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Jvg
Joined: 07 Nov 2012 Posts: 205 Location: New York City
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Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2012 8:12 pm Post subject: Lens underdogs |
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Jvg wrote:
which lenses in your collection, are the most under-rated? |
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Attila
Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Posts: 57840 Location: Hungary
Expire: 2021-11-18
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Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2012 8:54 pm Post subject: Re: Lens underdogs |
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Attila wrote:
Jvg wrote: |
which lenses in your collection, are the most under-rated? |
Many , almost all Konica, Minolta, Russian , East German made lenses are underrated.
Old Nikkors, lenses with little blemishes, pre-war items etc .
Most underrated , hard to say based on above long list. _________________ -------------------------------
Items on sale on Ebay
Sony NEX-7 Carl Zeiss Planar 85mm f1.4, Minolta MD 35mm f1.8, Konica 135mm f2.5, Minolta MD 50mm f1.2, Minolta MD 250mm f5.6, Carl Zeiss Sonnar 180mm f2.8
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Jvg
Joined: 07 Nov 2012 Posts: 205 Location: New York City
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Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2012 9:03 pm Post subject: Re: Lens underdogs |
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Jvg wrote:
Attila wrote: |
Jvg wrote: |
which lenses in your collection, are the most under-rated? |
Many , almost all Konica, Minolta, Russian , East German made lenses are underrated.
Old Nikkors, lenses with little blemishes, pre-war items etc .
Most underrated , hard to say based on above long list. |
under-rated in terms of price and popularity vs their abilities.
from my personal collection, i think mayer optik domiplan 2.8/50 is certainly under-rated (it's ranked below both of my isco's westanar and iscotar but in fact is much sharper),
and industar 50-2 is definitely under-rated... these can be bought for peanuts, unlike many other russian lenses which sometimes yield prices higher than CZ. |
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Attila
Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Posts: 57840 Location: Hungary
Expire: 2021-11-18
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Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2012 9:22 pm Post subject: |
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Attila wrote:
Yes, they are one of them , except Domiplan, some copy is fine , I had excellent copy, but most people report it to awful, so not underrated, rather well rated. _________________ -------------------------------
Items on sale on Ebay
Sony NEX-7 Carl Zeiss Planar 85mm f1.4, Minolta MD 35mm f1.8, Konica 135mm f2.5, Minolta MD 50mm f1.2, Minolta MD 250mm f5.6, Carl Zeiss Sonnar 180mm f2.8
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Jvg
Joined: 07 Nov 2012 Posts: 205 Location: New York City
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Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2012 9:43 pm Post subject: |
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Jvg wrote:
Attila wrote: |
Yes, they are one of them , except Domiplan, some copy is fine , I had excellent copy, but most people report it to awful, so not underrated, rather well rated. |
guess i got lucky then, my domiplan is very good, much better than iscos. of course cant' compare to either industar. |
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Attila
Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Posts: 57840 Location: Hungary
Expire: 2021-11-18
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Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2012 10:03 pm Post subject: |
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Attila wrote:
Jvg wrote: |
Attila wrote: |
Yes, they are one of them , except Domiplan, some copy is fine , I had excellent copy, but most people report it to awful, so not underrated, rather well rated. |
guess i got lucky then, my domiplan is very good, much better than iscos. of course cant' compare to either industar. |
Iscos usually provide fine quality, not stunning , but more than just okay and made by Western standards, so low or no copy variation issue, my guess is your lens wrongly assembled or you just simple expect more from a German lens. _________________ -------------------------------
Items on sale on Ebay
Sony NEX-7 Carl Zeiss Planar 85mm f1.4, Minolta MD 35mm f1.8, Konica 135mm f2.5, Minolta MD 50mm f1.2, Minolta MD 250mm f5.6, Carl Zeiss Sonnar 180mm f2.8
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Orio
Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Posts: 29545 Location: West Emilia
Expire: 2012-12-04
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Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2012 10:08 pm Post subject: Re: Lens underdogs |
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Orio wrote:
Jvg wrote: |
which lenses in your collection, are the most under-rated? |
Way too large range to give an exhaustive answer, let's say that by replying "soviet lenses" one does most of the times hit the nail on the head. _________________ Orio, Administrator
T*
NE CEDE MALIS AUDENTIOR ITO
Ferrania film is reborn! http://www.filmferrania.it/
Support the Ornano film chemicals company and help them survive!
