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Oldhand
Joined: 01 Apr 2013 Posts: 6005 Location: Mid North Coast NSW - Australia
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Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2016 2:28 am Post subject: Unloved and therefore cheap, but surprisingly good lenses |
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Oldhand wrote:
As the title says.
What lenses have you come across that meet the generally unloved, cheap but good criteria?
I'll start with a little zoom - Yashica ML 42-75 f3.5-4.5
OH
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More images here:
http://forum.mflenses.com/the-1-lens-yashica-ml-42-75-f3-5-4-5-t72557,highlight,%2B1+%2Blens.html
Last edited by Oldhand on Fri Jan 08, 2016 5:38 am; edited 2 times in total |
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Paulius
Joined: 25 Nov 2014 Posts: 326 Location: Connecticut
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Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2016 2:50 am Post subject: |
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Paulius wrote:
Soligor 135mm f2,8 for $7.-
Yashica 75-150mm f4, $19.-
Vivitar Ser.1 70-210mm f3,5, $25.-
Fujinon 50mm f1,8 $5.-
Nikkor 50mm f1,8 $25.-
Nikkor 35-70mm f3,3-4,5 $16.-
Rolleinar 55mm f1,4 $50.-
Rollei CZ Planar HFT 50mm f1,8 $10.-
And so on...
All are harvested at flea markets and Goodwill stores. All lenses are superb. |
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Oldhand
Joined: 01 Apr 2013 Posts: 6005 Location: Mid North Coast NSW - Australia
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Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2016 2:59 am Post subject: |
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Oldhand wrote:
Paulius wrote: |
Soligor 135mm f2,8 for $7.-
Yashica 75-150mm f4, $19.-
Vivitar Ser.1 70-210mm f3,5, $25.-
Fujinon 50mm f1,8 $5.-
Nikkor 50mm f1,8 $25.-
Nikkor 35-70mm f3,3-4,5 $16.-
Rolleinar 55mm f1,4 $50.-
Rollei CZ Planar HFT 50mm f1,8 $10.-
And so on...
All are harvested at flea markets and Goodwill stores. All lenses are superb. |
Some bargains there for sure Paulius.
What I was trying to get at was not necessarily our bargains for well known and loved quality lenses like the Planar etc, but the relatively unknown lenses that turned out to be very good, even though most people shy away from them - (and hence why they are always found cheaply).
Hope this clarifies my original post
OH |
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Paulius
Joined: 25 Nov 2014 Posts: 326 Location: Connecticut
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Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2016 3:23 am Post subject: |
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Paulius wrote:
Well, perhaps Soligors 250mm and 135mm, Tele-Lentar 300mm f5,5, a few Kirons, Hexanons. All are excellent performers. |
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memetph
Joined: 01 Dec 2013 Posts: 940 Location: Poland
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Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2016 4:38 am Post subject: |
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memetph wrote:
Minolta MD III 50 f2. Probably the cheapest Minolta standard and with a better performance in some aspects than many of his Minolta more regarded brothers. |
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cgustav
Joined: 01 Jun 2014 Posts: 270 Location: Los Angeles
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Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2016 4:42 am Post subject: |
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cgustav wrote:
Well,
I've been kind of surprised by the Seikanon 28-70 3.5 macro, $15.
#1
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#4
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barryreid
Joined: 27 Aug 2013 Posts: 285 Location: London
Expire: 2015-11-04
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Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2016 7:52 am Post subject: |
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barryreid wrote:
Canon FD 70-210 f/4. Mine cost a tenner and, when tested on my A7r I found this Canon to be better than A Tamron #19AH 70-210/3.5 SP and only Beathen by the CY Zeiss 80-200/4 on CA. _________________ Canon + Contax + Minolta + Nikon + Olympus + Pentax + Yashica = Adaptall-2 |
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Lightshow
Joined: 04 Nov 2011 Posts: 3666 Location: Calgary
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Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2016 9:00 am Post subject: |
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Lightshow wrote:
Oldhand wrote: |
Paulius wrote: |
Soligor 135mm f2,8 for $7.-
Yashica 75-150mm f4, $19.-
Vivitar Ser.1 70-210mm f3,5, $25.-
Fujinon 50mm f1,8 $5.-
Nikkor 50mm f1,8 $25.-
Nikkor 35-70mm f3,3-4,5 $16.-
Rolleinar 55mm f1,4 $50.-
Rollei CZ Planar HFT 50mm f1,8 $10.-
And so on...
All are harvested at flea markets and Goodwill stores. All lenses are superb. |
Some bargains there for sure Paulius.
