Lightshow
Joined: 04 Nov 2011
Posts: 3669
Location: Calgary
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 Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2016 4:13 am Post subject: Re: My current shooting kit, arrived at after a year's testi |
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Lightshow wrote:
| iangreenhalgh1 wrote: |
Hi folks
In the last year I've been through more lenses than I care to remember looking for really great ones, finally I think I've got a shooting set that is as good as I can get without selling an organ to buy T*...
Here's what I have chosen after much testing and testing:
1. Tokina RMC 3.5/17 - just awesome, sharp across the frame, only slight barrel distortion, great colours and contrast, low CA, this lens has everything you could want in an ultrawide.
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I was tempted to get this a few times, I stopped wanting it when I bought my CV15III
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2. Konica Hexanon 4/21 - so sharp it could slice yer eyeballs, low distortion, no CA, just all-round superb, even has some 3d pop.
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I love mine, it's my favorite lens for shooting cars at show n shine events.
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3. Konica Hexanon 2.8/24 - another super-sharp Konica, not found any weaknesses yet.
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I just bought this lens, so I haven't really had much time to get familiar with it yet.
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4. Konica Hexanon 3.5/28 - earlier 7 element EE version, incredibly sharp, very contrasty, has some 3d pop, I use this lens all the time and it has never failed to impress me. Only weakness is the single coating but as long as the sun isn't in the frame, it's no issue.
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I have this lens, didn't wow me, I also bought the older preset, the optics may not be as nice, but I do love using it.
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5. Meyer Primagon 4.5/35 - just stunning, my favourite lens, sharp like a razor at all apertures, has an incredible 3d dimensionality to it's rendering, colours are wonderful and it has fantastic bokeh. My best lens to use in bad light, these days it's rarely off my NEX.
6. Canon FL 2.5/35 - I was only going to choose one lens in each focal length but this one is so good I had to include it. Critically sharp even wide open, wonderful bokeh, such strong vivid colours, it has a special character to it's images.
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Yup, nice lens.
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7. Konica Hexanon 1.8/40 - usual Konica sharpness and quality, lovely tiny lens.
8. Minolta Rokkor 2/45 - as sharp as the Konica 40 but rather different rendering with vivid colours and such smooth bokeh, it has a certain charming character to it's rendering.
9. Konica Hexanon 1.7/50 - possibly my sharpest lens, great bokeh and colours, the best 50 I've tried and I've tried a lot, has some 3d pop.
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One of their best normals.
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10. Jupiter-8 2/50 - 1955 red P version, typical Sonnar sharpness and rendering, just a superb optic with a wonderful character.
11. Petri CC Auto 1.8/55 - an unknown gem and the best 99p I ever spent, razor sharp even wide open, swirly bokeh, really excels at infinity so I use it for landscapes, also wonderful at closeups at large aperture settings.
12. Topcon RE Auto Topcor 1.8/58 - I just love how RE Topcors render, critically sharp, fantastic contrast, smooth bokeh, I prefer this to my Pancolar, it's that good.
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Very nice lens, all Topcor 58's seem to be great(58/3.5 macro, 58/1.8, 58/1.4)
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13. Pentax Super Takumar 1.8/85 - a recent acquisition but I immediately fell in love with it, pretty sharp, good contrast, smooth bokeh, a really nice focal length on my NEX. I might replace this if a better 85 comes along later.
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I don't have the 1.8 though I am thinking about the SMC K 85/1.8 which is the same optics, I have the older ST 85/1.9 which I really like.
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14. Carl Zeiss Jena Cardinar 4/100 - the best Jena lens I've tried, a stunning optic, tack-sharp at all apertures, wonderful colours and bokeh, has some 3d pop, just a stunner.
15. Topcon RE Auto Topcor 3.5/135 - I've tried a lot of 135s and this is the best I've found, even better than the fantastic Konica Hexanon 3.2/135, it has everything, sharpness, contrast, bokeh, 3d pop, just wonderful.
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I have the older Topcor R 135/3.5, It's my favorite 135.
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16. Topcon RE Auto Topcor 5.6/200 - the best 200 I've found, like the 135 it has everything, it gives a great depth and dimensionality to images and is laser-sharp.
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I also have the older Topcor R 200/4, it's very sharp.
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17. Tair-3C 4.5/300 - yes it's old, huge, rusty and feels like it's made out of an old artillery shell but it's a joy to use and is sharp and without CA at all apertures, a great telephoto by any terms.
18. Konica Zoom-Hexanon 28-135 - huge and heavy but as good as a prime lens at all settings, best zoom lens I have found and a really useful range of focal lengths on the NEX.
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I've been looking at getting a 28-135(or close to this range) lens lately, The Jena Zoom 28-135 too. Should be a great one lens travel kit.
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19. Konica UC Hexanon 4/80-200 - also huge and heavy but like the shorter Konica zoom is a truly superb optic and better than most primes in the same focal length I've tried.
20. Micro-Nikkor 3.5/55 - my macro lens of choice, sharp sharp sharp, does it's job very well and doesn't take up too much space in my bag unlike a bellows solution.
So that's it, covers all my needs and not much I would want to add, a fisheye like the Konica 15mm would be nice, maybe a Zenitar 16.
I'll add pictures later. |
My lens list that I can easily recommend:
CV15III M mount, tiny and sharp, it's always in the bag.
Nikkor 18/4
Konica 21/4
FD 24/1.4 not really a landscape lens, but is awesome for everything else.
Rokkor MC 28/2.5
SMC K 28/2, 28/3.5
FD 35/2.8 Tilt Shift, awesome lens, absolutely awesome
Contax G 45/2 that I transplanted into a Rokkor MC 55/1.7 body
Topcor-S 50/2 LTM
Canon 50/1.2 LTM
Rokkor MC 58/1.2
Topcor RE 58/1.8 & 58/1.4
Leica R 60 Macro Elmarit
Topcor RE 85/1.8
Leica M 90 APO Asph(also available in R) Phenomenal lens.
Leica R 100/2.8 Macro Elmarit
Topcor R 135/3.5
Leica R 180/3.4 APO
Topcor R 200/4
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A Manual Focus Junky...
One photographers junk lens is an artists favorite tool.
My lens list
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lightshow-photography/ |
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