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propellor
Joined: 29 Apr 2010 Posts: 205 Location: Amsterdam
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Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2012 5:27 pm Post subject: SMC Pentax 1:3.5 15mm on it's first walkabout. |
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propellor wrote:
This half brother of the Distagon 3.5/15 arrived today. I got a good deal on this Pentax as the Distagon's are really unaffordable for me for now.
My copy is well used as can be seen by the paint loss, but the glass is pristine. Very well built compact little bomb of metal and an enormous piece of glass up front.
After having trouble with the adapter I bought with it, it now sits on my 5D MkII as if it belongs there. For those interested I use a Kipon adapter. It is the only one I have found that has the lens sit on the camera as it should. Most adapters put the lens on a 40 degree angle but then you can see the sun hood in the frame. I did have to operate on the lens and get rid of the plastic fin and the aperture lever.
Anyway here are some pics I took just now. It is not an easy lens to work with.
All pics straight from the camera. All at 5.6, 400 ISO, various shutter times. I forgot to set the camera to high quality and RAW after taking some lowers JPG's for the web yesterday.
_________________ Distagon 3.5/15, Distagon 4/18, Distagon 2.8/21, Distagon 2.8/25, Distagon 2/28, Distagon 1.4/35, Planar 1.4/50, Planar 1.4/85, Makro Planar 2.8/100, Planar 2/135, Vario Sonnar 3,3-4,0/28-85, Vario Sonnar 4,5-5,6/100-300, Canon 5DMkII |
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Orio
Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Posts: 29545 Location: West Emilia
Expire: 2012-12-04
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Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2012 5:44 pm Post subject: |
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Orio wrote:
Congratulations, it's a full title brother, it is even possible that Zeiss provided the glasses already manufactured to Pentax,
in which case only the assembling and the barrel would be different. _________________ Orio, Administrator
T*
NE CEDE MALIS AUDENTIOR ITO
Ferrania film is reborn! http://www.filmferrania.it/
Support the Ornano film chemicals company and help them survive!
http://forum.mflenses.com/ornano-chemical-products-t55525.html |
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iangreenhalgh1
Joined: 18 Mar 2011 Posts: 15679
Expire: 2014-01-07
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Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2012 5:54 pm Post subject: |
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iangreenhalgh1 wrote:
It looks really soft on the edges, was it wide open? _________________ I don't care who designed it, who made it or what country it comes from - I just enjoy using it! |
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ManualFocus-G
Joined: 29 Dec 2008 Posts: 6622 Location: United Kingdom
Expire: 2014-11-24
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Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2012 5:58 pm Post subject: |
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ManualFocus-G wrote:
I'm guessing that's field curvature? _________________ Graham - Moderator
Shooter of choice: Fujifilm X-T20 with M42, PB and C/Y lenses
See my Flickr photos at http://www.flickr.com/photos/manualfocus-g |
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propellor
Joined: 29 Apr 2010 Posts: 205 Location: Amsterdam
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Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2012 6:10 pm Post subject: |
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propellor wrote:
Orio wrote: |
Congratulations, it's a full title brother, it is even possible that Zeiss provided the glasses already manufactured to Pentax,
in which case only the assembling and the barrel would be different. |
OK, I didn't know that. I knew it was Herr Glatzel's recipe. The barrel is different then the Distagon. It works (focus and aperture) the other way around. A bit annoying if you're used to Contax, but hey, who's complaining ?
Quote: |
It looks really soft on the edges, was it wide open? |
No, all pics 5.6. I does look soft. I have to try some more with other apertures. _________________ Distagon 3.5/15, Distagon 4/18, Distagon 2.8/21, Distagon 2.8/25, Distagon 2/28, Distagon 1.4/35, Planar 1.4/50, Planar 1.4/85, Makro Planar 2.8/100, Planar 2/135, Vario Sonnar 3,3-4,0/28-85, Vario Sonnar 4,5-5,6/100-300, Canon 5DMkII |
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Orio
Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Posts: 29545 Location: West Emilia
Expire: 2012-12-04
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Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2012 6:13 pm Post subject: |
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Orio wrote:
propellor wrote: |
OK, I didn't know that. |
It's only my speculation, since it was a very difficult lens to produce, requiring top quality glass, so it seems credible to me
that Zeiss could provide the glass pieces already manufactured as part of the agreement with Pentax. _________________ Orio, Administrator
T*
NE CEDE MALIS AUDENTIOR ITO
Ferrania film is reborn! http://www.filmferrania.it/
Support the Ornano film chemicals company and help them survive!
