Your Top Ten Classic Lenses

[Oldhand]

So this is a follow up to a previous post.
There are no wrong answers here as these will be your choices for whatever reason.
You don't have to say why each lens is in the list, but I'm sure that we would all love to know why the ones that you list made the cut.
OK - have at it!
No criticism please - just read and appreciate.
Add pictures if you feel that way inclined.
I'm going away to have a long think before I post mine.
Happy listing everyone
Tom

[Teemō]

I think I only own around 10 lenses so I'll pick 5 that I wouldn't give up, in no particular order:

1. Minolta MC 58mm F1.2
2. Voigtlander 35mm F1.7 Ultron LTM
3. Minolta 5cm F1.8 Super Rokkor LTM
4. Minolta MC 100mm F2
5. Sigma 180mm F2.8 Apo Macro MF

This list may change in future... I'm currently looking at a Minolta G 85mm F1.4 (without even having a body to use it on!). I desire to have one day a Hexanon-UC 35mm F2 LTM as well. I'm not particularly engaged by its rendering, being based on the old W-Nikkor 35mm F1.8, but I love its size and sharpness - and apparently it's the best mechanical Japanese lens ever made, winning an industrial design award. Having said that, it does seem to have at least a smoother OOF quality than most fast 35mm lenses - the bokeh is certainly not distracting.

[wolfhansen]

no particular order:

1. Tokina 3.5/17mm RMC II
2. ISCO-Göttingen Westromat 2.8/35mm
3. Leitz Elmarit-R 2.8/35mm
4. Carl Zeiss Planar 1.4/50mm HTF
5. Leitz Summicron-R 2.0/50mm
6. Carl Zeiss Ultron 1.8/50mm
7. Meopta Meostigmat 1.0/70mm
8. Carl Zeiss Jena Pancolar 1.8/80mm
9. Carl Zeiss Jena Visionar 1.6/100mm
10. Carl Zeiss Jena Sonnar 2.8/200mm

[blotafton]

This list is always evolving

I am missing a few high end wide angles that probably would make it to the list if I had them.

1. Carl Zeiss Planar 50mm f/1.4 C/Y. The ultimate 50mm lens. Very sharp in focus, creamy out of focus, 3d pop. Color: Warm.

2. Rollei Planar 50mm f/1.8. Almost as good as the 1.4 as a whole. But closer to other good 50's.

3. Minolta Rokkor 58mm f/1.2. Probably the f/1.2 experience. But the 57mm Hexanon is an option, haven't tried it. For pixel peepers and resolution chart fans go for Canon instead.

4. Pentax Macro Takumar 50mm f/4 1:1. Slow and boring? Actually only slow. What it gives you instead is the well known feel and mechanical construction of Pentax. Inside hides a tessar design that is sharp as expected. Not only close but at infinity too. But there is more. Somehow the images it creates have an organic look, more alive or less clinical than newer more complex lenses. Maybe it's just in my mind.

5. CZJ Pancolar 50mm f/1.8 (first 6/4 design) For me beautiful busy bokeh with strong outlines. In the right conditions strong 3d pop effect. This combined with the bokeh makes an interesting combination.

6. X Fujinon 55mm f/1.6. Distracting or interesting bokeh in medium distances from unusual 5 element design. But this is not a weakness, quite the opposite. The 3d pop effect is definitely there and the very close distance bokeh is incredibly smooth.

7. Minolta MD Rokkor 100mm f/2.5. Smooth bokeh, similar to Nikkor 105mm f/2.5.

8. Meyer-Optik Görlitz Diaplan 100mm 2.8. In lack of a Trioplan this one will do.

9. MD W.Rokkor 35mm 2.8 MDII? Just good.

10. MIR 1 37mm 2.8. Classic look, while sharp enough.

[Raxar]

i think 2 list is make much more sense. one for true classics and one for budget friendly ones.
classics:
Olympus 21mm f/2
Minolta MC II 24mm f/2.8
CZJ 35mm f/2.4
Zeiss Ultron 50mm f/1.8
Helios 40 85mm f/1.5
Tokina 90mm f/2.5
CZJ 120mm f/2.8 P6
Fujica 135mm f/2.5
Tamron 180mm f/2.5 ae
Canon 300mm f/2.8L

and the budget ones:
Tokina RMC 17mm f/3.5
Sigma Miniwide II 24mm f/2.8
Canon nFD 28mm f/2.8
Mir 1 zm39
Yashica ML 50mm f/1.7
any good 85mm projection lens
ektar 100 f/3.5 although you can adapt it easily
Konica 135mm f/3.2
Canon nFD 200mm f/4
Makinon 400mm f/5.6 CD

