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Cheap lens challenge!
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PostPosted: Fri Apr 29, 2011 10:39 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Excalibur wrote:
SXR_Mark wrote:

Do you have an opinion on the quality of this lens? Mark


Erm you jest...all FD (breechlock) and FDN (bayonet) PRIMES, range from very good to wow. An example to other Japanese companies on how not to palm off crap primes to the consumer e.g Yashica

+1 for Yashica primes except some compact version in CY mount.


PostPosted: Fri Apr 29, 2011 2:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I've cleaned up the Konica Hexanon 40mm. Everything is fine except the rear element which has a mottled coating from fungus damage. But it's not too bad.




I've just taken some pictures with it and have chosen the following for my entry to the competition

Landscape:


Flower:


Free choice:


There is no PP on any of these pictures.

Mark


PostPosted: Fri Apr 29, 2011 2:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

SXR_Mark wrote:
Thanks for the info Michael. I guess I could try and find another FD lens in poor condition to steel the locking ring off. Or maybe a teleconverter would have a suitable ring on the camera side?

Alternatively, I could make my own coupling piece. I'll have to clean the lens up first to see if it is worth the effort.

Do you have an opinion on the quality of this lens?

Also, thanks for explaining about the lever. Knowing what that does means I won't have to worry about implementing an aperture stop down pin in any adapter I might make.

Mark


Hey Mark, a tc's ring would probably work, but if the ring comes off a lens or tc that is a different brand from Canon, then I would be doubtful it will interchange without some modification. Might be worth a try though. That 50/1.8 SC is a fine lens.


PostPosted: Mon May 02, 2011 9:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Tamron Adaptall-2 80-210mm F/3.8-4 Model 103A (info)

If the lens is in good shape I will post the results over the next weekend, if the weather is right.


PostPosted: Mon May 02, 2011 9:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Well, I don't think that it'll make the top ten of the cheap price challenge, but I found a Super-Multi-Coated TAKUMAR 1:2/35 in a very good condition (except for some aberrations on the focus ring) for 25 Euros on a flea market recently.


PostPosted: Mon May 02, 2011 10:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

hoacker wrote:
Well, I don't think that it'll make the top ten of the cheap price challenge, but I found a Super-Multi-Coated TAKUMAR 1:2/35 in a very good condition (except for some aberrations on the focus ring) for 25 Euros on a flea market recently.


Hey that's an incredible deal! You paid about 20% of its value, great work!


PostPosted: Mon May 02, 2011 10:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

ManualFocus-G wrote:
Hey that's an incredible deal! You paid about 20% of its value, great work!


Yes, I knew it was cheap. But no more great deals available at this desk. Believe me I had a very close look at the lenses...

There's some pictures on my flickr account, if you like to have a look: http://www.flickr.com/photos/hoacker/


PostPosted: Mon May 02, 2011 10:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

You have some excellent shots on your Flickr profile Holger, I need to spend some time this week looking at them all! Do you just shoot with MF lenses?


PostPosted: Mon May 02, 2011 10:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

ManualFocus-G wrote:
You have some excellent shots on your Flickr profile Holger, I need to spend some time this week looking at them all! Do you just shoot with MF lenses?

Partly, yes. There's a mix of MF (mostly short focal lengths) and AF (the longer focal legths) on my flickr account. Have a look at the body, if it's 5D, it's manual. The 7D pictures are AF...

Edit: Many thanks for judging some of my pictures excellent... Embarassed


PostPosted: Mon May 02, 2011 10:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Well, "Kraftwerk Karlsruhe im Dunst" was AF. Thanks, I really appreciate you looking at my photos...

Well, what's this Southampton street Party thing? Looks quite interesting on your flickr...


PostPosted: Tue May 03, 2011 1:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

To whoever needs an FD ring - I have two here you can have, just Pm me an address and I'll pop em in the post.


PostPosted: Tue May 03, 2011 4:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

iangreenhalgh1 wrote:
To whoever needs an FD ring - I have two here you can have, just Pm me an address and I'll pop em in the post.


Thanks Ian, that's very kind of you. I'll PM you.

Regards

Mark


PostPosted: Tue May 03, 2011 5:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

These are the results with the X-Fujinon 50mm f1.9 lens that cost me £1.11.



At some point. I will test the lens with my test chart to see how it stacks up against my other 50mm lenses.

I'll post the pictures first, so you can see the results. i've applied a little contrast boost and saturation, but results are pretty good straight out of the camera. Of course, with sunny conditions mean I've only been using it stopped down.

50mm is probably not the best landscape lens on 4/3!


This one was cropped very slightly as well.






I had to make an adapter for this lens as they don't seem to be available commercially. This is what the lens and adapter to 4/3 look like. It allows the lens to focus just slightly beyond infinity.



At the moment, the lens aperture pin is held back with a bit of PTFE. Crude but effective.

I found a simple way of locking the lens to the adapter with a small screw that can bee seen in the picture below. The screw is accessed from the largish hole seen in the above picture at about 7 o'clock position



There is a plastic baffle at the back of the lens which has a peg that fouled the adapter. I could have cut the peg off, but instead, I removed the baffle entirely.


PostPosted: Tue May 03, 2011 10:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

This is another lens that qualifies for this challenge. It is a Prakticar PB mount 35-70mm zoom f2.8/4. It is, I think, a rebranded Sigma Zoom Master.



