Need help deciding 50mm and 135mm lens

[Maverick82]

Hi Everyone,

I am a hobbyist photographer and use the Sony A200. Yesterday, I accidentally chanced upon this thread about lens bokeh:

http://forum.mflenses.com/bokeh-of-modern-day-lenses-t776,highlight,bokeh.html

I loved the quality of the images here. Had no clue that some of these lenses were this good. Looked around the forum some more and I was even more amazed.

Now I have decided to get a couple of MF lenses. Currently I am looking for a large aperture normal lens and a telephoto in the range of 135mm. I looked around and found that some of them are really expensive. I don't want to spend a fortune on them. Therefore the question..

Which MF lenses would you suggest for the A200 that would give consistently good quality without breaking the bank?

Thanks a lot everyone.
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Bhaskar

[Attila]

[Attila]

Nice to see you here!

Almost any MF lenses are good and not expensive.

I think you able to use M42 lenses on your camera. I suggest to take an AF chipped M42 adapter + a few cheap M42 lenses at the beginning.

Helios-44 58mm f2
Carl Zeiss Sonnar 135mm
or Jupiter-11A 135mm or Jupiter-37A etc, etc

You can see many, many samples here in forum gallery and Main Site Gallery http://www.mflenses.com/gallery
Also you can find a lens price guide
http://www.mflenses.com/rokreporter/run.html
_________________

Olympus E-1,Bessa L,Bessa RF Skopar 10,5cm,Besa I Color Skopar 105mm,Olympus OM2n,Nikon FA,Yashica Eletro 35 GN,
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Carl Zeiss Jena:Flektogon 2.8/20mm,4/25mm,2.4/35,2.8/65mm,4.5/4cm Tessar, 8/500mm Fernobjektiv
Pancolar 1.4/55mm,1.8/50mm,1.8/80mm,Tessar 2.8/50mm,Biotar 2/58mm,1.5/75mm,1.5/7,5cm
Carl Zeiss: Sonnar 2.8/135,2.8/180mm,Tessar 4/135mm
Nikon: 3.5/20mm,2.8/28mm,1.4/35mm,1.4/50mm,1.2/50mm,2/50mm,1.8/105mm,2.5/105mm,4/200mm macro,4.5/300mm
Pentax: Pentax 1.2/50mm,1.8/85mm,4/200mm
Helios: Helios-40 1.5/8,5cm,Helios-44-1 2/58mm,Helios-44-2 2/58mm
Olympus OM: 3.5/18mm,3.5/21mm,1.4/50mm,3.5/55mm macro,2.8/135mm,2/90mm macro,35-70mm,60-250mm
Meyer: 4.5/35mm Primagon,Primoplan 1.9/58mm,1.9/75mm,2.8/100mm,Orestegor 2.8/135mm,4.5/40 Helioplan
Leica: 4/100 Macro Elmar,2.8/90 Elmarit last version
Please visit my shop to support my reviews !
http://www.hqdesign.us/

[patrickh]

Welcome

Attila is only the first to give you advice- you will probably get a lot more. But he is right - take a look at the galleries on this forum.


patrickh
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DSLR: Nikon D70 Nikon D200 Canon 40D
MF Zooms: Kiron 28-85/3.5, 28-105/3.2, 75-150/3.5, Nikkor 50-135/3.5 AIS // MF Primes: Nikkor 20/4 AI, 24/2 AI, 28/2 AI, 28/2.8 AIS, 28/3.5 AI, 35/1.4 AIS, 35/2 AIS, 35/2.8 PC, 45/2.8 P, 50/1.4 AIS, 50/1.8 AIS, 50/2 AI, 55/2.8 AIS micro, 55/3.5 AI micro, 85/2 AI, 100/2,8 E, 105/1,8 AIS, 105/2,5 AIS, 135/2 AIS, 135/2.8 AIS, Nikkor 200/4 AI, 200/4 AIS micro, 3004.5 AI, 300/4.5 AI ED, Kiron 28/2 Panagor 135/2.8, Tamron 28/2.5, Tamron 90/2.5 macro, Vivitar 90/2.5 macro (Tokina) Voigtlander 90/3.5 Vivitar 105/2.5 macro (Kiron) Kaleinar 100/2.8 AI Tamron 135/2.5, Vivitar 135/2.8CF, 200/3.5, Tokina 400/5,6
M42: Vivitar 28/2.5, Flektogon 35/2.4, Takumar 35/3.5, Curtagon 35/4, Arsat 50/1.4, Volna-6 50/2.8 macro,Mamiya 50/1.4, CZJ Pancolar 50/1,8, Oreston 50/1.8, Industar 50/3.5, Sears 55/1.4, Helios 58/2, Jupiter 85/2, Helios 85/1.5, Jupiter 135/4, Jupiter 135/3.5, Takumar 135/3.5, Tair 135/2.8, Takumar 150/4, Jupiter 200/4
Exakta: Topcon 100/2.8, 35/2.8
C/Y: Yashica 28/2.8, 50/1.7, 135/2.8
P6 : Mir 38 65/3.5, Biometar 80/2.8, Kaleinar 150/2.8, Sonnar 180/2.8