http://forum.mflenses.com/ornano-chemical-products-t55525.html |
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peterqd
Joined: 28 Feb 2007 Posts: 7448 Location: near High Wycombe, UK
Expire: 2014-01-04
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Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2012 10:14 pm Post subject: |
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peterqd wrote:
Of course there are better lenses for higher prices, but the two lenses in my bunch I would pick out for their performance against price are:
Vivitar Auto Wide-Angle 2.8/28
Industar-50 3.5/50 _________________ Peter - Moderator |
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iangreenhalgh1
Joined: 18 Mar 2011 Posts: 15685
Expire: 2014-01-07
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Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2012 10:14 pm Post subject: |
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iangreenhalgh1 wrote:
I've got loads of lenses that perform above higher than their reputation would suggest, many of them are Soviet. I'd find it much easier to list the lenses I have tried that were over-rated (cough Vivitar Series 1 cough)...
Domiplan definitely isn't under-rated, most of them are shockingly bad, they often fall apart, as did two copies I had, I would call it the nadir of German lens production, but I haven't experienced much of the cheapest end of the German production, certainly I doubt Meyer ever made anything else with the same absence of quality, the earlier Trioplan triplet is a lot better. _________________ I don't care who designed it, who made it or what country it comes from - I just enjoy using it! |
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patrickh
Joined: 23 Aug 2007 Posts: 8551 Location: Oregon
Expire: 2011-11-18
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Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2012 10:27 pm Post subject: |
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patrickh wrote:
If this is a value for money question, then many of us have bargains that would certainly fall into that category (I recently got a Topcon 58/1.8 with minor cosmetic damage for $13). I suspect you mean that slightly vague "as generally recognised" measurement. This is also a movable feast - Attila's long list of sometimes generic classes is pretty accurate, but many russian lenses are now reaching over-priced status (Helios 40 85/1.5 for example).
Lenses I own that performed better than I expected include Nikon 100/2.8 E series, industar 50/3.5 (amazing little gem), any decent enlarging lens, taika doryt 135/3.5 (totally unknown to me) and so on...
patrickh _________________ DSLR: Nikon D300 Nikon D200 Nex 5N
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, 200/4 AI, 200/4 AIS micro, 300/4.5 AI, 300/4.5 AI ED, Arsat 50/1.4, Kiron 28/2, Vivitar 28/2.5, 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, Tamron 28/2.5, Formula5 28/2.8, Mamiya 28/2.8, Pentacon 29/2.8, Flektogon 35/2.4, Flektogon 35/2.8, Takumar 35/3.5, Curtagon 35/4, Takumar 50/1.4, Volna-6 50/2.8 macro, Mamiya 50/1.4, CZJ Pancolar 50/1,8, Oreston 50/1.8, Takumar 50/2, Industar 50/3.5, Sears 55/1.4, Helios 58/2, Jupiter 85/2, Helios 85/1.5, Takumar 105/2.8, Steinheil macro 105/4.5, Tamron 135/2.5, Jupiter 135/4, CZ 135/4, Steinheil Culminar 135/4,5, Jupiter 135/3.5, Takumar 135/3.5, Tair 135/2.8, Pentacon 135/2.8, CZ 135/2.8, Taika 135/3.5, Takumar 150/4, Jupiter 200/4, Takumar 200/4
Exakta: Topcon 100/2.8(M42), 35/2.8, 58/1.8, 135/2.8, 135/2.8 (M42), Kyoei Acall 135/3.5
C/Y: Yashica 28/2.8, 50/1.7, 135/2.8, Zeiss Planar 50/1.4, Distagon 25/2.8
Hexanon: 28/3.5, 35/2.8, 40/1.8, 50/1.7, 52/1.8, 135/3.2, 135/3.5, 35-70/3.5, 200/3.5
P6 : Mir 38 65/3.5, Biometar 80/2.8, Kaleinar 150/2.8, Sonnar 180/2.8
Minolta SR: 28/2.8, 28/3.5, 35/2.8, 45/2, 50/2, 58/1.4, 50/1.7, 135/2.8, 200/3.5
RF: Industar 53/2.8, Jupiter 8 50/2
Enlarg: Rodagon 50/5,6, 80/5,6, 105/5.6, Vario 44-52/4, 150/5.6 180/5.6 El Nikkor 50/2,8,63/2.8,75/4, 80/5,6, 105/5.6, 135/5.6 Schneider 60/5.6, 80/5.6, 80/4S,100/5.6S,105/5.6,135/5.6, 135/5.6S, 150/5.6S, Leica 95/4 |
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Lloydy
Joined: 02 Sep 2009 Posts: 7776 Location: Ironbridge. UK.