I'm always a bit wary about old zooms on digital due to the risk of strong colour fringing, but this one seems to be a nice performer. OK, I've only tested it stopped down (it only arrived today), but the level of fringing is negligible.

BTW, the aperture I give for the 70mm shots is the aperture on the ring. the real aperture will, I assume, be one stop smaller.














The pictures have had a bit of contrast and saturation boost, slightly more than the Fujinon 50mm above which I tested at the same time. I'm not a big fan of overly-vivid pictures, but the Prakticar really needs a bit of a boost as the pictures are a little drab from the camera (Oly EPL1 again).

Some pictures of the lens. It is in excellent condition. I used my home-made PB to 4/3 adapter (plus 4/3 to m4/3 for the EPL1)








PostPosted: Thu May 05, 2011 7:18 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hello all, just joined in Smile
Can't help myself from asking, will lenses from a local internet-based forum eligible to participate here also?


PostPosted: Thu May 05, 2011 7:29 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

minahasa wrote:
Hello all, just joined in Smile
Can't help myself from asking, will lenses from a local internet-based forum eligible to participate here also?


Yes, of course!


PostPosted: Thu May 05, 2011 8:09 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I still can not buy a cheap lens in the contests price range! Rolling Eyes Laughing


PostPosted: Thu May 05, 2011 9:03 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have Yashica 28-80/3,9-4,9 mc zoom. I bought it in 1997. I guess its cheap lens now. This is my worst lens. but I don't wanna sell it 'coz it too cheap.
better keep it as my only manual lens zoom now. My friend sell the same lens for $20 nobody took it.



big size


PostPosted: Thu May 05, 2011 9:12 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

..well this one is not from that local forum, it's an ebay Buy Now as you can see. nevertheless it's quite a good catch, don't you think?



..please, mind not the shipping cost Rolling Eyes


PostPosted: Mon May 09, 2011 11:31 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Well my first try turned out to be a non starter. I got a Hanimex 135mm for 99P which was described as being in good condition but the entire inner tube containing all the glass literally fell out the second I tilted the lens downwards! plus there was fungus inside as well. I know it was only 99p but why do people lie? going to be the cheapest negative feedback the seller ever got! The lens is also covered in scars and cracks. It's completely usless, aperture blades oily, parts missing by the looks of it too! To be honest I don't think this lens would have been any good even if it was brand new, it's probably the worst lens I have ever owned, it's almost entirely made of plastic apart from the built in lens hood!

But good news, I have obtained 2 80-200mm zooms for under £5 too, Hanimex ones.................... Confused


PostPosted: Mon May 09, 2011 12:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Was the plastic Hanimex 135mm a black/dark grey model with a green ring around the top and big font for the numbers on the barrel? I had one like this, with stuck blades, and when trying to fix it the same thing happened i.e. all the glass fell out and I could never stick the damn thing together again!

Just for clarification, this lens went into the bin...in pieces. So either they were all crap or someone fished it out of the bin and sold it onto you Laughing Laughing

BTW, the Hanimex zoom is pretty good if it's the macro version:

http://forum.mflenses.com/cheap-lens-challenge-t38393,start,60.html

(half way down the page)


PostPosted: Mon May 09, 2011 1:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

ManualFocus-G wrote:
Was the plastic Hanimex 135mm a black/dark grey model with a green ring around the top and big font for the numbers on the barrel? I had one like this, with stuck blades, and when trying to fix it the same thing happened i.e. all the glass fell out and I could never stick the damn thing together again!

Just for clarification, this lens went into the bin...in pieces. So either they were all crap or someone fished it out of the bin and sold it onto you Laughing Laughing

BTW, the Hanimex zoom is pretty good if it's the macro version:

http://forum.mflenses.com/cheap-lens-challenge-t38393,start,60.html

(half way down the page)


That's the one! I've never seen anything so cheap and nasty! Normally with old manual lenses they are at least quite well made but not this one!

I have two Hanimex zooms arriving soon and I think one of them is the same so that's a good sign!


PostPosted: Mon May 09, 2011 4:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Okay, I bought a Yashica DX 50mm f/1.7 for $10 at a pawn shop a couple of days ago. So can I play?


PostPosted: Mon May 09, 2011 11:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

cooltouch wrote:
Okay, I bought a Yashica DX 50mm f/1.7 for $10 at a pawn shop a couple of days ago. So can I play?


Take some pictures and join in


PostPosted: Tue May 10, 2011 8:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I've bought 6 Minolta MD lenses in very good condition, a Flash, a Body and some other stuff together for 120€ from a second-hand dealer.

For 120€ I got
Minolta MD Zoom Rokkor 75-200 mm F 4,5
Minolta MD W. Rokkor 35mm 1:2,8
Minolta MD W. Rokkor 24mm 1:2,8
Minolta MD Zoom Rokkor 35-70 mm 1:3,5
Minolta MD Macro Rokkor 100mm F4 + Extension Tube
Minolta MD Rokkor 50mm F1,4
+Stuff

Now, I sold the first 4 on Ebay for about 200€ together
http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260777184342&ssPageName=STRK:MESOX:IT
http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260777205872&ssPageName=STRK:MESOX:IT
http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260777666041&ssPageName=STRK:MESOX:IT
http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260777673766&ssPageName=STRK:MESOX:IT

Now I have a Minolta MD Macro Rokkor 100mm F4 + Extension Tube and Minolta MD Rokkor 50mm F1,4 for free Smile
Beat that!