[ChrisLilley]

The Sony A200 uses Minolta mount, right?
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Camera (ˈkæ mə rə), n. Device for taking pictures in bright light
There are 10 kinds of people in the world: those who understand binary, and those who don’t. Key: Ai-P, Ai, Ais, Ai'ed, pre-Ai
Camera: Nikon D40, DK-21M eyepiece, ML-3 remote MF lenses: Nikkor 20mm f/4 non-AI | N.K. Nikkor-N 24mm f/2.8 | Nikkor 28mm f/2.8 AiS late model | Арсенал (Arsenal) Мир-24Н (Mir-24N) 35mm f/2 | Cosina Voigtländer Ultron SL II 40mm f/2.0 | Nikkor-S.C 50mm f/1.4 non-AI | Nikon 50mm f/1.8 E | Micro-Nikkor 55mm f/2.8 AiS | Vivitar Series 1 (Kiron) 70-210 f/3.5 | Zoom-Nikkor 80-200 f/4.5 Ai | Nikkor-P 105mm f/2.5 pre-Ai, Ai'ed | Nikkor 135mm f/2.8, Ai'ed 1976 model | Арсенал (Arsenal) ТЕЛЕАР-Н (Telear-n) 200mm f/3.5 | Nikkor 300 mm f/4.5 Ai (full equipment list)

[Attila]

[estudleon]

HI!

In my taste: 50mm : Pancolar 1,8 (If you like 1,4 perhaps SMC TAK)

135mm: CZJ 3,5 .

Good luck.

Rino
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M42: tak 3,5/28
CZJ: 4/20, 2,4/35, 1,8/50, 1,8/50 aus jena, 3,5/135MC, Pentacon 1,8/50
Fuji: , 1,8/55, 1,4 50, 2.2/55, 4/85
Mamiya 2,8/135
Misc. : jupiter 9

[no-X]

Maybe MC Pentacon 50/1.8 wouldn't be bad - it's very cheap (at least in CR), only slightly more expensive than good Helios lenses. But Attila's advice is definetely good.
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I'm not absolutely retarded, English simply isn't my mother tongue :s)

up-to 30mm: Vivitar (Tokina) Series 1 VMC 28/1.9, Vivitar (Komine) MC close-focus 28/2.8, Zeiss Distagon T* 25/2.8 ZS
35mm: Super Takumar 35/2 PRO, S-M-C Takumar 35/2, S-M-C Takumar 35/3.5, CZJ eMC Flektogon 35/2.4, SC Curtagon 35/2.8, SC Baby-C 35/2.8, Vivitar 35/1.9, CZJ Tessar T 40/4.5
50mm: S-M-C Takumar 50/1.4, Tomioka Cosinon MC 55/1.4, Tomioka Yashinon 55/1.2, CZJ Biotar T 58/2 preset, CZJ Biotar T 58/2 17-blades, CZJ Tessar T 50/2.8, CZJ eMC Pancolar 50/1.8, aJ Pancolar 55/1.4, MMZ Helios MC 44-3 58/2, Helios 77M 50/1.8, KMZ Zenitar M2s MC 50/2, KMZ Industar 50/3.5, MC Pentacon 50/1.8, MC Volna-9 50/2.8, MG Orestor 50/1.8, Meostigmat 50/1.3, Polar 60/1.3
85mm: CZJ Biotar T 75/1.5 EX, CZJ Biotar T 75/1.5 M42, CZJ eMC Pancolar 80/1.8, aJ Biometar 80/2.8 P6 zebra, CZJ Biometar 80/2.8 M42, KMZ Helios 40-2 85/1.5 (custom hybrid of 40 and 40-2), S-M-C Takumar 80/1.8, MG Telefogar V 90/3.5
over 100mm: KOMZ MC Jupiter 37AM 135/3.5, KMZ Tair 11A 135/2.8, Pentacon preset 135/2.8 (bokehmonster)

[Attila]

One thought more , I never seen any bad 135mm and 50mm lenses. These lenses are made in highest volumes and almost every copy is good and cheap.
_________________

Olympus E-1,Bessa L,Bessa RF Skopar 10,5cm,Besa I Color Skopar 105mm,Olympus OM2n,Nikon FA,Yashica Eletro 35 GN,
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Carl Zeiss Jena:Flektogon 2.8/20mm,4/25mm,2.4/35,2.8/65mm,4.5/4cm Tessar, 8/500mm Fernobjektiv
Pancolar 1.4/55mm,1.8/50mm,1.8/80mm,Tessar 2.8/50mm,Biotar 2/58mm,1.5/75mm,1.5/7,5cm
Carl Zeiss: Sonnar 2.8/135,2.8/180mm,Tessar 4/135mm
Nikon: 3.5/20mm,2.8/28mm,1.4/35mm,1.4/50mm,1.2/50mm,2/50mm,1.8/105mm,2.5/105mm,4/200mm macro,4.5/300mm
Pentax: Pentax 1.2/50mm,1.8/85mm,4/200mm
Helios: Helios-40 1.5/8,5cm,Helios-44-1 2/58mm,Helios-44-2 2/58mm
Olympus OM: 3.5/18mm,3.5/21mm,1.4/50mm,3.5/55mm macro,2.8/135mm,2/90mm macro,35-70mm,60-250mm
Meyer: 4.5/35mm Primagon,Primoplan 1.9/58mm,1.9/75mm,2.8/100mm,Orestegor 2.8/135mm,4.5/40 Helioplan
Leica: 4/100 Macro Elmar,2.8/90 Elmarit last version
Please visit my shop to support my reviews !
http://www.hqdesign.us/

