Aren't MF lens prices getting a little out of control...

jerobean · Joined: 05 Feb 2010 Posts: 29

Ok, so I'm looking into all this MF glass, and am learning a ton, but I have now started to realize that some of the glass I am considering buying is getting ridiculously close in price to modern AF primes that are proven performers and often faster than the MF lenses.

I'm talking about 50/80-85/100mm lenses here.

sigmalux ($400), canon 85 1.8 ($300) canon 100 2.8 macro (300) (used prices in USD)

I feel I'm to the point where I'm kind of lost as to how to even value some of these mid priced MF lenses (from 200-400 dollars) it seems more artifically inflated than actual value.

can anyone help me out with lenses that can BEST these lenses for close to or less in price?

indianadinos · Expire: 2011-12-05

Well, i don't know the Sigmalux lens you are talking about, but the other lenses are quite specialized portrait/macro lenses, as all the 80 ... 100mm around. And those lenses were (and still are, in their modern counterpart) more expensive than, say, 50mm (or 55mm) and 135 mm primes ...

I'm not really aware of the Canon prices (i'm a Pentax shooter), but have you checked the prices of modern 85mm or 100mm macro lenses ?

Nevertheless, i totally agree with you about the fact that some lenses have gained a "cult" (sometimes, because of the photo galleries and users feedback of forums like this one) status and reached stellar prices ...

If you want to enjoy a good 85mm, find a Jupiter-9, it shouldn't be too expensive and has a great IQ (search in the forum for samples) ...

Cheers

Karhallarn · Joined: 26 May 2009 Posts: 577

For macro work the Vivitar 90mm f2.5 and Tamron 90mm f2.5 should both be cheeper than the canon and considered some of the sharpest lenses all over!

Instead of the 85 1.8 Canon, look at the Takumar 85 1.8, it can be had for 200-250€! Or the Jupiter 9, which can be had for under 100€.

For the 50mm rand, there are so many very nice 50s for under 100€!

martinsmith99 · Expire: 2013-11-18

I'm a Canon shooter and I can confirm there are better MF lenses that are cheaper than AF equivalents.

Try looking at the cheaper lenses below $100 and try some out. You can resell for the same price if they don't suit. There are too many to list.

The 55mm F1.8 S-M-C Takumar is cheaper than the Canon 50 F1.8 and MUCH sharper wide open and the build quality is amazing.

martinsmith99 · Expire: 2013-11-18

hexi · Expire: 2011-11-18

I have no idea how prices raised so high. For 2 years on now, and with the photo forums, particullary mf lenses there seems to be a high up. But you have to love mf focusing, as for me i really do.

I have the 5D and a 1.4 AF lens, which is just great. You can't do much mf, as it is not designed for, except some rare situations, and cos there's no focusing ring as on mf lens. I paid 300€ for it, it's like new.

the most amazing mf lens, and it's an old one, in terms of expensiveness is the Biotar i've seen some raising 200$.

I stick to my small collection of mf's and i enjoy them. Plus i have a film camera which loves Zeisses Cool

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

I don't think so it's up to from buyer and seller. Seller asking always that high price only what buyers willing to pay. If nobody take it seller will never sell it same than other areas of life. Common lenses are still very cheap just compare with any other gear of photography. Rare , high quality lenses certainly going on higher prices , but still acceptable if you compare availability, quality etc. Certainly a rare old quality car more expensive than a common one. This is natural. Thanks for this forum and to many others people know more about old gears than before. This is a big help to keep them in usage and save them for next generation. If a lens, camera has no value those gears landing easily in trash bin. If it has enough value people sell it instead to throw them out. Today we still have many , many cheap ones too. If somebody can't afford Carl Zeiss there is many alternative like eastern brothers (Russian , DDR lenses, Tamrons etc)

Orio · Expire: 2012-12-04

Some MF lenses are overpriced? Yes.
But there are still many that are not. And some that are still underpriced.
The best thing of the MF lenses is, there is everything for every wallet.

You are a student with no cash? There are lenses like Helios-44, Jupiter-37, Pentacon 135, that costs one or two tenners and give you image quality comparable to that of AF lenses costing two or three hundreds, or more.

