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ludoo
Joined: 18 Sep 2009 Posts: 1397 Location: Milan, Italy
Expire: 2011-12-05
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Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2010 12:18 pm Post subject: I love my Flektogon 35mm 2.4, what else can I look for? |
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ludoo wrote:
I picked up my Flektogon 35mm again after some time this weekend while in London, and though I did have almost no time for shooting (my daughter had a nasty flu), I was amazed by the quality this lens has: simply mounting it on the camera and looking through the viewfinder I can see a difference with my other lenses. Scenes looked at through the Flek are crisp, detailed, with brilliant colours and lots of contrast in the right places. Now I remember why I loved this lens so much.
I don't own that many lenses, I think I have 15 or 20, and though some are cheap most are decent quality, but I don't think I have another one that impresses me like the Flek (the Flektogon 20mm f4 that I have leaves me a bit cold for example). So now I'm thinking that instead of trying different lenses like I've done up to now, I should concentrate on finding a couple that have similar characteristics to the Flek 35: I'd like a reasonably fast 50/55m, a 24/28mm, and possibly a short tele (I have 4 100mm already, but I think the Nikon 100 2.5 non-AI might be what I am looking for).
Have you got any suggestions on what I should look for? I hate to think it (for budget reasons mainly), but I'm starting to think that maybe Leica R lenses are what I should look for. Unless the zebra Pancolar I got last week (which needs some relubing) manages to surprise me.
A couple of not so good pics from this weekend which express some of the things I love in the Flek, both are preview jpegs from my *istD (no time to develop the raw files), resized with almost no pp.
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poilu
Joined: 26 Aug 2007 Posts: 10472 Location: Greece
Expire: 2019-08-29
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Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2010 12:45 pm Post subject: |
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poilu wrote:
congrats, great portrait!
the flek 35 is a normal lens on your *istD and it is appropriate for this kind of portrait
if it impress you, work it more and more
I have so much lenses that impress me and not enough time to enjoy them
sometimes I wish I had only one lens _________________ T* |
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fish4570
Joined: 06 Jan 2010 Posts: 4514 Location: At the confluence of the Locust Fork of the Warrior River and Black Creek, Alabama
Expire: 2012-03-21
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Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2010 12:49 pm Post subject: |
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fish4570 wrote:
you have beautiful women in your life. a great lens to capture them is a must. i think you have found it ... _________________ Paul
I chase Light
http://blackcreekjournal.blogspot.com/ |
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LucisPictor
Joined: 26 Feb 2007 Posts: 17633 Location: Oberhessen, Germany / Maidstone ('95-'96)
Expire: 2013-12-03
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Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2010 3:24 pm Post subject: |
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LucisPictor wrote:
What can you look for?
I constantly look for good photo subject.
If you want the best quality, go for Leica, Zeiss, Nikkor or Zuiko.
Pentax/Takumar, Yashica and Carl Zeiss Jena are also nice.
Wait, you've got a Pentax, right?
OK, you need an expensive special adapter for Leica lenses. Well... _________________ Personal forum activity on pause every now and again (due to job obligations)!
Carsten, former Moderator
Things ON SALE
Carsten = "KAPCTEH" = "Karusutenu" | T-shirt?.........................My photos from Emilia: http://www.schouler.net/emilia/emilia2011.html
My gear: http://retrocameracs.wordpress.com/ausrustung/
Old list: http://forum.mflenses.com/viewtopic.php?t=65 (Not up-to-date, sorry!) | http://www.lucispictor.de | http://www.alensaweek.wordpress.com |
http://www.retrocamera.de |
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ludoo
Joined: 18 Sep 2009 Posts: 1397 Location: Milan, Italy
Expire: 2011-12-05
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Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2010 4:34 pm Post subject: |
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ludoo wrote:
Thanks everybody for the kind comments.
LucisPictor wrote: |
If you want the best quality, go for Leica, Zeiss, Nikkor or Zuiko.
Pentax/Takumar, Yashica and Carl Zeiss Jena are also nice. |
Ehm, I hoped for something a bit more specific.