http://forum.mflenses.com/ornano-chemical-products-t55525.html |
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iangreenhalgh1
Joined: 18 Mar 2011 Posts: 15679
Expire: 2014-01-07
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Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2012 6:15 pm Post subject: |
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iangreenhalgh1 wrote:
The softness varies between frames, for instance, the Leidseplein shot is better on the edges than the one with the guy in the white shirt looking at his phone on the right hand side, strange. _________________ I don't care who designed it, who made it or what country it comes from - I just enjoy using it! |
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propellor
Joined: 29 Apr 2010 Posts: 205 Location: Amsterdam
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Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2012 6:36 pm Post subject: |
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propellor wrote:
estrange indeed. I made a series just now in all apertures ;
3.5, iso 1000
5.6, iso 1000
8, iso 1000
11, iso 1000
16, iso 1000
22, iso 1000
Wide open it is definitely soft. It gets much better after f8. _________________ Distagon 3.5/15, Distagon 4/18, Distagon 2.8/21, Distagon 2.8/25, Distagon 2/28, Distagon 1.4/35, Planar 1.4/50, Planar 1.4/85, Makro Planar 2.8/100, Planar 2/135, Vario Sonnar 3,3-4,0/28-85, Vario Sonnar 4,5-5,6/100-300, Canon 5DMkII |
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propellor
Joined: 29 Apr 2010 Posts: 205 Location: Amsterdam
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Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2012 6:53 pm Post subject: |
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propellor wrote:
2 more. First f5.6, iso 1000. Second f8, iso 1000.
Focus is on the middle lens
f5.6, iso 1000
f8, iso 1000. _________________ Distagon 3.5/15, Distagon 4/18, Distagon 2.8/21, Distagon 2.8/25, Distagon 2/28, Distagon 1.4/35, Planar 1.4/50, Planar 1.4/85, Makro Planar 2.8/100, Planar 2/135, Vario Sonnar 3,3-4,0/28-85, Vario Sonnar 4,5-5,6/100-300, Canon 5DMkII |
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Orio
Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Posts: 29545 Location: West Emilia
Expire: 2012-12-04
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Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2012 6:53 pm Post subject: |
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Orio wrote:
Remember that it's a 15mm spherical lens. There are no aspherical elements.
Some corner loss (read: spherical aberration) in a spherical lens of 15mm is unavoidable.
On the plus side, you have the great feeling of classical spherical lenses made with rare earth glasses.
It surely looks different from polymeric aspherical surfaces of contemporary super wides - especially in the contrast.
The quality loss, however, should be confined to the extreme corners, such as in this example of mine:
whole:
corner:
Of course, the geometrical distortion at the corners is unavoidable (and much inferior to that of other comparable lenses of it's time)
The Distagon 3.5/15 is best used at f/11 on full frame, which is the diffraction limit.
On APS-C, it can be used at any aperture, because the center is very sharp from wide open. _________________ Orio, Administrator
T*
NE CEDE MALIS AUDENTIOR ITO
Ferrania film is reborn! http://www.filmferrania.it/
Support the Ornano film chemicals company and help them survive!
http://forum.mflenses.com/ornano-chemical-products-t55525.html |
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iangreenhalgh1
Joined: 18 Mar 2011 Posts: 15679
Expire: 2014-01-07
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Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2012 7:00 pm Post subject: |
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iangreenhalgh1 wrote:
It does indeed get much better stopped down.
BTW, I know exactly where your flat is, nice part of town to live!
I miss living in Amsterdam _________________ I don't care who designed it, who made it or what country it comes from - I just enjoy using it! |
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propellor
Joined: 29 Apr 2010 Posts: 205 Location: Amsterdam
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Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2012 7:32 pm Post subject: |
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propellor wrote:
Thanks Orio, i was starting to wonder if I bought a lemon. But I just have to get used to it a bit more and get to know it's limits.
@ Ian....., Not too difficult if you know your way around A'dam a little.
why did you leave and where do you live now? _________________ Distagon 3.5/15, Distagon 4/18, Distagon 2.8/21, Distagon 2.8/25, Distagon 2/28, Distagon 1.4/35, Planar 1.4/50, Planar 1.4/85, Makro Planar 2.8/100, Planar 2/135, Vario Sonnar 3,3-4,0/28-85, Vario Sonnar 4,5-5,6/100-300, Canon 5DMkII |
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iangreenhalgh1
Joined: 18 Mar 2011 Posts: 15679
Expire: 2014-01-07
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Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2012 8:00 pm Post subject: |
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iangreenhalgh1 wrote:
Sure, you're in a well-known spot.