What I was trying to get at was not necessarily our bargains for well known and loved quality lenses like the Planar etc, but the relatively unknown lenses that turned out to be very good, even though most people shy away from them - (and hence why they are always found cheaply).
Hope this clarifies my original post
OH |
I get what you're saying, lenses most would write off at first look as being garbage or not worth the time to try out, but are surprisingly good.
I have the same Yashica ML 4-75mm Zoom, it did surprise me, much better than I expected, I only tried it due to it being relatively small, I haven't looked for a wider mate for it, I don't even know if one exists... anyone try the ML 28-50mm f3.5 ?
So getting a good deal on a known good lens doesn't count. _________________ A Manual Focus Junky...
One photographers junk lens is an artists favorite tool.
My lens list
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lightshow-photography/ |
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Oldhand
Joined: 01 Apr 2013 Posts: 6005 Location: Mid North Coast NSW - Australia
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Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2016 9:34 am Post subject: |
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Oldhand wrote:
Lightshow wrote: |
Oldhand wrote: |
Paulius wrote: |
Soligor 135mm f2,8 for $7.-
Yashica 75-150mm f4, $19.-
Vivitar Ser.1 70-210mm f3,5, $25.-
Fujinon 50mm f1,8 $5.-
Nikkor 50mm f1,8 $25.-
Nikkor 35-70mm f3,3-4,5 $16.-
Rolleinar 55mm f1,4 $50.-
Rollei CZ Planar HFT 50mm f1,8 $10.-
And so on...
All are harvested at flea markets and Goodwill stores. All lenses are superb. |
Some bargains there for sure Paulius.
What I was trying to get at was not necessarily our bargains for well known and loved quality lenses like the Planar etc, but the relatively unknown lenses that turned out to be very good, even though most people shy away from them - (and hence why they are always found cheaply).
Hope this clarifies my original post
OH |
I get what you're saying, lenses most would write off at first look as being garbage or not worth the time to try out, but are surprisingly good.
I have the same Yashica ML 4-75mm Zoom, it did surprise me, much better than I expected, I only tried it due to it being relatively small, I haven't looked for a wider mate for it, I don't even know if one exists... anyone try the ML 28-50mm f3.5 ?
So getting a good deal on a known good lens doesn't count. |
Yep - that's it.
OH |
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Antoine
Joined: 08 Jan 2016 Posts: 298 Location: London
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Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2016 11:04 am Post subject: |
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Antoine wrote:
a tenner for the Canon 70-210 f4!... and I thought I had a good deal with the rokkor 70-210 f 4 for 12.5£. Bummer... Without the shade moreover. _________________ Antoine
Sony A6000 APS-C and Sony A7 Rii
Minolta Fisheye MD Rokkor 7.5 mm f4, Fisheye MD 16 f2.8 MD R 17mm f4, MD R 20mm f2.8, MC VFC & MDIII 24mm f2.8, MD 28mm f2.0 &3.5, MD II 35mm 1.8, MD 45mm f2.0, MD 50mm f 1.2 & MD I f1.4, MC PG 58mm 1.2, MD 85mm f2.0, MD R 85mm f2.8 Varisoft, MC 85mm f1.7 MD R 100mm f2.5, MD R 100mm f4.0 macro, MD III 135mm f2.8, MD R 200mm f2.8 & 4.0, RF 250mm f5.6, MD 300mm f4.5, MD APO 400 mm f5.6, RF 500mm f8.0, RF 800mm f8.0 *2 300-s and 300-l
100 mm f4 macro bellows (5/4)
Vivitar 17mm f3.5, Elicar 300mm mirror f5.6, Zhongi turbo ii
Sigma 16mm f 2.8 fish eye
Zooms:24-50 mm f4, 35-70 mm f3.5 macro, 28-85mm f3.5-4.5, 50-135 f 3.5, 70-210 f4 and MD APO 100-500 mm f8 |
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tb_a
Joined: 26 Jan 2010 Posts: 3678 Location: Austria
Expire: 2019-08-28
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Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2016 11:23 am Post subject: |
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tb_a wrote:
Most probably the UV Topcors are falling into this category. Amazingly cheap and good performers.
I've already posted several examples here, so I don't do it in this thread. (e.g. http://forum.mflenses.com/uv-topcor-100mm-f4-on-aps-c-t72494.html) _________________ Thomas Bernardy
Manual focus lenses mainly from Minolta, Pentax, Voigtlaender, Leitz, Topcon and from Russia (too many to be listed here). |
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Lloydy
Joined: 02 Sep 2009 Posts: 7794 Location: Ironbridge. UK.