You are a family father with a budget to keep under control?
For a hundred or little more, you can buy excellent lenses like the Nikkors, the Takumars, and some Zeiss. Lenses that sometimes can rival the best AF lenses in quality

You have a more extended budget? Within a budget from 300 to 1000 Euros, you can buy lenses that are actually superior in quality to many of the most celebrated AF lenses. Or even lenses that sometimes are so better than AF lenses, that no one would even risk a comparison: for instance the Distagon 21mm, that is possible to purchase for a sum around 1200 Euros, and that blows away any competition in the AF field.

Compared to all these great bargains, there are some MF lenses that, although excellent, are probably overpriced compared to their actual image quality. But the offer is so wide, that this is not a problem for anyone. There is always a less expensive and equally satisfactory alternative in the MF lenses world.

peterqd · Expire: 2014-01-04

What astounds me is the huge price hike between fast lenses and their super-fast versions. For example the 1.4/50 against the 1.8/55 or 2.0/55 Taks. The 1.8/35 Rokkor goes for at least 10 times the price of the 2.8/35, I guess it's a better lens, but surely not 10 times better.

ManualFocus-G · Expire: 2014-11-24

I bought a new Canon EF 50/1.8 plastic fantastic the other day for a good price (it was on offer) of only £70.00. It's really convenient to use, but I was very disappointed by the results at f1.8. Should have taken a Takumar or Planar! Or even Pentacon Laughing

Orio · Expire: 2012-12-04

hexi · Expire: 2011-11-18

seta666 · Joined: 07 Apr 2010 Posts: 144 Location: Castellon, Spain

I had a yashica ML 50 1.4 for 60€, I love it; a tamron 90 2.5 for 16€, I love it too.
for the jupiter-9 I paid 100€, it was my begining with manual lenses; I would not say it has a great IQ, at f2 is quite bad actually, but I love it.
I would like to get a fast 80-90mm lens, and the only one I can afford is the Samyang 85mm 1.4, I may buy it, I have allready the 8mm one and is fantastic, I do not see the point in spending 400€ plus in a lens like the helios 40, in my opinion they are overpriced
Regards

Orio · Expire: 2012-12-04

seta666 · Joined: 07 Apr 2010 Posts: 144 Location: Castellon, Spain

Orio · Expire: 2012-12-04

estudleon · Joined: 15 May 2008 Posts: 3754 Location: Argentina

Is the ahead sufficient time to growing prices in MF lenses ?

How long will have to pass till the great cams brands eliminate all type of compatibility between the new cameras and the MF lenses ? Will be that possible ?

These eventual circumstances meaning that the MF will be unsuitable at some moment?

While the MF consumers be growing, the risk increases (and the prices too). I think that.

Rino.

Kram · Joined: 06 Feb 2010 Posts: 1344 Location: Portland, OR

I know a lot of guys who call themselves photographers, who have never focused a lens (much less shot film) and for them, auto focus is a must have. I mean, people like us who can actually focus are in the minority. We are rare and we have amazing skills!
Razz

I don't see manual lenses becoming a threat to Canon and Nikon autofocus sales.

I'm thrilled to have these (mostly) low cost choices with some really fine and unique lenses. Yes, some are over-priced but like someone said, there are still plenty of good lenses for good prices.

IMO, the only real threat to Canon and Nikon AF glass are the new Zeiss lenses, but then you have to focus them!

dnas · Joined: 14 Nov 2008 Posts: 488 Location: Japan

tkbslc · Joined: 02 Jul 2009 Posts: 194 Location: Utah, USA

50mm, there are too many to list, but as a small sample:

OM 50mm f1.4
Yashica ML 50mm f1.4
Takumar 50mm f1.4
Contax 50mm f1.4
Nikon AI 50mm f1.4
Chinon 55mm f1.4

All extremely good and much cheaper than a new Sigma 50mm f1.4

85mm is tough, but there is:

OM 85mm f2
Nikon 85mm f2
Rokinon/Samyang 85mm f1.4

All are not that much cheaper than the AF options, though.

100mm:

Nikkor 105mm f2.5
Nikon Series E 100mm f2.8
Zuiko 100mm f2.8
Vivitar 90mm f2.5 macro
Tamron 90mm macro
Pentacon 100mm
and lots more. 100mm was a fairly popular length and is not too expensive. For the good macros, you could probably score an older AF 90mm Tamron macro for the same ballpark, yes.

at 135mm f2.8 there are about 2000 options all for peanuts compared to what the AF 135mm primes cost.