I had to come home due to family commitments, sadly. I live in NW England. A few of my friends are on holiday in Amsterdam this week, sadly I couldn't afford to join them. _________________ I don't care who designed it, who made it or what country it comes from - I just enjoy using it! |
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Himself
Joined: 01 Mar 2007 Posts: 3242 Location: Montreal
Expire: 2013-05-30
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Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2012 8:13 pm Post subject: |
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Himself wrote:
Well, Orio brought it up before me but I still have to ask whether it's the spherical or aspherical element version?
What brand is that friction arm? _________________ Moderator Himself |
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Orio
Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Posts: 29545 Location: West Emilia
Expire: 2012-12-04
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Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 1:14 am Post subject: |
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Orio wrote:
Himself wrote: |
Well, Orio brought it up before me but I still have to ask whether it's the spherical or aspherical element version?
What brand is that friction arm? |
Sorin, correct, now that you write about it, I recall that Pentax made also a variation of the lens with an aspherical element,
but discontinued it soon due to the stellar costs.
Propellor, a look at the f/8 MTF shows that drastic corner falloff is in the nature of the lens.
However, it is so marginal that even on full frame, the central edge of the longer side is only slightly affected
(because the edge of the image circle falls out of the sensor frame for it's most part):
_________________ Orio, Administrator
T*
NE CEDE MALIS AUDENTIOR ITO
Ferrania film is reborn! http://www.filmferrania.it/
Support the Ornano film chemicals company and help them survive!
http://forum.mflenses.com/ornano-chemical-products-t55525.html |
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DanielT74
Joined: 01 Apr 2011 Posts: 204
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Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 5:23 am Post subject: comparisons |
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DanielT74 wrote:
I did some close range comparisons of ultrawides including this K15/3.5 as well as the purported aspherical version here:
http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/146188-comparison-8-ultrawide-lenses.html
Not sure about the extreme corners but borders were reasonable. Better than here. But perhaps at longer distances it degrades. I have seen this effect actually, now that I think about it. |
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hoanpham
Joined: 31 Jan 2011 Posts: 2575
Expire: 2015-01-18
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Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 7:08 am Post subject: |
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hoanpham wrote:
Congrats.
Personally, this lens was and still is one of the most difficult to use, especially when I don't have dslr FF bodies. My is Takumar Asph version, used several times a year in the last 30 years. Very good at center, good with crop sensors, corner performance is not as good with film and need to be aware in every shot. |
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Aanything
Joined: 27 Aug 2011 Posts: 2187 Location: Piacenza, Italy
Expire: 2014-05-30
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Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 9:07 am Post subject: |
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Aanything wrote:
I really like this lens: it's beautiful and (from the tests I saw here and elsewhere) performs great.
The corner softness is a really minor issue, for me.
If I had that money to spend in a lens, I'd buy one right now: congrats. _________________ C&C and editing of my pics are always welcome
Samples from my lenses
My gear
My Flickr |
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propellor
Joined: 29 Apr 2010 Posts: 205 Location: Amsterdam
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Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 2:43 pm Post subject: |
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propellor wrote:
Himself wrote: |
Well, Orio brought it up before me but I still have to ask whether it's the spherical or aspherical element version?
What brand is that friction arm? |
It is the later version, the spherical.
The arm came with the small dolly. I think it is Chinese. You can find them on ebay. Maybe they are called Magic Arm...
@Orio, thanks for the chart. I understand better the characteristics of this lens now. It will take some more flying hours with it to fully understand it strengths and it's shortcomings.
If I get something spectacular I will post. _________________ Distagon 3.5/15, Distagon 4/18, Distagon 2.8/21, Distagon 2.8/25, Distagon 2/28, Distagon 1.4/35, Planar 1.4/50, Planar 1.4/85, Makro Planar 2.8/100, Planar 2/135, Vario Sonnar 3,3-4,0/28-85, Vario Sonnar 4,5-5,6/100-300, Canon 5DMkII |
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Himself
Joined: 01 Mar 2007 Posts: 3242 Location: Montreal
Expire: 2013-05-30
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Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 4:44 pm Post subject: |
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Himself wrote:
Orio wrote: |
Himself wrote: |
Well, Orio brought it up before me but I still have to ask whether it's the spherical or aspherical element version?
