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tkbslc
Joined: 02 Jul 2009
Posts: 194
Location: Utah, USA
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 Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 6:07 am Post subject: What's the best budget 50mm 1.4 lens? |
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tkbslc wrote:
I don't know if any of you saw my post on the Rikenon 50 1.4 lens I stumbled across, but it wet my appetite for a better 50mm 1.4 lens. I shoot with Canon and their AF 50mm 1.4 lens is not worth $350 IMO. I was hoping someone could tell me what is considered a top choice for a 50mm 1.4 prime. It can be 50 or 55 or even 58mm, but it has to be f1.4. Let's say max budget is about $100 on ebay or keh.com. Preferred mounts are M42, Nikon or OM.
Thanks. |
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Anu
Joined: 14 Apr 2009
Posts: 879
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| Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 6:23 am Post subject: |
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Anu wrote:
SMC Takumar? |
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LucisPictor
Joined: 26 Feb 2007
Posts: 17633
Location: Oberhessen, Germany / Maidstone ('95-'96)
Expire: 2013-12-03
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| Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 6:25 am Post subject: |
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LucisPictor wrote:
Asahi Super-Takumar 1.4/50
Olympus Zuiko 1.4/50
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poilu
Joined: 26 Aug 2007
Posts: 10471
Location: Greece
Expire: 2019-08-29
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| Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 6:40 am Post subject: |
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poilu wrote:
the takumar have excellent reputation
what don't you like about your Canon 50:1.4, I don't have this lens but it seems most users are happy with it (when they cannot afford the 50:1.2) |
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aoleg
Joined: 22 Feb 2008
Posts: 1389
Location: Berlin, DE
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| Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 7:04 am Post subject: |
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aoleg wrote:
| LucisPictor wrote: |
Asahi Super-Takumar 1.4/50
Olympus Zuiko 1.4/50 |
I would say Super-Multi-Coated Takumar or SMC Takumar 1.4/50 and multicoated Olympus Zuiko 1.4/50 (preferrably the newest version with s/n starting with 1,000,000. They updated coatings of this lens once again after s/n 1,085,000, but this is supposed to be a minor improvement). Both lenses are well within a $100 budget (at least I paid much less than that, delivered).
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edumad
Joined: 11 Feb 2009
Posts: 348
Location: Esposende, Portugal
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| Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 9:21 am Post subject: |
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edumad wrote:
Another vote for the tak.
Yashica ML F1.4 (is there one)? Never did any testing against my SMC-A, but I have Yashinon F1.7 DX which is pretty good.
Chinon also has 55m F1.4 I believe, that should go cheap, dunno about quality though.
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xjjohnno
Joined: 07 Apr 2009
Posts: 1270
Location: Melbourne Australia
Expire: 2011-11-18
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| Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 9:44 am Post subject: |
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xjjohnno wrote:
The SMC Takumars are kind of funny in the price they can fetch. Best price for the buyer is likely to be one attached to an old Spotmatic or other M42 mount Pentax SLR. |
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Mal1905
Joined: 30 Oct 2008
Posts: 1705
Location: Dublin, Ireland
Expire: 2011-11-18
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| Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 10:50 am Post subject: |
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Mal1905 wrote:
Chinon 1.4/55mm can still be had for little enough - and they're a pretty good lens too. There's a Tomioka version, but to be honest, I can't see any differences between this version, and the 'normal' one.
