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Best and worst 2017
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 28, 2017 7:47 pm    Post subject: Best and worst 2017 Reply with quote
Hi,
as the end of the year approaches I'd like to draw a balance of my manual lens photography effort in the form of best / worst ranking

Best lens, period: Carl Zeiss Ultron 50mm f1.8
https://www.flickr.com/search/?user_id=149089857%40N03&sort=date-taken-desc&text=carl%20zeiss%20ultron%2050mm%20f1.8&view_all=1

Best lens (2nd choice): Meyer Optik Görlitz Domiron 50mm f2 (Exakta)
https://www.flickr.com/search/?user_id=149089857%40N03&sort=date-taken-desc&text=meyer%20optik%20g%C3%B6rlitz%20domiron%2050mm%20f2&view_all=1

Best "macro" lens: Porst Color 55mm f1.7
https://www.flickr.com/search/?user_id=149089857%40N03&sort=date-taken-desc&text=porst%20color%2055mm%20f1.7&view_all=1

Most artistic pictures taken with: Meyer Optik Görlitz Trioplan 100mm f2.8, and the Domiron
https://www.flickr.com/search/?user_id=149089857%40N03&sort=date-taken-desc&text=trioplan%20100mm%20f2.8&view_all=1

Slightly disappointed but not yet written off: Carl Zeiss Jena Biotar 75mm f1.5
https://www.flickr.com/search/?user_id=149089857%40N03&sort=date-taken-desc&text=biotar%2075mm%20f1.5&view_all=1

Bought but not yet tested:Petri Orikkor Kuribayashi 50mm f2, ISCO - GOTTINGEN TELE WESTANAR 1:3,5/135, 35KP-1,8/120 F1.8 120mm

Funny lens, that actually takes serious pictures: Fujian 35mm f1.7
https://www.flickr.com/search/?user_id=149089857%40N03&sort=date-taken-desc&text=fujian%2035mm%20f1.7&advanced=1&view_all=1

Bought, forgotten and re-discovered: Rubinar 500mm f8
https://www.flickr.com/search/?user_id=149089857%40N03&sort=date-taken-desc&text=rubinar%20500mm%20f8&view_all=1

No matter how many lens I buy and test this one is alway in my bag: Helios (many)
https://www.flickr.com/search/?user_id=149089857%40N03&sort=date-taken-desc&advanced=1&text=helios%2058mm&view_all=1

Worst lens: none!

Share your 2017 MF lens ranking!

Cheers.


PostPosted: Thu Dec 28, 2017 9:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Great idea, but OMG a lot of work to fiddle all those out, as I did quite a bit in 2017...
But I will...
Later, Klaus


PostPosted: Fri Dec 29, 2017 12:58 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Best and worst in 2017?

For me the best is a tie, both of these in LTM:

Voigtlander Nokton 50mm f/1.5
Voigtlander APO Lanthar 90mm f/3.5

The worst, not a BAD lens but the performance of my copy was disappointing, particularly when compared to the Rokkor 35-70:

Minolta 24-35mm f/3.5


PostPosted: Fri Dec 29, 2017 1:32 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Wolan those Biotar 75mm 1.5 are terrible you should probably rid yourself of that hunk of garbage, I'll be kind and you can send it to me and I will get rid of it for you..... Wink


PostPosted: Sun Dec 31, 2017 1:33 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
The 50 1.8 ultron is absolutely amazing...... I really appreciate the forum turning me on to this lens.... I just need to find something that special in 28/35mm focal length.... I keep thinking the Contaflex 126 32mm might be that lens... I know about the rep on the zeiss 35 2.8....

Schneider DKL glass was probably the biggest and most pleasant surprise in the ""Budget"" category.

Do you by chance have a picture of the Porst 1.7 Macro? I think I might have it wearing ALPA badging..... Also really like that lens...