What brand is that friction arm? |
Sorin, correct, now that you write about it, I recall that Pentax made also a variation of the lens with an aspherical element,
but discontinued it soon due to the stellar costs.
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Rumors say they made only 400 copies. _________________ Moderator Himself |
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Orio
Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Posts: 29545 Location: West Emilia
Expire: 2012-12-04
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Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 4:51 pm Post subject: |
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Orio wrote:
Himself wrote: |
Rumors say they made only 400 copies. |
Well, the total number of Distagon 3.5/15 (spherical) is less than 2000, so hardly surprising.
It was not an everyday lens. It still isn't. _________________ Orio, Administrator
T*
NE CEDE MALIS AUDENTIOR ITO
Ferrania film is reborn! http://www.filmferrania.it/
Support the Ornano film chemicals company and help them survive!
http://forum.mflenses.com/ornano-chemical-products-t55525.html |
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propellor
Joined: 29 Apr 2010 Posts: 205 Location: Amsterdam
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Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 4:59 pm Post subject: |
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propellor wrote:
Those are unbelievably low numbers. That does explain prices for the Distagon. Any idea how many SMC Pentaxes were made? (The spherical of course) _________________ Distagon 3.5/15, Distagon 4/18, Distagon 2.8/21, Distagon 2.8/25, Distagon 2/28, Distagon 1.4/35, Planar 1.4/50, Planar 1.4/85, Makro Planar 2.8/100, Planar 2/135, Vario Sonnar 3,3-4,0/28-85, Vario Sonnar 4,5-5,6/100-300, Canon 5DMkII |
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propellor
Joined: 29 Apr 2010 Posts: 205 Location: Amsterdam
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Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 5:45 pm Post subject: |
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propellor wrote:
Well my fear of it being a lemon is completely gone.
Maybe I will keep this lens glued to my camera forever.....
Here are some more pics. What I find incredible is the versatility of this lens. Architecture, streetscapes (haven't been to the "land" yet) and even people. It looks like you can shoot everything with this lens.
I shot some moving pictures on the carnival and will edit this asap. That shows the incredible correction of the lens. As you pan the lens the buildings and stalls do not warp as the camera moves past them. An effect you often see with ENG (Electronic Nes Gathering) camera's.
Next shots are all between F8 and F11. The corner sharpness has indeed improved dramatically Orio, thanks. I tend to shoot in low F's but this lens needs a bit higher F-stop.
Oh, and no PP whatsoever.
Apple's patented stairs in the new Apple Store in Amsterdam
Apple's patented stairs in the new Apple Store in Amsterdam 2
guestimated focus. About 1,5 meters
Sun straight into the lens and still the boy and girl have contrast
The coat on the right is now pretty sharp. Shot from the hip
Love those flares
Inside an elevator at the Puma store
Red pants are all the rage now in Amsterdam
Some carnival shots on the Dam square
Verdict: I love this lens. _________________ Distagon 3.5/15, Distagon 4/18, Distagon 2.8/21, Distagon 2.8/25, Distagon 2/28, Distagon 1.4/35, Planar 1.4/50, Planar 1.4/85, Makro Planar 2.8/100, Planar 2/135, Vario Sonnar 3,3-4,0/28-85, Vario Sonnar 4,5-5,6/100-300, Canon 5DMkII |
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iangreenhalgh1
Joined: 18 Mar 2011 Posts: 15679
Expire: 2014-01-07
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Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 5:52 pm Post subject: |
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iangreenhalgh1 wrote:
Great series, looks much, much better stopped down, I think you found how to use it, congrats! _________________ I don't care who designed it, who made it or what country it comes from - I just enjoy using it! |
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propellor
Joined: 29 Apr 2010 Posts: 205 Location: Amsterdam
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Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2012 10:32 am Post subject: |
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propellor wrote:
Yeah thanks, I am happy now. I am starting to get the feel for it. _________________ Distagon 3.5/15, Distagon 4/18, Distagon 2.8/21, Distagon 2.8/25, Distagon 2/28, Distagon 1.4/35, Planar 1.4/50, Planar 1.4/85, Makro Planar 2.8/100, Planar 2/135, Vario Sonnar 3,3-4,0/28-85, Vario Sonnar 4,5-5,6/100-300, Canon 5DMkII |
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