is what camera you're using or plan to use.
There's also a ton of info online about a lot of this glass now.
If you search for your camera model then what lenses you're trying to check out, you'll most likely find a youtube or vimeo video or test or a flickr page.
It's not bulletproof, but it is really nice to be able to see some stuff before you buy
David W. Jones
Veteran
Well it really depends on your camera and what/how you shoot.
As an example, on of my favorite DPs Roger Deakins shoots with a 32mm the majority of the time.
arniepix
Well-known member
Early postwar Soviet Jupiter lenses were clones of the Zeiss lenses. When the Soviets occupied the eastern part of Germany at the end of the war they sent all of the existing Schott glass, along with equipment from the Schott and Zeiss factories and more than a few people back to optical factories in Russia. They supposedly ran out of the original Schott glass in 1954, and then they had to start adjusting the optical designs to account for the Soviet made glass.
You might also want to look at Pentax K lenses.
You might also want to look at Pentax K lenses.
Michael Carter
Veteran
You can stick just about anything on most non-Nikon DSLRs, and on BMCs and so on. I know a guy using Mamiya MF lenses… just because he can. But his stuff is sharp as hell...
I really think finding a wide that renders like your contax stuff would be the best budget solution since you have a good range. I'd ask for advice on RedUser, there are likely guys who have found other glass that fits… or save up for a wide contax.
There are some wonderful Nikkors out there that are inexpensive and plentiful. But they don't all render the same since you're talking something like 30-40 years of f-mount production now.
Many people, even some pros - have opted for a samyang kit as their "I own it" set and then rent as needed. Those lenses are getting some cred.
But no reason not to blaze your own trail and be the guy with a full set of Olympus primes or something - you may have to buy a lot of samples, but there's a lot of glass out there.
Visiting a city with a huge used department and testing glass all day might be fun as well (Dallas TX has 2 or 3 or 4 shops with lots of old glass, every big city should).
I really think finding a wide that renders like your contax stuff would be the best budget solution since you have a good range. I'd ask for advice on RedUser, there are likely guys who have found other glass that fits… or save up for a wide contax.
There are some wonderful Nikkors out there that are inexpensive and plentiful. But they don't all render the same since you're talking something like 30-40 years of f-mount production now.
Many people, even some pros - have opted for a samyang kit as their "I own it" set and then rent as needed. Those lenses are getting some cred.
But no reason not to blaze your own trail and be the guy with a full set of Olympus primes or something - you may have to buy a lot of samples, but there's a lot of glass out there.
Visiting a city with a huge used department and testing glass all day might be fun as well (Dallas TX has 2 or 3 or 4 shops with lots of old glass, every big city should).
Im using a Sony a7ii. I actually did some of the research but still can't make up my mind yet. I think a lens that renders lower contrast and less saturated color will be better for post processing the video. Do you think so?
Too bad my country don't have such store that sell wide variety of vintage lenses. Most of them only sell modern lenses, sad case.
I really like the Minolta Rokkors. They mount nicely to the NX1 and the Gh2 with adapters. They were designed to render similar color from lens to lens. The focus barrel is smooth to turn and is precise... really nice to use.
I also have the Canon FD, but really hate the finicky mounts. If not mounted properly, or if the locking ring is loose on the adapter, the aperture fail to work. Also, the bushings on some of the lenses (the 24mm f2.8) has bushings that deterioate with time, and the focussing becomes sloppy. The only FD lenses I care about is the 300mm f4 L and the 80-200 f4 L lens.
Also have a few Konica Hexanons in the collection. They are built like tanks, especially the teles.... and are heavy!! So heavy I don't rerely take them out. A bag with three lenses is a pain to carry around.
I really do recommend collecting Rokkors.
I also have the Canon FD, but really hate the finicky mounts. If not mounted properly, or if the locking ring is loose on the adapter, the aperture fail to work. Also, the bushings on some of the lenses (the 24mm f2.8) has bushings that deterioate with time, and the focussing becomes sloppy. The only FD lenses I care about is the 300mm f4 L and the 80-200 f4 L lens.
Also have a few Konica Hexanons in the collection. They are built like tanks, especially the teles.... and are heavy!! So heavy I don't rerely take them out. A bag with three lenses is a pain to carry around.
I really do recommend collecting Rokkors.