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Canon EOS 5D / EOS 40D
Carl Zeiss Jena: Flektogon 2.8/20, 2.4/35, 2.8/35, Pancolar 2/50, MC 1.8/50, MC 1.8/80, Triotar 4/135, Tessar 2.8/50, S 4/135 1Q, S 3.5/135, Sonnar 3.5/135 MC, 2.8/180, Biotar 2/5,8cm, 2/58, 1.5/75
Carl Zeiss: Distagon 2/28 T*, 1.4/35 T*, Ultron 1.8/50, Tessar 2.8/50, Planar 1.4/50 T* MM, 1.7/50 T* MM, 1.4/85 T* AEG, Sonnar 2.8/135 T*
Asahi Optical Co.: Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 4.5/20, 3.5/24, 3.5/28, 2/35, 3.5/35, 1.4/50, 1.8/55, 1.8/85, 2.8/105, 2.8/120, 2.5/135 I & II, 3.5/135, 4/150, 4/200, 4/300, 5.6/400, 4/45-125, 4.5/85-210, Super-Takumar 4.5/20, 3.5/24, 3.5/28, 2/35, 3.5/35, 1.4/50, 1.8/55, 2/55, 2.8/105, 3.5/135, 4/150, 4/200, 4.5/70-150, Fish-Eye-Takumar 4/17, Macro-Takumar 4/50, Super-Macro Takumar 4/50, Super-Multi-Coated Macro-Takumar 4/50, 4/100, Bellows-Takumar 4/100, Asahi-Kogaku Takumar 3.5/50, 2.4/58, 3.5/100, Asahi-Kogaku Tele-Takumar 3.5/135, Auto-Takumar 2.3/35, 3.5/35, 1.8/55, 1.8/55 (Zebra), 2/55, 2.2/55, 1.8/85, 2.8/105, 3.5/135, Takumar 4/35, 2.2/55, 2/58, 2.8/105, 3.5/135, 3.5/200, 5.6/200, Tele-Takumar 5.6/200, 6.3/300, SMC Takumar 1.4/50, 1.8/55, 2/55, SMC-M 1.4/50, 1.7/50, 2/50
Tomioka: Tominon 2/5cm, Auto-Chinon 3.5/21, 1.4/55, Auto-Yashinon DS-M 1.2/55 |
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edumad
Joined: 11 Feb 2009
Posts: 348
Location: Esposende, Portugal
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| Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 10:53 am Post subject: |
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edumad wrote:
Hmm only if you are lucky, I've seen many camera+lens combos being sold to almost the price of lens itself, granted its still the better deal, but
its a sought after lens, so hard to get a great bargain...
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xjjohnno
Joined: 07 Apr 2009
Posts: 1270
Location: Melbourne Australia
Expire: 2011-11-18
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| Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 11:17 am Post subject: |
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xjjohnno wrote:
That's why I keep a magnifying glass beside my monitor. There are many sellers who don't list details of the lens thinking the camera is the valuable item. So a quick look with the magnifying glass tells me whether it's worth placing a bid or not. |
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piticu
Joined: 04 Aug 2008
Posts: 591
Location: Romania
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| Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 11:43 am Post subject: |
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piticu wrote:
don't forget the helios 44 series: lenses are very good and dirt cheap
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mflex-on
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| Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 11:46 am Post subject: |
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mflex-on wrote:
| piticu wrote: |
| don't forget the helios 44 series: lenses are very good and dirt cheap |
But it is far from 1.4.
I vote for Olympus Zuiko. |
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voytek
Joined: 24 Nov 2009
Posts: 891
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| Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 12:57 pm Post subject: |
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voytek wrote:
Chinon Tomioka (got it cheap <$50, S/H included) and Zuiko, both 1.4/50
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estudleon
Joined: 15 May 2008
Posts: 3754
Location: Argentina
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| Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 2:15 pm Post subject: |
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estudleon wrote:
My Super Multi Coated Takumar 1,4/50 $ 38. Mint-.
I hope that it is good.
Rino.
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Konica 2,8/100
CZJ: 4/20, 2,4/35, 1,8/50 aus jena, 3,5/135MC, Pentacon 1,8/50
Pentax S-M-C-1,4/50
Helios 44-3
Mamiya 2,8/135
Misc. : jupiter 9
Stuff used:
A) SRL
Alpa 10 D - kern macro Switar 1,9/50 -black, Kilffit apochromat 2/100.
Asahi pentax spotmatic super takumar 1,4/50
Contaflex super B tessar 2,8/50 Pro-tessar 115
Leica R3 electronic summicron 2/50 elmarit 2,8/35
Konica Autoreflex 3 (2 black and chrome one), TC, T4. 2,8/24, 3,5/28 not MC and MC, 1,8/40, 1,4/50, 1,7/50 MC and not MC, 1,8/85, 3,2/135, 3,5/135, 4/200
Minolta XG9 2,8/35, 2/45, 3,5/135
Nikkormat FTn 1,4/50, 2,8/135
Fujica ST 801, 605, 705n. 3,5/19, 1,4/50, 1,8/55, 4/85, 3,5/135.
Praktica MTL 5 and a lot of M42 lenses.
Voigtlander. Bessamatic m, bessamatix de luxe, bessamatic cs, ultramatic and ultramatic cs.
