lens cull

DAVEG · Joined: 08 Sep 2013 Posts: 110

HI guys I really need some advice on my lens collection , what stays and what goes here is a list of current and newly aquired lenses.
CURRENT
Praktikar 70- 210mm new ( Keeper)
Pentacon Prakticar 50mm f 1.8 mint
Olympus m.zuiko 50mm f 1.8 mint
Olympus 75-150mm zoom f 1.4
Optomax 300mm f 1.5
Carl Zess jena P 28mm f2.8 mint
vivitar 135mm f3.5 mint

NEWLY AQUIRED
-------------------

Prinz galaxy 400mm f 6.3 mint in case
vivtar 28-210mm mint boxed
Miranda 75 -300mm

I have had a Prinz galaxy before but the rear lens was hazy so sold it on got some good results with it tho.
the unknown are the Vivitar and the Miranda

If anyone has these lenses please share your experiences good or bad AND PLEASE what do I cull before I end up with my own shop.
My photograhy choices are Beaches Rural Villages , Night Shots, Landscapes Sunsets Tin / Copper Mines

Any help woud be greatly appreciated. Thank You all. Dave

hifisapi · Joined: 25 Sep 2012 Posts: 941 Location: USA

fuzzywuzzy · Expire: 2013-11-30

Welcome aboard!

Be warned that some of us will advise you of lenses you should add to your collection Laughing

I'd want the 28mm prime for landscapes, I expect it's much smaller and lighter then the 28-210 zoom.

How does the Miranda 75 -300mm at 300mm compare to the Optomax 300mm?

You've got a couple of fast 50mm primes, I expect they're both very good, perhaps you could pick a favorite and part with the other.

It's an individual thing, you'll have your own preferences. Also, there is copy variation with used gear, especially Eastern Bloc kit.

In no particular order, consider:
weight/bulk
sharpness (test at infinity too)
contrast (not a dealbreaker, easily fixed in postprocessing)
build quality/the feel in your hand
flare resistance
the mood and feel of images

I know that I tend to use certain lenses while others get pushed to the back of the shelf, I just seem to have a better affinity with some of them. The only way to build that is to keep using them, we look forward to seeing your shots Wink

DAVEG · Joined: 08 Sep 2013 Posts: 110

Thanks for your replies Very Happy

But sometimes you know you need a lens for a particular purpose , my 70 - 210 is a little cracker bought new off the bay still box fresh its as sharp as I like stuck a teleconverter on it and iits a 820mm lightweight lens .Thats the beauty of the modern camera most can't be bothered to use thses fine lenses and stick with the with the" whats the point and shoot ".So there are bargains to be had. I would rather have a good choice to hand than be left found wanting . I have a trip planned in feb to the Cornish coast so wil be getting lots of shots of seals at hard to reach or just cordonned off for saftey reasonsand a big lens is useful (PRINZ GALAXY 400mm) bought for that purpose. So as I say" less is not always more".

wuxiekeji · Joined: 15 Aug 2012 Posts: 213

Best way: shoot for 1 week with each lens, after 10 weeks you'll know what you want to keep. Smile

Seriously, it's a personal thing, one person's trash is another person's treasure, everyone values different aspects of lenses. Some like soft, some like tack sharp, some like pocketable and portable, some like cold war massive Russian steel.

DAVEG · Joined: 08 Sep 2013 Posts: 110

Thats a good idea but I have been using them all and they are all good and give good results,
however I have put the optomax and the olympus 75 -150 and olympus 50mm up for sale the Pentacon 50mm is brand new and I just seem to get good resutls with this lens the olypus can be a little touch and go with the shots, focusing has to be bang on and I can't seem to get the consistency I need with this lens.
The 28mm carl zeiss stays and the prakticar 70-210mm
the vivitar and mieanda have yet to arrive so its a shoot off between 28mm-210mm and the 75 - 300mm let battle commece.