[Maverick82]

[Maverick82]

Hi Everybody.. Thanks for the warm welcome..

I will be inspecting a Takumar 50mm 1.4 and a Helios 44 today. These were listed in one of the local photography magazines. Will tell you guys, if it works out.

As for the 135mm, it seems difficult to find in these parts (Sydney). So I have been looking at a Pentacon, a Sonnar and a Jupiter on ebay. All of these seem to be held in very high regard and the pictures I have seen with these lens can only be described as exquisite when in the right hands.

Can't wait to get my hands on these old beauties.

Thanks a lot of all the replies.
_________________
Bhaskar

[Attila]

Good selection , enjoy them!
_________________

Olympus E-1,Bessa L,Bessa RF Skopar 10,5cm,Besa I Color Skopar 105mm,Olympus OM2n,Nikon FA,Yashica Eletro 35 GN,
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Carl Zeiss Jena:Flektogon 2.8/20mm,4/25mm,2.4/35,2.8/65mm,4.5/4cm Tessar, 8/500mm Fernobjektiv
Pancolar 1.4/55mm,1.8/50mm,1.8/80mm,Tessar 2.8/50mm,Biotar 2/58mm,1.5/75mm,1.5/7,5cm
Carl Zeiss: Sonnar 2.8/135,2.8/180mm,Tessar 4/135mm
Nikon: 3.5/20mm,2.8/28mm,1.4/35mm,1.4/50mm,1.2/50mm,2/50mm,1.8/105mm,2.5/105mm,4/200mm macro,4.5/300mm
Pentax: Pentax 1.2/50mm,1.8/85mm,4/200mm
Helios: Helios-40 1.5/8,5cm,Helios-44-1 2/58mm,Helios-44-2 2/58mm
Olympus OM: 3.5/18mm,3.5/21mm,1.4/50mm,3.5/55mm macro,2.8/135mm,2/90mm macro,35-70mm,60-250mm
Meyer: 4.5/35mm Primagon,Primoplan 1.9/58mm,1.9/75mm,2.8/100mm,Orestegor 2.8/135mm,4.5/40 Helioplan
Leica: 4/100 Macro Elmar,2.8/90 Elmarit last version
Please visit my shop to support my reviews !
http://www.hqdesign.us/

[spiralcity]

A good 135 M42 lens that wouldnt set you back too much is a 135 EBC Fujinon. This is great glass and actually rivals some of the best glass of it's day. You can get one on ebay anywhere form 120.00 to 150.00 US.

I own an old Opticam M42 2.8. I paid a whopping 8.00 US for it on ebay. It's adequate and dirt cheap.Vivitar makes adequate glass also that you can find very cheap on ebay.

[Maverick82]

Hi Everybody..

Thanks for all the help you guys have provided. Wanted to tell you that I got a Jupiter 135/f4 and a SMC Takumar 50/f1.4

The Jupiter is a really fine lens and I am loving it already.. Here is a pic I took yesterday..



But the Tak seems like a troublesome one. I bought it on ebay. It has fungus on the inside of the rear element. Although, otherwise it is in good shape. I am wondering whether it is worth it to clean it or just return to the seller. The problem is the return shipping cost makes the return un-viable.

What do you guys say? Is the Tak a difficult lens to open? I looked at a couple of sites and the problem seems to be the decorative ring on top. I would have to get the friction rubber tool.

Thanks for you help again.
_________________
Bhaskar

[themoleman342]

How much did you pay for your sample and which version is it? Great picture too!
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35mm: zenit B + zenit 122 + praktica FX + praktica LTL3 + sears (ricoh) TLS - chinon 2.8/28mm, mir 10A 3.5/28, pentacon 3.5/30, mir-1 2.8/37, mamiya/sekor + yashinon 1.4/50, simlar 1.5/50 (ltm m39 - macro work), tessar 2.8/50, domiplan 2.8/50, industar 50-2 3.5/50, takumar 2/55, 2 sears 1.4/55, helios 44-2 2/58, hanimex macro zoom 3.5/28-80, Kaleinar 2.8/100mm, tair 11A 2.8/135, jupiter 21m 4/200

Med Format: Ikoflex II - triotar 3.5/75

Large Format: 4x5 Custom Pinhole - Wide Angle 75mm