[cooltouch]

Well, first of all, I find it rather interesting that no one has mentioned any zooms so far. That is about to change. Here are my most favoritest lenses, starting from WA and moving on to Tele:

After I compiled this list, I realized I've left out two of the most important lenses I've ever owned. So I added them, but I didn't remove any. So my list is now 12 lenses long. Oh well.

17mm f/3.5 Tokina (the Tamron 17/3.5 takes a very close second place)
Nikon 20mm f/3.5 UD
Canon FD 24mm f/2.8 (the Tamron 24mm f/2.5 takes a very close second place)
Canon FL 35mm f/2.5 (the Vivitar 35mm f/1.9 takes a very close second place)
Canon FD 55mm f/1.2 SSC Aspherical
Canon FD 85mm f/1.2 SSC Aspherical
Tamron 90mm f/2.5 Macro
Tamron SP 180mm f/2.5 LD-IF
Tamron SP 80-200mm f/2.8 LD
Tokina 100-300mm f/4 ATX SD
Nikon AIs 200-400mm f/4 ED
Canon FD 400mm f/2.8 L

Honorable Mentions:
Vivitar 17mm f/3.5 made by Tokina
Vivitar 35mm f/1.9
Nikon 35mm f/2 O pre-AI
Canon FD 50mm f/1.4
Canon FD 55mm f/1.2
Canon FL 55mm f/1.2
Canon nFD 85mm f/1.8
Tamron SP 300mm f/2.8 LD-IF
Century 500mm f/5.6 Tele-Athenar II
Tamron SP 500mm f/8 mirror
Sigma 600mm f/8 mirror
Century 650mm f/6.8 Tele-Athenar II
Meade 1000mm f/11 SCT
Tamron 24-48mm f/3.5-
Vivitar Series 1 24-48mm f/3.8
Vivitar Series 1 28-90mm f/2.8-3.5
Canon nFD 80-200mm f/4 2-ring
Canon nFD 80-200mm f/4 L
Tamron SP 60-300mm f/3.8-5.4
Tamron SP 200-500mm f/5

I find I need a separate category, just for macro lenses. These are all lenses I own or have owned.
Kilfitt 40mm f/2.8 Macro
Canon 50mm f/3.5 Macro
Kilfitt 90mm f/2.8 Macro
Tamron SP 90mm f/2.5 Macro
Canon 100mm f/4 Macro
Kiron 105mm f/2.8 Macro
Pentax SMC Takumar 100mm f/4 Macro
Nikon 55mm f/3.5 pre-AI Micro Nikkor
Nikon 55mm f/2.8 AIs Micro-Nikkor
Nikon 200mm f/4 AIs Micro-Nikkor
Vivitar 135mm f/2.8 Close Focus

[calvin83]

CZ Ultron 1.8/50
Tomioka 1.2/55
Enna 1.5/85
CZ Sonnar T 50/1.5
Jupiter 9 Zorki 85/2.0
Schneider SL-Angulon 35/2.8
Prakticar 1.8/80
Kern 1.8/50 Macro
Meyer 100/2.8
Minolta MD 35/1.8

[tomasg]

I have two lists and a honorable mention list , the first is of the lenses i have and the second one is ones i would like to have one day:

1) Mayer Optik Goerlitz Trioplan 100/2.8 Bubbles
2) Carl Zeiss Jena Biotar 75/1.5, bokeh, i also have the Helios 40 85/1.5, but i prefer the Biotar
3) Mayer Optik Goerlitz Primoplan 75/1.9 bokeh
4) Minolta Rokkor 58/1.2, tie with the Konica AR 57/1.2, both grat lenses and legends
5) Mayer Optik Goerlitz Primoplan 58/1.9, bokeh
6) Canon nFD 50/1.2, very good lens i prefer it over the Nikkor 50/1.2
7) Carl Zeiss Ultron 50/1.8, sharpness, contrast, bokeh, unique optical construction
8)Mayer Optik Goerlitz Domiron 50/2, my walk around 50 mm, sharp stopped down, macro (floating mechanism), looks and bokeh!
9) Konica AR 35/2, my walk around 35 mm
10) Konica AR 28/1.8, simply a great 28 mm lens

Honourable mentions: Jupiter 6 180/2.8, Nikkor 105/1.8, A. Schaht Ulm Travenar 90/2.8, Jupiter 9 85/2, Helios 44 (early silver m39), Biotar 58/2 , Jupiter 3 50/1.5, Yashonon DX 50/1.4, A. Schaht Ulm Travegon 35/2.8, CZJ Flektogon 20/4

My wish list:

Olympus Zuiko 100/2
Canon 85/1.2 L
Canon 50/1.2 L
Contax CZ planar 85/1.5
Contax CZ planar 50/1.4
Leica Summicron 50/2

Some Zuikos, Takumars, Fuji lenses, CZ wide angles and so on and on and on....

[marcusBMG]

OK I'll play.

1. Pentax smc-a 50mm f1.7. My always on camera nifty fifty.
   
2. Tamron SP 90mm macro. Yields nothing to eg Viv 105mm and other classic MF macros - best price/performance.
   
3. Tamron SP 350/500mm f5.6/f8 gotta have a mirror for vintage interest. tamrons only bettered by price/availability prohibitive zeiss..
   
4. Tokina/vivitar 17mm f3.5. One of the few vintage WA/UWA to hold its own or better against modern kit lenses.
   
5. Tamron SP 24-48mm one of the most distinctive MF zooms.
   
6. Jupiter 135mm Another 2 in one nomination. Which Jupe/ doesn't matter, they have the iq and interest. Include Tair as well or is that pushing it?
   
7. Tamron SP 300mm f2.8. The affordable 300/2.8 - only old nikons can be obtained for similar. Nothing like the f2.8 telephoto experience. With tc's you have versatility and reach.
   
8. Kiron "zoomlock" 70-210mm f4. wotta bout VS1 komine, 19AH I hear you cry. Well yeah, but for me this was the most consistent while still being user friendly (PKA) in my 70-210mm comparison. And it wins on price.
   
9. Helios 58mm f2 - the classic distinctive nifty fifty.
   
10. Sigma superwide ii 24mm. Best of the 24's IME, pipping eg tamron, kiron made viv f2's on consistency and close focus.
    

PS list item in this sites bbcode implementation is asterisk in square brackets.

[tomasg]

In a way we have similar taste

[papasito]

1-Old 8 elements summicron M 35/2.

2- Elmar M 135/4

3- Macro Switar 50/1,9

4- Apo Telyt 180/3,4

5- MC ROKKOR 58/1,2

6- MC ROKKOR 100/2

7- VOIGTLANDER SKOPAGON 40/2 DKL

8- SUMMILUX M 35/1,4 ASPHERIC

9- CANON 50/0,95 LTM

10- CANON 85/1,2

[calvin83]

[tomasg]

[jamaeolus]

Very tough list for me to create. So many choices.

Here goes.
Vivitar series 1 90mm 2.5 "bokina"
CZJ pancolar 80mm 1.8
Konica hexanon 57mm 1.2
Zeiss ultron 50mm 1.8
Schacht S travegon R 35mm 2..8
Minolta 58mm 1.2
Pentax 67 SMC 55mm f4
Minolta 100mm f2
Meyer helioplan 40mm 4.5
Schneider tele arton 85mm f4
Schneider apo componon hm 45mm f4

Honorable mention
Schneider jsogon 40mm 4.5
Pentax smc 35mm 3.5
Olympus om 24mm f2
Konica 24mm 2.8
Konica 21mm f4
Canon fd 35mm f2
Voigtlander septon 50mm f2
Rodenstock apo rodagon 75mm f4 d
Schneider xenon 50mm 1.9
Topcon re 35mm 2.8
Topcon re 100mm 2.8


Yeah I know. I just thought I would dial up to 11 in each list.