Expire: 2022-01-01
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Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2012 10:41 pm Post subject: |
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Lloydy wrote:
I've got a few old Soligors, 5 of them. 4 punch way above their weight, the other is a paper weight. The Russians have already been mentioned, I will never part with my Helios lenses. People ( the internet ) rave about Tomioka lenses, let's not forget Kiron, Sun and possibly the most under rated; Cimko? _________________ LENSES & CAMERAS FOR SALE.....
I have loads of stuff that I have to get rid of, if you see me commenting about something I have got and you want one, ask me.
My Flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/mudplugga/
My ipernity -
http://www.ipernity.com/home/294337 |
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iangreenhalgh1
Joined: 18 Mar 2011 Posts: 15685
Expire: 2014-01-07
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Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2012 10:51 pm Post subject: |
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iangreenhalgh1 wrote:
Cimko made the nice 2.8/24 and 2.8/28 lenses that are well known as being good. They also made the last series of lenses for Topcon, so obviously CAN make good lenses. BUT, some of their output is terrible, I have tried some Cimko zooms that were terrible, one was labelled Cimko MT and was an 80-200, a couple of them were labelled Super Paragon PMC, I think the small one was 28-100, it had really bad build quality and wobbled as you zoomed it back and forth, this meant uneven sharpness across the frame. _________________ I don't care who designed it, who made it or what country it comes from - I just enjoy using it! |
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Jethro Tull
Joined: 31 Dec 2010 Posts: 68 Location: SCOTLAND
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Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2012 11:15 pm Post subject: Super Ozeck |
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Jethro Tull wrote:
I have a cracking little 135mm f3.5 Super Ozeck PK very sharp and nice bokeh and another underated lens 24mm Tokina f2.8 get some lovely results but needs good lighting and a hood |
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iangreenhalgh1
Joined: 18 Mar 2011 Posts: 15685
Expire: 2014-01-07
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Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2012 11:27 pm Post subject: |
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iangreenhalgh1 wrote:
That Tokina 24 is a very good lens, I liked mine a lot, only sold it because I picked up a Konica 24mm for peanuts. _________________ I don't care who designed it, who made it or what country it comes from - I just enjoy using it! |
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Lloydy
Joined: 02 Sep 2009 Posts: 7776 Location: Ironbridge. UK.
Expire: 2022-01-01
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Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2012 11:51 pm Post subject: |
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Lloydy wrote:
Both my excellent Cimko's are Super Paragon's. Which shows it's down to the individual lens rather than the whole range from a particular manufacturer. Cimko, and the other small manufacturers just had a lower success rate than Leica. _________________ LENSES & CAMERAS FOR SALE.....
I have loads of stuff that I have to get rid of, if you see me commenting about something I have got and you want one, ask me.
My Flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/mudplugga/
My ipernity -
http://www.ipernity.com/home/294337 |
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hifisapi
Joined: 25 Sep 2012 Posts: 941 Location: USA
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Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2012 12:34 am Post subject: |
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hifisapi wrote:
I would say my Pentax smcK 28/3.5 and 35/3.5 lenses are both underrated. They are both superb performers but hardly
anyone knows anything about them and they are not very expensive either although they are not common to find. _________________ ===========
ACQUIRED OVER 30 YEARS:
Cameras: DSLR=Pentax istDS FILM=Pentax SP, SP-F, ESII, SP1000, KX, K2