Expire: 2022-01-01
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Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2016 4:35 pm Post subject: |
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Lloydy wrote:
There's a lot of Yashica lenses that could fall into this category, and barryreid has already mentioned the one I would nomintate - the Yashica ML 80-200 f4. Mine came in a huge bag of stuff from a charity shop, I just cleared all their camera stuff for £30, and I love it. As yet I haven't tried it back to back with a Vivitar Series 1 70-210, but I think it might just beat the Vivitar for sharpness, and it's smaller and lighter.
How about the M42 55 / 1.8 Mamiya Sekor ? It's possibly my best 50ish lens and it came on a dead Mamiya for £5. _________________ LENSES & CAMERAS FOR SALE.....
I have loads of stuff that I have to get rid of, if you see me commenting about something I have got and you want one, ask me.
My Flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/mudplugga/
My ipernity -
http://www.ipernity.com/home/294337 |
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TrueLoveOne
Joined: 30 Sep 2012 Posts: 1839 Location: Netherlands
Expire: 2013-12-24
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Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2016 4:43 pm Post subject: |
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TrueLoveOne wrote:
+1 on that! I payed 20 euros for 3 lenses, the adapter was the most expensive part. This week my A7 arrived, here's a quick un-edited shot with the UV-Topcor 2/53 (@ f/2.8 )on FF:
I also agree on the Minolta MD 2.0/50. People just do not buy them because "there is also a faster one". They are dirt cheap and perform great: http://forum.mflenses.com/minolta-md-50-f2-t29017,highlight,%2Bminolta+%2Bmd+%2B2+%2B50.html
Cheers, René! _________________ My Flickr photostream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/chantalrene/
Sony A7, Canon 5D mkII, Minolta 7D + RD3000 and some more.....
Minolta and Konica collector.... slowly selling all the other stuff! |
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Lee|Ratters
Joined: 23 Sep 2014 Posts: 78 Location: Bristol | UK
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Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2016 6:38 pm Post subject: |
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Lee|Ratters wrote:
I do have good experiences with Yashica stuff - My 50/2 I bought years ago on eBay for about £3.20 I also have a 75-200mm MC which I won on eBay for a similar price last year & I've yet to use it.......
I do mainly use my Voigtlander CV40 but I presently have my camera bag packed with my Yashica lenses to use on my next outing & I've just found that 75-200mm to pop in there with the rest
I not own the ML28/2.8, ML50/1.7, ML50/1.9, ML50/2 & the 75-200mm zoom. _________________ Flickr |
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buerokratiehasser
Joined: 12 Jun 2011 Posts: 470
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Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2016 6:52 pm Post subject: |
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buerokratiehasser wrote:
Lenses resold under house brand (Sigma -> Exakta/whatever, Tak? -> Revueflex55/1.8)
Label is meaningless you must look at the shape and hope it's the same glass
Sigma/whatever 28-70 3.5-4.5 UC(HSAF) very dinky mechanics though
Various teles 60-300, 75-200 "Small Pipe"
Minolta AF has some B- performers that no one loves: 35-70/3.5-4.5, 35-105/3.5-4.5 Plastic, 35-80 Plastic New
These aren't really gems but people don't want them (they want the 35-70/4 and 35-105Old) and often trade for $5 or less though I have not checked this. They are also pretty light and the 35-105 and 35-80 are pretty small for their range.
The Sigma 50/2.8 UC Macro is possibly one of the sharpest lenses ever, if a bit cool-ish in the color rendition. It's not unloved but used to trade for two digits unlike other macro lenses. |
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blende8
Joined: 29 Sep 2007 Posts: 260 Location: Bremen, Germany
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Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2016 7:17 pm Post subject: |
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blende8 wrote:
Takumar Bayonet lenses:
135/2.5
135/2.8
Not SMC, but otherwise nice lenses, basically identical to the A135/2.8. _________________ Best wishes, Wieland
K-1, K-5IIs
Pentax, mysterium quod absconditum fuit ... |
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vanylapep
Joined: 03 Jan 2014 Posts: 312
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Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2016 7:34 pm Post subject: |
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vanylapep wrote:
Fujian CCTV 35mm f/1.7 35$ |
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VLR
Joined: 05 Mar 2015 Posts: 86
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Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2016 8:56 pm Post subject: |
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VLR wrote:
memetph wrote: |
Minolta MD III 50 f2. Probably the cheapest Minolta standard and with a better performance in some aspects than many of his Minolta more regarded brothers. |
+1. Currently my most loved 50 mm. _________________ http://vintagelensreviews.com/
Reviews of vintage Minolta SR mount lenses and more |
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WNG555
Joined: 18 Dec 2014 Posts: 784 Location: Arrid-Zone-A, USA
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Posted: Sat Jan 09, 2016 1:56 am Post subject: |
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WNG555 wrote:
Agree with the above votes for Yashicas and the Minolta MD(III) 50-f/2.