I'm looking for lenses with a behaviour and rendering (sharpness, color, contrast, etc.) as similar as possible to the Flek 35, not just "good lenses". I have a few of those, but somehow the Flek always seems much better to me than anything else I tried. |
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estudleon
Joined: 15 May 2008 Posts: 3754 Location: Argentina
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Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2010 4:40 pm Post subject: |
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estudleon wrote:
A leica adapter, yes, and an Elmarit 2,8/35 (if you want, and elmarit 2,8/90 too). And if you want to ad a luxury lens, ad the 3,4/180 APO telyt. If you like to do, can ad the old telyt 500.
It's very difficult to know when the last word had been said.
Rino. _________________ Konica 2,8/100
CZJ: 4/20, 2,4/35, 1,8/50 aus jena, 3,5/135MC, Pentacon 1,8/50
Pentax S-M-C-1,4/50
Helios 44-3
Mamiya 2,8/135
Misc. : jupiter 9
Stuff used:
A) SRL
Alpa 10 D - kern macro Switar 1,9/50 -black, Kilffit apochromat 2/100.
Asahi pentax spotmatic super takumar 1,4/50
Contaflex super B tessar 2,8/50 Pro-tessar 115
Leica R3 electronic summicron 2/50 elmarit 2,8/35
Konica Autoreflex 3 (2 black and chrome one), TC, T4. 2,8/24, 3,5/28 not MC and MC, 1,8/40, 1,4/50, 1,7/50 MC and not MC, 1,8/85, 3,2/135, 3,5/135, 4/200
Minolta XG9 2,8/35, 2/45, 3,5/135
Nikkormat FTn 1,4/50, 2,8/135
Fujica ST 801, 605, 705n. 3,5/19, 1,4/50, 1,8/55, 4/85, 3,5/135.
Praktica MTL 5 and a lot of M42 lenses.
Voigtlander. Bessamatic m, bessamatix de luxe, bessamatic cs, ultramatic and ultramatic cs.
Skoparex 3,5/35, skopagon 2/40, skopar 2,8/50, skopar X 2,8/50, super lanthar (out of catalogue) 2,8/50, dinarex 3,4/90, dinarex 4,8/100, super dinarex 4/135, super dinarex 4/200, zoomar 2,8/36-83, portrait lens 0, 1 and 2. Curtagon 4/28 and 2,8/35
Canon AV1, 1,8/50
Rolleiflex SL35 and SL35 E. 2,8/35 angulon, 2,8/35 distagon, 1,4/55 rolleinar, 1,8/50 planar, 4/135 tessar, 2,8/135 rolleinar, x2 rollei, M42 to rollei adap.
Etc.
RF
Yashica Minister III
Voightlander Vito, vitomatic I, Vito C, etc.
Leica M. M2, M3 (d.s.) and M4. Schenider 3,4/21, 2/35 summaron 2,8/35 (with eyes). Summicron 2/35 (8 elements with eyes), 2/35 chrome, 2/35 black, 1,4/35 pre asph and aspheric - old -, 2/40 summicron, 2,8/50 elmar, 2/50 7 elements, 2/50 DR, 2/50 - minolta version, 1,4/50 summilux 1966 version, 1,4/75 summilux, 2/90 large version, 2/90 reduced version of 1987, 2,8/90 elmarit large version, 4/135 elmar. |
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ludoo
Joined: 18 Sep 2009 Posts: 1397 Location: Milan, Italy
Expire: 2011-12-05
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Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2010 4:44 pm Post subject: |
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ludoo wrote:
estudleon wrote: |
A leica adapter, yes, and an Elmarit 2,8/35 (if you want, and elmarit 2,8/90 too). And if you want to ad a luxury lens, ad the 3,4/180 APO telyt. If you like to do, can ad the old telyt 500. |
Well, I already have a 35mm I love, I don't need another one (but maybe a second copy of the same sometimes in the future, in case something happens to this one).
I was looking for a 50/55mm, a 24/28mm, and maybe an 80/100mm.
What do people say about the old Nikkor 50mm? I might "borrow" one from my girlfriend's old Nikkormat, and it will probably fit on my Pentax.
Last edited by ludoo on Sat Mar 27, 2010 10:34 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Mal1905
Joined: 30 Oct 2008 Posts: 1705 Location: Dublin, Ireland
Expire: 2011-11-18
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Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2010 4:49 pm Post subject: |
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Mal1905 wrote:
Seems like you could be backing yourself into the Zeiss corner
The Planar 1.4/50 is another of those "wow" lenses like the Flektogon, and the Distagon 2/28 would my first choice in the 24/28mm bracket.