[papasito]

[stevemark]

Minolta MD 4/17mm (quite OK if stopped down to f5.6 or better f8 ... f11; little distortion, better contrast and better colors than Zeiss CY Distagon 4/18 mm)

Minolta MD-III 2.8/24mm and MD-III 2/28mm

Minolta MC 1.8/35mm (not perfect, but visibly better than any vintage 2/35mm or 1.4/35mm i know)

Nikon Micro-Nikkor 2.8/55mm (excellent macro lens)

Minolta MD 2/85mm (very sharp wide open, even in the corners)

Nikkor AiS 1.8/105mm (nice for portraits)

Canon nFD 2/135mm (very nice for portraits)

Canon FD 2.8/300mm Fluorite (not as good as todays 2.8/300mm, of course, but still very useable)

Mamyia Sekor C 5.6/300mm (excellent detail resolution and less CA than most vintage 300mm "APO", "ED" or "L" lenses)

Canon nFD 2.8/400mm L (not as good as todays 2.8/300mm, of course, but still very useable. Excellent detail resolution at f2.8 over the entire field and even in the corners; quite strong lateral CAs though)


OOPS ... eleven lenses already! and if i'd have the freedom to mention a dozen, i would add the nFD 4/80-200mm L zoom ... or the Zeiss CY 4/80-200mm ...

Stephan

[Lloydy]

I have dyscalculia, kinda dyslexia with numbers, so here's my list of ten
There's a lot of 50ish lenses, and I've been ruthless and left off my Takumar and Zuiko Macro's, and the wonderful Helios 44-2. It's bloody hard to knock this down to ten lenses, but I think I did a heroic job.

Auto Yashinon DX 50mm f1.4 Fabulous lens, it performs as good as it looks.
Mamiya Sekor 55mm f1.8 Probably Tomioka? who knows..it's superb.
SMC Takumar ( Pre set ) 135mm f3.5 Small and perfect, one of my favorites.
Dollands S ( Pre set Tokina AKA Vivitar ) 200mm f3.5 This lens never fails to please me,
Tokina RMC 17mm f3.5 Probably the best 'work horse' lens I've got, it does everything I ask of it.
Vivitar Series 1. VMC 28mm f1.9 Infuriating - but when I get it right this lens is stunning.
MC Rokkor - PF 58mm f1.4 It's just the daddy of 1.4's
Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm f2.8 / 4 Komine's walkabout wonder, mine goes everywhere with me, like a trusty friend.
Carl Zeiss. Planar. T* 50mm f1.7 It's just so good, it has to be on the list.
Olympus G Zuiko Auto S 50mm f1.4 Does the Zuiko beat the Rokkor? Maybe? But it's different, and fabulous in it's own right.
Vivitar Series 1. 24-48mm f3.8 I've had this wide zoom for years, and I keep going back to it.
SMC Takumar 300mm f4 Only had this a few weeks, what a revelation.

[blotafton]

All of you Summicron 50mm owners out there could you compare or describe what makes these lenses special?

I'm obviously interested in getting one in the future.

[Oldhand]

I was careful to Head this thread "Top Ten Classic Lenses" , and not necessarily Best lenses, because we all have different reasons for choosing to use what we do.
This is usually dictated by our preferred subjects or styles of shooting, or simply how well we relate ergonomically with the lens on our chosen camera.
This list is of my lenses that get the most use.
There are others that are outstanding, but they only get used occasionally.

Anyhoo here we go - in order of focal length:

Nikkor UD 20mm f3.5 - the widest lens that I regularly use
SMC Pentax K 28mm f3.5 - simply the best 28mm I have ever used
Canon FD 35mm f2 concave - a beautiful example of the best of Canon FD engineering and optics
Olympus G.Zuiko Pen F 40mm f1.4 - my smallest and lightest fast classic lens, and brilliant on Fuji's APSc sensor
Canon LTM 50mm f1.4 - the Japanese Summilux
RE Auto Topcor 5.8cm f1.8 - possibly the best bokeh at this focal length
Mamiya (Tomioka probably) 60mm f2.8 macro - sharp
Super-Takumar 85mm f1.9 - my preferred 85mm for portraits
Takumar pre-set 135mm f3.5 - best sonnar that I have
Canon FDn 200mm f4 IF - cheap, excellent and under-rated