Lenses : Pentax M42 = Super Multi Coated Takumars 50/1.4 55/1.8 100/4-BELLOWS 500/4.5 1000/8 135-600/6.7 Pentax PK= SMC Pentax-Ks K17/4-FF Fisheye K18/3.5 K20/4 K24/3.5 K28/3.5 K28/2 K35/3.5 K35/2 K50/1.2 K50/1.4K 50/4-MACROK 55/1.8 K85/1.8 K100/4-MACRO K100/4-BELLOWS K105/2.8 K120/2.8 K135/3.5 K135/2.5 K150/4 K200/4 K400/5.6 K45-125/4K 85-210/4.5 Pentax PKM = SMC Pentax-M M40/2.8-Pancake M50/1.4 M75-150/4 M80-200/4.5 Pentax PKA= SMC Pentax-A A15/3.5 A50/2.8-MACRO A28/2 A35/2 A50/1.4 A135/2.8 A200/4 A*300/4 A35-105/3.5 A24-50/4 A70-210/4 TAMRON AD2= SP80-200/2.8 SP180/2.5 TOKINA AT-X PK= ATX28-85/3.5-4.5 ATX35-70/2.8 ATX60-120/2.8 ATX80-200/2.8 ATX100-300/4 ATX90/2.5 MACRO KIRON-LESTER DINE PK = 105/2.8-MACRO VIVITAR PK = 135/2.8-MACRO 28-85/4 NOFLEXAR AUTOBELLOWS PK = 60/4 105/4 |
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elliott
Joined: 16 May 2011 Posts: 180
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Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2012 12:46 am Post subject: |
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elliott wrote:
hifisapi wrote: |
I would say my Pentax smcK 28/3.5 and 35/3.5 lenses are both underrated. They are both superb performers but hardly
anyone knows anything about them and they are not very expensive either although they are not common to find. |
You shouldn't go telling everyone, I still don't have those yet. I just have the M series f2.8 variants. People need to quit talking about the A 35-105 f3.5 zoom too. |
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iangreenhalgh1
Joined: 18 Mar 2011 Posts: 15685
Expire: 2014-01-07
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Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2012 1:05 am Post subject: |
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iangreenhalgh1 wrote:
Lloydy wrote: |
Both my excellent Cimko's are Super Paragon's. Which shows it's down to the individual lens rather than the whole range from a particular manufacturer. Cimko, and the other small manufacturers just had a lower success rate than Leica. |
Aah yes, condition makes a huge difference. I still have the Cimko Mt 80-200 somewhere, it was in great nick, if I find it you are welcome to have it to play with, you might get more from it than I did. _________________ I don't care who designed it, who made it or what country it comes from - I just enjoy using it! |
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ManualFocus-G
Joined: 29 Dec 2008 Posts: 6624 Location: United Kingdom
Expire: 2014-11-24
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Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2012 1:12 am Post subject: |
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ManualFocus-G wrote:
My Sankor 100/2.5 is excellent. I must spend some time with it on full frame.
http://forum.mflenses.com/viewtopic.php?t=18595 _________________ Graham - Moderator
Shooter of choice: Fujifilm X-T20 with M42, PB and C/Y lenses
See my Flickr photos at http://www.flickr.com/photos/manualfocus-g |
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Jvg
Joined: 07 Nov 2012 Posts: 205 Location: New York City
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Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2012 1:38 am Post subject: |
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Jvg wrote:
Attila wrote: |
my guess is your lens wrongly assembled or you just simple expect more from a German lens. |
you're right, i certainly expected German lens to be better than Russian. |
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Attila
Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Posts: 57840 Location: Hungary
Expire: 2021-11-18
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Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2012 1:53 am Post subject: |
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Attila wrote:
Russian has mixed quality some of them awesome some of them average, try some RF lens at F8 , you will be shocked. _________________ -------------------------------
Items on sale on Ebay
Sony NEX-7 Carl Zeiss Planar 85mm f1.4, Minolta MD 35mm f1.8, Konica 135mm f2.5, Minolta MD 50mm f1.2, Minolta MD 250mm f5.6, Carl Zeiss Sonnar 180mm f2.8
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ForenSeil
Joined: 15 Apr 2011 Posts: 2726 Location: Kiel, Germany.
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Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2012 2:04 am Post subject: |
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ForenSeil wrote:
Most Russians are no underdogs anymore
My favorite underdog is the Minolta MD 50/2
my copy has a really is alrady sharp wide open and really great colors&contrast. It's as good as modern 50/1.8 AF lenses _________________ I'm not a collector, I'm a tester
My camera: Sony A7+Zeiss Sonnar 55/1.8
Current favourite lenses (I have many more):
A few macro-Tominons, Samyang 12/2.8, Noritsu 50.7/9.5, Rodagon 105/5.6 on bellows, Samyang 135/2, Nikon ED 180/2.8, Leitz Elmar-R 250/4, Celestron C8 2000mm F10
Most wanted: Samyang 24/1.4, Samyang 35/1.4, Nikon 200/2 ED