Skoparex 3,5/35, skopagon 2/40, skopar 2,8/50, skopar X 2,8/50, super lanthar (out of catalogue) 2,8/50, dinarex 3,4/90, dinarex 4,8/100, super dinarex 4/135, super dinarex 4/200, zoomar 2,8/36-83, portrait lens 0, 1 and 2. Curtagon 4/28 and 2,8/35
Canon AV1, 1,8/50
Rolleiflex SL35 and SL35 E. 2,8/35 angulon, 2,8/35 distagon, 1,4/55 rolleinar, 1,8/50 planar, 4/135 tessar, 2,8/135 rolleinar, x2 rollei, M42 to rollei adap.
Etc.
RF
Yashica Minister III
Voightlander Vito, vitomatic I, Vito C, etc.
Leica M. M2, M3 (d.s.) and M4. Schenider 3,4/21, 2/35 summaron 2,8/35 (with eyes). Summicron 2/35 (8 elements with eyes), 2/35 chrome, 2/35 black, 1,4/35 pre asph and aspheric - old -, 2/40 summicron, 2,8/50 elmar, 2/50 7 elements, 2/50 DR, 2/50 - minolta version, 1,4/50 summilux 1966 version, 1,4/75 summilux, 2/90 large version, 2/90 reduced version of 1987, 2,8/90 elmarit large version, 4/135 elmar. |
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djmike
Joined: 01 Apr 2009
Posts: 930
Location: Taiwan
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| Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 2:34 pm Post subject: |
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djmike wrote:
| estudleon wrote: |
My Super Multi Coated Takumar 1,4/50 $ 38. Mint-.
I hope that it is good.
Rino. |
Another lucky guy~ yes, SMC Tak is good.
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DSLR: Canon 400D
SLR: Nikon FM2 + Canon A-1 + Canon AE1-P + Praktica MTL-5B + Pentax Spotmatic F + Fujica ST801 + Voigtlander Bassematic + Voigtlander Vito + Rollei 35S + Rolleiflex SL35 ME + Canon QL17 GIII + Olympus Pen EE-3
Lenses
M42: CZJ Flektogon 35/2.4 + CZJ Flektogon Zebra 35/2.8 + CZJ Pancolar 50/1.8 + CZJ Sonnar 135/3.5 + CZJ Tessar 50/2.8 Chrome + Pentacon 135/2.8 + Pentacon 50/1.8 + SMC Takumar 50/1.4 + SMC Takumar 55/2 + SMC Takumar 135/3.5 + Fujinon 55/1.8 + Jupiter-9 85/2 + Jupiter-37A 135/3.5 + Helios 44-6 58/2
Nikor: Nikkor 50/1.4 + Nikkor 28/3.5 + Nikkor 35-105 Zoom + 36-72 Series E Zoom
Canon: Canon FD + 28/2.8 + 50/1.8 + Canon 35-105 Macro Zoom
Other: Rollei Planar HFT 50/1.8
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my_photography
Joined: 03 Nov 2008
Posts: 2772
Location: Pearl of the Orient
Expire: 2016-12-25
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| Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 2:45 pm Post subject: |
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my_photography wrote:
Another vote for Tak 1.4. I was amazed by the photos it produced the other day.
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Zeiss: CJZ Flektogon 20/2.8, CJZ Flektogon 20/4, , CJZ Pentacon 29/2.8, CJZ Flektogon 35/2.4, CJZ Pancolar 50/1.8, Tessar 50/2.8, Biotar 7.5cm/1.5, CJZ Pancolar 80/1.8, CJZ Sonnar 135/3.5, CJZ Pentacon 135/2.8 CJZ Sonnar 200/2.8
Other Germany: Meyer Primoplan 50/1.8, Meyer Trioplan 100/2.8
Takumar: SMC 50/1.4 Super Tak 55/2, Super Tak 85/1.9, S-M-C 135/3.5, Super Tak 150/4
Russian: Zenith 16/2.8, Mir-24M 2/35, Volna-9 50/2.8, Helios 44M (58/2), Helios 44M-3 MC (58/2), Helios 40 (85/1.5), Tair 11A (135/2.8 )
Others: Sears 28/2.8, Sankor 35/2.8, Enna M�nchen Tele-Ennalyt 135/3.5
Zoom Sigma Zoom 28-85/3.5-4.5
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tkbslc
Joined: 02 Jul 2009
Posts: 194
Location: Utah, USA
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| Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 4:20 pm Post subject: |
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tkbslc wrote:
| poilu wrote: |
the takumar have excellent reputation
what don't you like about your Canon 50:1.4, I don't have this lens but it seems most users are happy with it (when they cannot afford the 50:1.2) |
I don't have the Canon 50 1.4 currently and I don't have the $350 to put into it right now. I also am not impressed with the results I see from the lens at f1.4-2. I also had the Canon 50 1.8 and it was a poor lens, honestly, and I get better results with my Helios-44 using MF. I really like the Helios, but I have decided I "need" an f/1.4 
So it sounds like the SMC Takumar is the favorite. I owned a 55 1.8 Super Tak for a while and it was a fantastic lens, so I am not surprised. Is there really much difference between the SMC, Super-Multi-coated, and Super Takumars? I see all three versions and I assume the SMC has a better coating?