Honorable mention to Yashinon-DX 50mm f1.4 and CZJ Prakticar 1.4/50 MC - so good in so many ways

Tom

[Alun Thomas]

I mostly enjoy low-dollar lenses, although I'll occasionally splash out:

Spiratone 18/3.5 (the version that is actually the Tokina 17/3.5)
Vivitar-Tokina TX(2) 24/2.8
Minolta MD (7/7) 28/2.8
Vivitar-Komine 35/2.8
Pentax M 50/1.7
Vivitar-Komine 135/2.8
Sun Hi-Tele 200/4
Phoenix-Cosina 19-35/3.5-4.5
Vivitar-Kiron 28-85/2.8-3.8
Minolta MD 70-210/4

Except for the Spiratone, most of them are ~$20-30 if you look around, some even less. That's not to say I haven't wasted exorbitant sums on lots of other goodies of course....

[papasito]

[Antoine]

Since I only have Minolta SR lenses, this is easy at the moment:
- MD 20 mm 2,8
- MD 24 mm 2.8 (8/
- MD 28 mm 2.0
- MD 35 mm 1.8
- MC 58 mm 1.2
- MD 85 mm 1.7 (2 when travelling)
- MD 100 mm 2.5
- MD 135 mm 2.8
- RF 250 mm 5.6
- MD 100-500 mm 8 APO (because I just got it and it has min Dist 2.5 meters and hardly any CA...may be too heavy at 2080 g so will probably use 500 mm rf once I have enjoyed my new toy)

[IAZA]

here's mine, 1-9 for Sony e-mount, 10. for Olympus epm m4/3
1. Petri Kuribayashi 45/1,9 AC
2. Konica Hexanon 45/1,6
3. Zuiko 42/1,2
4. Visionar 84/1,6
5. Meopta 70/1,4
6. Vivitar 24/2
7. Rokkor 28/2 MC
8. Steinheill Munchen 135.2,8 tele quinar
9.Visionar 100/1,6
10. Kodak ektar 25/1,9

[keysersoeze]

Canon FD 300mm F2.8 L
Tokina 90mm F2.5 Macro
SMC Pentax 28mm F3.5
Minolta MC Rokkor 58mm F1.2 (Radioactive version)
Olympus Zuiko 24mm F2.8 MC
Contax Carl Zeiss Distagon 28mm F2.8
Canon FD 500mm F4.5L
Yashinon Tomioka 55mm F1.2
Industar-61 L/Z 50mm F2.8
Minolta MD W.Rokkor 35mm F2.8 (MDII)

[alex ph]

It's wonderful how our lists depend on history of our purchases and on preferences coming from current use or experiments. Speaking about long-runners for my part, the list would look as following, in order of respective focal lengths and alternating those with more uniform sharpness with those giving more special rendering:

1. Konica Hexanon 2.8/24

2. Konica Hexanon 2.8/35

3. Asahi Super-Takumar 3.5/35 (I imagine that if I had a Minolta 2.8/35 it will be here on a par with or instead of Takumar, but I don't have it)

4. Minolta MD 3.5/35-75

5. Fujian 1.7/35 (didn't it achieve the rank of "classics"? at least, I use it quite regularly and enjoy it every time)

6. Konica Hexanon 1.8/40 (very versatile both on Sony APS-C and FF)

7. Topcor Re GN 1.8/50 or Konica Hexanon 1.4/50 (for me these are two lenses close in sharpness and 3D capacity)

8. Rollei Planar 1.8/50 and/or Pancolar 1.8/50 (they slightly differ in rendering but are equally enjoyable, I may chose one or another accidentally when I go for some quality shots, so subjectively I attribute to them more or less the same position)

9. Jupiter-9 2/85

10. Jupiter-11 4/135

Hm, interestingly I mentioned only one 1.4 while a couple years before I was pretty convinced that they make part of "must have" list. That must be a result of widening possibilities offered by FF which lets rising ISO in low light to 3200-6400 without a considerable loss of IQ.