My very first manual lenses - what to buy

Marek · Posted: Wed May 28, 2014 10:39 pm Post subject:

Hi, I was just curious what can be red from the serial numbers "tattooed" on my silver (sometimes black) darlings?

Marek · Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2014 9:01 pm Post subject:

Hi, respecting my strong butterfly focus, I assumed Volna-9 macro might be a good pick for me for its market value - any thoughts?

Is IQ good enough to do a really solid macro? Any known problems tied to this ugly small lens? Very Happy

Marek · Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2014 10:52 pm Post subject:

Hi, I'm looking for an old manual lens type I've never done much research about - wide angle (the wider, the better).

Any recommendations? I want to shoot both indoor finished interior scenes for my stepfathers' business and butterflies Smile

The only wide angle I've ever messed with was Flektogon 35 my friend has.

Must go for a reasonably good price, since I'm unemployed again Very Happy

Thanks!

hemeterfilms · Joined: 04 Jul 2012 Posts: 80 Location: Mexico City

All of the suggestions so far are admirable but rather exotic for a beginner and quite expensive. Why not get a Minolta 35 -70mm f3.5 macro . It would suit your butterfly interest, is of very high quality and still amazingly cheap

kenetik · Joined: 02 Mar 2014 Posts: 524

I agree the Minolta 35-70 is a good choice. Another choice would be the Vivitar 28-90 Series 1. Do some searches on here, that lens really is nice.

Marek · Posted: Sun Sep 21, 2014 8:42 am Post subject:

Thanks! Minolta looks sharp and super-cheap. Vivitar looks rather soft.

What I forgot to mention in my first post - any silver German, Russian alternative? Very Happy

(And wider than 35mm?)

What about Primagon or Flek 35?

woodrim · Joined: 14 Jan 2010 Posts: 4060 Location: Charleston

Older f/2.8 Flek is better built than f/2.4 version. Primagon very good, but slow. Then there is MIR 20mm.

woodrim · Joined: 14 Jan 2010 Posts: 4060 Location: Charleston

AH, just thought... have you considered Lydith?

calvin83 · Joined: 12 Apr 2009 Posts: 7554 Location: Hong Kong

kds315* · Expire: 2021-03-09

Flares easily and not really sharp, there is better than that...

woodrim · Joined: 14 Jan 2010 Posts: 4060 Location: Charleston

calvin83 · Joined: 12 Apr 2009 Posts: 7554 Location: Hong Kong

Marek · Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2014 10:22 pm Post subject:

Guys, please, is there any significant difference between EXA TO EOS adapter for postwar vs. prewar EXA lenses?

I just lost the auction for this old daddy, but I'd like to know for the future. The prewar ones tend to look even more lovely.

In other words, would EXA TO EOS adapter fitting well on my postwar Trioplan 100 also fit, lets say, on that Telemegor 150 from the link above?

Lightshow · Joined: 04 Nov 2011 Posts: 3669 Location: Calgary

I'm no expert, but I don't see why it wouldn't fit.

calvin83 · Joined: 12 Apr 2009 Posts: 7554 Location: Hong Kong

It will fit. If it does not , it is might be the problem of the adapter.

Marek · Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2014 9:15 am Post subject:

Mos6502 · Joined: 20 Jun 2011 Posts: 961 Location: Austin

Marek · Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2014 11:28 pm Post subject:

Hello, I already have a Trioplan, it's Domiron I'd kill for now Very Happy

(I won one of the first Trioplan related auctions reasonably soon after my post you just quoted)

Marek · Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2014 12:49 am Post subject:

Sometimes I feel like screaming Very Happy

6.739 CZK equals �244

Marek · Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2014 11:51 pm Post subject:

Heavy bastard probably built of melted Soviet WW2 tanks arrived this Monday Very Happy

Here are some older ones

Since March '13 I buy only silvers Cool

Marek · Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2014 12:13 am Post subject:

It's not my "very first" time at all already but I found my latest transaction too ordinary and uninsteresting, so I'm continuing here.

I just bought pretty well looking silver Primotar 135/3.5 for $75 + customs and postage, hoping to be a reasonable price.

It was actually for $110 with possibility to negotiate. As my great grandfather was half Jew, I negotiated and did so successfully Very Happy

Possibly a very fresh lucky auction, I believe this item to disappear till tomorrow's lunch.

Unlike blacks, I believe silver Primotars (in nice condition) are fairly rare in Central Europe.

woodrim · Joined: 14 Jan 2010 Posts: 4060 Location: Charleston

You started this thread only this past spring, looking for recommendations, and now you're influencing what we buy. Or at least me. I have recently purchased 5.5/150 Telemegor, 5.5/180 Telemegor, and 3.5/135 Primotar. Unfortunately, only 150mm is silver. Maybe if I strip the black paint, they will all be silver? These join my other Meyer lenses; Lydith 3.5/30, Primagon 4.5/35, Helioplan 4.5/40, Domiplan 2.8/50, Trioplan 2.9/50, Primotar 3.5/80, Orestor 2.8/100, Orestor 2.8/135, and Orestegor 4/300. Is it safe to say I'm a fan?

woodrim · Joined: 14 Jan 2010 Posts: 4060 Location: Charleston

Forgot to mention 3.5/75 Trioplan.

Marek · Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2014 12:20 am Post subject:

Congratulations to Telemegor 150, I myself understimated one older auction with very nice pre-war version of this little big lens going for a reasonable price. Must have bought pre-war Tele-Tessar to find an inner harmony again Shocked

Also, Trioplan 75 and/or Orestors both look like lens I certainly wouldn't throw out from the window.