However, there are many other options available to you: the Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 1.4/50 is a wonderful lens, and my current favourite 50-something is the Nikkor-S 1.4/50. It's got that wow factor you like. Two 28s I've used and loved are the Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 3.5/28 and Kiron 2/28. _________________
Canon EOS 5D / EOS 40D
Carl Zeiss Jena: Flektogon 2.8/20, 2.4/35, 2.8/35, Pancolar 2/50, MC 1.8/50, MC 1.8/80, Triotar 4/135, Tessar 2.8/50, S 4/135 1Q, S 3.5/135, Sonnar 3.5/135 MC, 2.8/180, Biotar 2/5,8cm, 2/58, 1.5/75
Carl Zeiss: Distagon 2/28 T*, 1.4/35 T*, Ultron 1.8/50, Tessar 2.8/50, Planar 1.4/50 T* MM, 1.7/50 T* MM, 1.4/85 T* AEG, Sonnar 2.8/135 T*
Asahi Optical Co.: Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 4.5/20, 3.5/24, 3.5/28, 2/35, 3.5/35, 1.4/50, 1.8/55, 1.8/85, 2.8/105, 2.8/120, 2.5/135 I & II, 3.5/135, 4/150, 4/200, 4/300, 5.6/400, 4/45-125, 4.5/85-210, Super-Takumar 4.5/20, 3.5/24, 3.5/28, 2/35, 3.5/35, 1.4/50, 1.8/55, 2/55, 2.8/105, 3.5/135, 4/150, 4/200, 4.5/70-150, Fish-Eye-Takumar 4/17, Macro-Takumar 4/50, Super-Macro Takumar 4/50, Super-Multi-Coated Macro-Takumar 4/50, 4/100, Bellows-Takumar 4/100, Asahi-Kogaku Takumar 3.5/50, 2.4/58, 3.5/100, Asahi-Kogaku Tele-Takumar 3.5/135, Auto-Takumar 2.3/35, 3.5/35, 1.8/55, 1.8/55 (Zebra), 2/55, 2.2/55, 1.8/85, 2.8/105, 3.5/135, Takumar 4/35, 2.2/55, 2/58, 2.8/105, 3.5/135, 3.5/200, 5.6/200, Tele-Takumar 5.6/200, 6.3/300, SMC Takumar 1.4/50, 1.8/55, 2/55, SMC-M 1.4/50, 1.7/50, 2/50
Tomioka: Tominon 2/5cm, Auto-Chinon 3.5/21, 1.4/55, Auto-Yashinon DS-M 1.2/55 |
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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: Thu Mar 25, 2010 5:03 pm Post subject: |
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peterqd wrote:
Lovely shots of your family at the Natural History Museum, Ludoo. It was a great idea to take your daughter there. What did she think about the Diplodocus?
About the lenses, I think for your Pentax camera you should concentrate on PK and M42 lenses. That way you'll only need one cheap adapter. If you like the Flektogon I think the other CZJ lenses and the prime Takumars (not the zooms) will all suit you perfectly. The 135/3.5 CZJ S is a super lens and very easy to find. In the Takumars, the 28/3.5, 85/1.9 and 135/3.5 will give you a great start. Also the 55/1.8 if you don't take to the Pancolar, but I think you will. I don't think you'll find many other lenses with the close focussing of the Flek unless you go for a macro lens, for instance the Takumar 4.0/50 Macro. _________________ Peter - Moderator |
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martinsmith99
Joined: 31 Aug 2008 Posts: 6950 Location: S Glos, UK
Expire: 2013-11-18
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Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2010 8:03 pm Post subject: |
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martinsmith99 wrote:
For 50ish lenses I like my S-M-C 1.8/55 Tak, Helios 44-2 or the original Biotar,
For around 80-90mm try a M39 mount Jupiter 9. _________________ Casual attendance these days |
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ludoo
Joined: 18 Sep 2009 Posts: 1397 Location: Milan, Italy
Expire: 2011-12-05
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Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2010 8:11 pm Post subject: |
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ludoo wrote:
Great replies!
Mal1905 wrote: |
Seems like you could be backing yourself into the Zeiss corner |
Yes I think so too.