My biggest disappointments, of the year for me.......... I have tried alot of russian glass and for the most part it has left me wanting.... I know its bang for the buck glass, just thought it would be better in absolute terms.... Only thing that has survived is a 35 F2, which I am comparing against a Pentax F2, one will stay one will go. I have two russian lenses in Pentacon 6 format that I am waiting for an adapter to shoot.


PostPosted: Sun Dec 31, 2017 1:50 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Gatorengineer64 wrote:
The 50 1.8 ultron is absolutely amazing...... I really appreciate the forum turning me on to this lens.... I just need to find something that special in 28/35mm focal length.... I keep thinking the Contaflex 126 32mm might be that lens... I know about the rep on the zeiss 35 2.8....

Schneider DKL glass was probably the biggest and most pleasant surprise in the ""Budget"" category.

Do you by chance have a picture of the Porst 1.7 Macro? I think I might have it wearing ALPA badging..... Also really like that lens...

My biggest disappointments, of the year for me.......... I have tried alot of russian glass and for the most part it has left me wanting.... I know its bang for the buck glass, just thought it would be better in absolute terms.... Only thing that has survived is a 35 F2, which I am comparing against a Pentax F2, one will stay one will go. I have two russian lenses in Pentacon 6 format that I am waiting for an adapter to shoot.


If you mean a picture of the lens itself, here you go: http://m42lens.com/m42-lens-database/611-porst-color-reflex-mcm-macro-55mm-f-1-7-16 or http://allphotolenses.com/lenses/item/c_4121.html
The second links refers to it as the fastest macro lens in the world. It is not a 1:1 macro lens, but I do not think there are many f1.7 lenses with a 1:3 reproduction ratio. In that sense that statement could be true.


PostPosted: Tue Jan 02, 2018 8:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
My best buys in 2017: (In that order...)

Sony A7II with TechArt AF-M-Adapter
Leica D-Lux (109)
7artisans 1.1/50
LensBaby Twist 60
Voigtländer 5.6/10 (M)
Nikon Nikkor AF 80-200mm f/2.8
Altix N w/ 4.5/35, 2.8/50 & 3.5/90&
Minolta SR7 w/ Rokkor PF 1.4/58
Canon EF 24-85 (seriously!)
NIKKOR 35mm 1:2.5 adapted to µ4/3
Canon FD 1.4/50mm SSC
BRAUN Paxette Automatic Super III w/ 3.5/35 & 3.5/135
Agfa Isoly
Meyer Optik Görlitz Alu Primagon 4.5/35 Q1
Meyer-Optik Görlitz Primotar E 3.5/50 red V Q1
Panasonic G Vario 12-32 mm Asph. OIS (for my PEN E-P3)


My worst buys in 2017:

Smena 6
Certo Certina (which doesn't really work properly)


PostPosted: Wed Jan 03, 2018 2:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
newst wrote:
Best and worst in 2017?

For me the best is a tie, both of these in LTM:

Voigtlander Nokton 50mm f/1.5
Voigtlander APO Lanthar 90mm f/3.5

The worst, not a BAD lens but the performance of my copy was disappointing, particularly when compared to the Rokkor 35-70:

Minolta 24-35mm f/3.5



I had a copy of that Minolta which was as good as the 35-70mm - except for lower contrast. It was stolen and so I replaced it and the new one is waiting for me back in the UK. I hope it is a good copy. The focal range is very useful on FF.


PostPosted: Wed Jan 03, 2018 5:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
newst wrote:
Best and worst in 2017?

The worst, not a BAD lens but the performance of my copy was disappointing, particularly when compared to the Rokkor 35-70:

Minolta 24-35mm f/3.5


Yes, I was given one the other day, brand new old stock still in the box. And it's not even close to the 35-70, very disappointing.


PostPosted: Wed Jan 03, 2018 7:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Lloydy wrote:
newst wrote:
Best and worst in 2017?