My Blog: http://picturechemistry.own-blog.com/
(German language)
Last edited by ForenSeil on Sat Nov 17, 2012 2:22 am; edited 1 time in total |
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hifisapi
Joined: 25 Sep 2012 Posts: 941 Location: USA
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Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2012 2:10 am Post subject: |
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hifisapi wrote:
elliott wrote: |
hifisapi wrote: |
I would say my Pentax smcK 28/3.5 and 35/3.5 lenses are both underrated. They are both superb performers but hardly
anyone knows anything about them and they are not very expensive either although they are not common to find. |
You shouldn't go telling everyone, I still don't have those yet. I just have the M series f2.8 variants. People need to quit talking about the A 35-105 f3.5 zoom too. |
I have one of those 35-105 SMCA zooms and its one of the very few zooms that rivals primes on resolution, saturation, and contrast. Highly recommended...That one and the SMCA 70-210 is also exceptional.... _________________ ===========
ACQUIRED OVER 30 YEARS:
Cameras: DSLR=Pentax istDS FILM=Pentax SP, SP-F, ESII, SP1000, KX, K2
Lenses : Pentax M42 = Super Multi Coated Takumars 50/1.4 55/1.8 100/4-BELLOWS 500/4.5 1000/8 135-600/6.7 Pentax PK= SMC Pentax-Ks K17/4-FF Fisheye K18/3.5 K20/4 K24/3.5 K28/3.5 K28/2 K35/3.5 K35/2 K50/1.2 K50/1.4K 50/4-MACROK 55/1.8 K85/1.8 K100/4-MACRO K100/4-BELLOWS K105/2.8 K120/2.8 K135/3.5 K135/2.5 K150/4 K200/4 K400/5.6 K45-125/4K 85-210/4.5 Pentax PKM = SMC Pentax-M M40/2.8-Pancake M50/1.4 M75-150/4 M80-200/4.5 Pentax PKA= SMC Pentax-A A15/3.5 A50/2.8-MACRO A28/2 A35/2 A50/1.4 A135/2.8 A200/4 A*300/4 A35-105/3.5 A24-50/4 A70-210/4 TAMRON AD2= SP80-200/2.8 SP180/2.5 TOKINA AT-X PK= ATX28-85/3.5-4.5 ATX35-70/2.8 ATX60-120/2.8 ATX80-200/2.8 ATX100-300/4 ATX90/2.5 MACRO KIRON-LESTER DINE PK = 105/2.8-MACRO VIVITAR PK = 135/2.8-MACRO 28-85/4 NOFLEXAR AUTOBELLOWS PK = 60/4 105/4 |
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elliott
Joined: 16 May 2011 Posts: 180
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Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2012 2:30 am Post subject: |
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elliott wrote:
hifisapi wrote: |
elliott wrote: |
hifisapi wrote: |
I would say my Pentax smcK 28/3.5 and 35/3.5 lenses are both underrated. They are both superb performers but hardly
anyone knows anything about them and they are not very expensive either although they are not common to find. |
You shouldn't go telling everyone, I still don't have those yet. I just have the M series f2.8 variants. People need to quit talking about the A 35-105 f3.5 zoom too. |
I have one of those 35-105 SMCA zooms and its one of the very few zooms that rivals primes on resolution, saturation, and contrast. Highly recommended...That one and the SMCA 70-210 is also exceptional.... |
I've wondered how the A 70-210 would compare to my Komine made Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm f2.8-4, the Vivitar is very sharp, but isn't good in the purple fringing department. From what I can tell, they're both heavy and they are both good, I'm not sure if it is worth going for the Pentax lens when I have the Vivitar.
How is your copy on zoom creep? I was given a Takumar Bayonet 70-200 f4, which I know is in no way related, but zoom creep is an understatement, there is no dampening at all. |
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SkedAddled
Joined: 19 Oct 2008 Posts: 1424 Location: Michigan, USA
Expire: 2021-08-12
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Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2012 2:33 am Post subject: |
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SkedAddled wrote:
Lloydy wrote: |
I've got a few old Soligors, 5 of them. 4 punch way above their weight, the other is a paper weight. |
A 135mm f:2.8 Soligor I have is naught but a paperweight after I took it apart to clean it, sadly, but the Tokina-made 75-260 zoom and 400mm f:6.3 that I own seem to be real winners. Not to mention the Soligor 500mm f/8 C/D mirror that I just grabbed with a matched 2X TC, which appears nearly new, but I don't have any samples from that one, yet. _________________ Craig
Of course I'm all right! Why? What have you heard!?
Canon Digital EOS 5D Mk IV, EOS 50D, Powershot S3 iS
Vivitar 28 f/2.8 OM - Zuiko 50 f/1.8 OM - Tamron SP 28-80 f/3.5 AD2[Favorite!] - Hanimar 135 f/3.5 M42 - Soligor 135 f/2.8 T4 - Tamron SP 60-300 f/3.8 AD2 - Soligor 75-260 f/4.5 M42 - Soligor 400 f/6.3 T4 - Soligor 500 f/8 T2 Cat + Matched 2X TC - Addiction Growing!
This is us -- We drive these -- We're named these |
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