Thanks again for the advice. |
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luisalegria
Joined: 07 Mar 2008
Posts: 6627
Location: San Francisco, USA
Expire: 2018-01-18
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| Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 4:51 pm Post subject: |
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luisalegria wrote:
I like the old Ricoh M42 1.4/55 that came with the TLS, which is easily found - in fact its even easier to find it as a Sears, as Sears sold a lot of the Ricoh product in the US.
I use it in preference to the S-M-C Takumar 1.4/50, it seems to give better results at 1.4. Or maybe my Takumar is not in good shape.
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kuuan
Joined: 14 Jan 2008
Posts: 4572
Location: right now: Austria
Expire: 2014-12-26
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| Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 7:04 pm Post subject: |
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kuuan wrote:
and yet another vote for the S-M-C Takumar ( that was easy, it's my fav. lens, over 500 photos uploaded to a set dedicated to this lens on my flickr account in just over a year prove it )
difference of Super / S-M-C and SMC Takumar:
Super Tak and S-M-C Takumar share the same full metal body, the Super has less coating.
The SMC has Multi Coating but a rubberized Fokusring.
Do not expect the photos to look similar to those taken with the 55/1.8, at least my copies give very distinct results, the 50/1.4 is warmer, I specially like it for the overall 'ballanced' rendering incl. a smooth bokeh, if that makes any sense.
'Warmer' could be because of some yellowing of the class. Some get rid of it by exposing it to the sun ( some like the effect and prefer the Super Takumar because being older there is more chance of yellowing ).
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aoleg
Joined: 22 Feb 2008
Posts: 1389
Location: Berlin, DE
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| Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 8:50 pm Post subject: |
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aoleg wrote:
'Warmer' is not necessarily a bad thing. While it can certainly be corrected, sometimes I just like results like this (f/1.4):
It was sunset anyways
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dof
Joined: 04 Feb 2009
Posts: 339
Location: Southern California
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| Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2009 1:25 am Post subject: |
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dof wrote:
Nikkor 50/1.4 is also excellent. For a bargain, get one that is non-AI and
not too pretty.  |
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spiralcity
Joined: 02 Oct 2008
Posts: 1207
Location: Chicago, U.S.A
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| Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2009 1:36 am Post subject: |
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spiralcity wrote:
| dof wrote: |
Nikkor 50/1.4 is also excellent. For a bargain, get one that is non-AI and
not too pretty. |
I vote for this also...
the Nikon is a GREAT lens... 
My non ai is very pretty...
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zewrak
Joined: 12 Apr 2008
Posts: 1212
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| Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2009 6:04 am Post subject: |
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zewrak wrote:
I vote for S-M-C 55/1.8 and S-M-C 50/1.4 paired. :p Two completly different lenses. I tend to only use the 50/1.4 for close up and portraits. I think the 55 is better for landscapes etc.
S-M-C 50/1.4
S-M-C 55/1.8
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kuuan
Joined: 14 Jan 2008
Posts: 4572
Location: right now: Austria
Expire: 2014-12-26
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| Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2009 1:03 pm Post subject: |
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kuuan wrote:
wow, fantastic portraits Zewrak, specially I like the second one, I should try out the 55/1.8 for portraits too!
The 50/1.4 is has it's soft side wide open, today 2 waitresses in a restaurant and because of little light I had to use f1.4 anyway:
later edit: thank you voytek!
actually they are better viewed bigger, see
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kuuan/3765677490/sizes/l/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kuuan/3764881551/sizes/l/
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Last edited by kuuan on Tue Jul 28, 2009 5:28 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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voytek
Joined: 24 Nov 2009
Posts: 891
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| Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2009 2:59 pm Post subject: |
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voytek wrote:
zewrak, kuuan, your photos are very impressive.
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