The worst, not a BAD lens but the performance of my copy was disappointing, particularly when compared to the Rokkor 35-70:

Minolta 24-35mm f/3.5


Yes, I was given one the other day, brand new old stock still in the box. And it's not even close to the 35-70, very disappointing.


David, could you show a comparison shot from each lens to illustrate your point? I ask because I can acquire a 24-35 locally for a decent price.


PostPosted: Thu Jan 04, 2018 12:08 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
This sounds like bad news for the 24-35mm. I suppose I was lucky with my first copy....


PostPosted: Thu Jan 04, 2018 12:29 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Lenses of the year, 2017
Those I liked using, and of course I do not claim high standards in anything -

Nikkor-H 85/1.8 - Respect this!
Fujian(?) 25/1.8 (APS-C CCTV mount lens from China) - a nice expendable "normal" for tiny APS-C cameras.
Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC - Just very useful and trouble-free. A great single-lens for tropical vacations.

Honorable mention -
Tamron 13A 24-48 on Pixco focal reducer
Industar-69 28/2.8 - lots of fun!


PostPosted: Thu Jan 04, 2018 12:55 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Best M42 SMC TAKUMAR 1:1.4/50
Worst same lens lol


PostPosted: Thu Jan 04, 2018 3:51 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
I didnt took many pictures in 2017. best lens for me is the right lens in the right time.and it could be any lens.
So the most used lens has better chance to be the best. and my most used one in last year:
Schneider Kreuznach 35/2 Cinelux MC
Vivitar 24/2 MC
yashica ML 55/1,2
petri kuribayashi 50/2
CZ Visionar 84/1,6

worst lens is, the lens I brought in bag but I didn't use it


PostPosted: Sat Jan 06, 2018 6:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Hi all and Happy New Year.

I've not posted a lot in 2017....tho' I did shoot a bit...and had some acquisitions...so, for lenses ACQUIRED in 2017.

For the samples below, all Sony A7, and there is little to no Lightroom post processing...so you can see the nature of the image...low contrast, veiling flare, etc.

Most Favorite: Nikkor S.C 5cm 1.4 rangefinder lens.
In Contax mount...used a Communist Contax RF > Sony Nex to mount (got a 5cm Jupiter 8 in the deal...nice, but that was 2016).
Used this lens for a bunch of portraits that I cannot share here as I don't have permission...but I can share pics of my long-suffering family. In Contax mount, this lens can be found for US$150 or less...still a slight stretch for me....but, wow.

#1 - well, I did process to greyscale....compare to the next pic which is the original. I like this lens for monochrome!!


#2


Most Fun and most used: Nikkor 5.8cm f1.4 F-Mount
Never sharp, wide open almost Biotar-like...debating on keeping...as I have Biotars...

#3


#4


#5


#6


#7


#8


#9 - springtime and the asparagus beds....a good year for them!


Most Interesting: 5cm f2 Nikkor-S
...the original weird 7 element version release with the Nikon F....interesting rendering, wonderful build, almost a pancake lens.

#10


#11



Best Rendering: 5cm Schneider Xenar f2.8
...this is the prewar, uncoated 5 element version that renders differently than 4 element tessars:

#12



Most Patriotic (for an American....)
Wollensack Raptar from E. Leitz NYC...commissioned by the US importer of Leica...after their supplies of German-made lenses dried up at the beginning of World War Two in 1939 or so....basically a repurposed triplet used in folders...Lots of color fringing...but the background looks like a watercolor....used this for a number of portraits this year.

#13


Redundant/Experiment
...to see if Communists could maintain image rendering of pre-war Meyers: 58mm Primoplan, early 1950's. I found this a bit under priced and wanted to see how it compares to my pre-war uncoated Primoplan....doesn't seem to have the sharpness...but more contrast due to coating...if I was smart I would sell the brass prewar for silly money and keep this one....but I am probably not smart enough.

#14


#15


#16
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