Quote: |
The Planar 1.4/50 is another of those "wow" lenses like the Flektogon, and the Distagon 2/28 would my first choice in the 24/28mm bracket. |
I stupidly missed buying one when a local used store sold a batch of them (Planars) for 50 euros each a while ago. But I still am unsure if I want (and have the funds, probably not) to switch to Canon, or go to the hassle of adapting the lens mount.
Quote: |
However, there are many other options available to you: the Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 1.4/50 is a wonderful lens, and my current favourite 50-something is the Nikkor-S 1.4/50. It's got that wow factor you like. Two 28s I've used and loved are the Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 3.5/28 and Kiron 2/28. |
I had a Super Takumar 50 1.4 and it did not impress me much, but I understand the SMC is a different lens, will probably keep my eyes open for one. I had the Kiron 28/2 too and traded it for a Jupiter-9 (which is now in pieces), I probably should have used it more before thinking of giving it away. The Nikkor sounds interesting, what is its going price?
peterqd wrote: |
Lovely shots of your family at the Natural History Museum, Ludoo. It was a great idea to take your daughter there. What did she think about the Diplodocus? |
Hah, she had a nasty flu so she was not at her best, but she absolutely loved the museum, especially the animated T-Rex.
Quote: |
About the lenses, I think for your Pentax camera you should concentrate on PK and M42 lenses. That way you'll only need one cheap adapter. If you like the Flektogon I think the other CZJ lenses and the prime Takumars (not the zooms) will all suit you perfectly. The 135/3.5 CZJ S is a super lens and very easy to find. In the Takumars, the 28/3.5, 85/1.9 and 135/3.5 will give you a great start. Also the 55/1.8 if you don't take to the Pancolar, but I think you will. I don't think you'll find many other lenses with the close focussing of the Flek unless you go for a macro lens, for instance the Takumar 4.0/50 Macro. |
Ehm, I have a Sonnar 135 (which I traded with a Gossen Profisix some time ago) but never used it yet. I'm convinced it's a great lens, I just do not seem to find the right moment for its longish focal length. I hope to be able to clean and lube the Pancolar this weekend, and to really like it.
As for the SMC Tak 55/1.8, I bought a cheap one that had some fungus and managed to clean it: its colors are nice, but it does not have the wow factor of the Flek, and it's less sharp.
I almost never shoot macro so the minimum focusing distance is not an issue for me, but the maximum aperture is as I often shoot in low light. I am also thinking of giving a cheap Zuiko 50/1.8 a try, any impressions compared to the other 50s mentioned above? |
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ludoo
Joined: 18 Sep 2009 Posts: 1397 Location: Milan, Italy
Expire: 2011-12-05
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Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2010 8:14 pm Post subject: |
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ludoo wrote:
martinsmith99 wrote: |
For 50ish lenses I like my S-M-C 1.8/55 Tak, Helios 44-2 or the original Biotar,
For around 80-90mm try a M39 mount Jupiter 9. |
I have the 55/1.8 and as I wrote above (you posted while I was writing my reply ) I quite like it, but I don't find it as sharp as the Flek, and it has a more subdued presentation. My Helios 44-2 is nasty, and seems quite similar to the Tak but on a lesser scale. I like the 44-6, but it's quite prone to flare which is a big no-no. A Biotar would be nice, but they are a bit on the expensive side, I should sell some of the lenses I never use and raise some cash...
As for the J-9 mine is in pieces, I need to find a way to replace the small screw that transmits the aperture movement: I'll ask my dentist tomorrow if he can use one of his special tiny screws, and hopefully it will be fixed by tomorrow night. |
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timo832000
Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 544 Location: Germany / Cologne
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Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2010 8:49 pm Post subject: |
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timo832000 wrote:
Iam also "in love" with the CZJ Flektogon 2,4/35 but I also love the distagon 2,8/35 my one is a bit sharper in terms of infinity focus.
Other lenses I like for sharpness & contrast are the leica Summicron 50 (especially the old version gives high contrast wide open and has a very soft bokeh), the leica summicron 90, and the leica elmarit 180.
At least I think most Zeiss and Leica primes should fullfill your expectations to be sharp and contrasty.
Timo _________________ I love Leica ! But I need Pentax |
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