The ones I have all are pleasant surprises on just how excellent they are optically. And so cheap due to being overlooked.
Some of the Taiwanese-made Pentax K-mouints as well. Since they don't have the quality of the vintage Takumars, they are still very good deals. The ones with the SMC coating especially.
Old Sigmas (Stigma) too. Most deserve the bad rep, but when they were good, they are real good.
In the USA, we also have store-branded rebadged gear under the Sears, JC Penney, Focal marketing name. Many are actually Ricoh, Mamiya, Chinon, Samyang, and Tokina lenses.
Two $0.99 finds turned out to be fantastic were a Tou/Five Star MC 28mm f/2.8, well-received on MFL....and an Aston DX 28mm f/2.8. (also marketed as a Soligor C/D, and Osawa). Both are excellent optically, and built satisfactorily.
From a Japanese-made, unknown manufacturer, JC Penney Multi-coated Optics 135mm-f/2.8 w/55mm filter dia.
cLOSE eNCOUNTERS oF tHE bIRD kIND by wNG 555, on Flickr
The Tou/Five Star:
cHROMATIC iNTOXICATION by wNG 555, on Flickr
fATAL aTTRACTION II by wNG 555, on Flickr
Aston DX 28mm:
fINAL aPPROACH by wNG 555, on Flickr _________________ "The eyes are useless when the mind is blind."
Sony ILCE-6000, SELP1650, SEL1855, SEL55210, SEL5018. Sigma 19/30/60mm f2.8 EX DN Art.
Rokinon 8mm f3.5 Fish-Eye, 14mm f2.8 IF ED UMC. Samyang 12mm f2.8 ED AS NCS Fish-Eye.
And a bunch of Manual-Focus Lenses
My Flickr |
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Minniesmum
Joined: 09 Jan 2016 Posts: 3
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Posted: Sat Jan 09, 2016 5:35 pm Post subject: |
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Minniesmum wrote:
A Pentacon 30mm f3.5. Charity shop for £1.
Last edited by Minniesmum on Sun Jan 10, 2016 9:01 am; edited 1 time in total |
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philslizzy
Joined: 07 Aug 2012 Posts: 4744 Location: Cheshire, England
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Posted: Sat Jan 09, 2016 6:45 pm Post subject: |
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philslizzy wrote:
It would seem like the majority of us want critical sharpness and pixel peep to make sure we have it. To some that is the overriding decision whether to keep or buy a lens or not. I have been like that too.
But the photos you take with any lens is about the image, not the sharpness, the draw, the bokeh and so on. The samples above are super pictures - if only I were that good! Taken on cheap lenses that many here would turn their noses up at. _________________ Hero in the 'messin-with-cameras-for-the-hell-of-it department'. Official. |
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stevemark
Joined: 29 Apr 2011 Posts: 4006 Location: Switzerland
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Posted: Sat Jan 09, 2016 9:24 pm Post subject: |
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stevemark wrote:
Just bought a Panagor 2.5/28mm (looks absolutely identical to the Vivitar 2.5/28mm, which is Kiron-manufactured). I played a bit with the lens using the 24MP FF Sony A7 II. Then I compared it with the Minolta MC 2.5/28mm - and found it to have much better performance than the Minolta, especially at f2.5!
I do own three Minolta MC 2.5/28mm lenses (an MC-I, MC-II, and MC-X), and all of them perform identically. Therefore the test result should be valid.
Quite a surprise, in fact. I have tested other lenses from Kino Precision (Kiron), such as the 2/28mm; all of them were nearly as sharp as their Minolta counterparts, but up to now none of them was clearly better. Until today ...
Stephan _________________ www.artaphot.ch |
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WNG555
Joined: 18 Dec 2014 Posts: 784 Location: Arrid-Zone-A, USA
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Posted: Sun Jan 10, 2016 4:04 am Post subject: |
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WNG555 wrote:
[stevemark]
That's a really surprising result. One of the first 28mm I bought was a Vivitar (Kino) 28-f/2.5. And it was terrible. I suspect it could be variance or wear, since the reviews show a split for this model, and my copy falls alongside the bad reviews. And I shoot on APS-C as well, it still looked unacceptable.
Interesting that it bested the Minolta f/2.5! Because I picked up one, awaiting de-fungus-ing and a UV bath. _________________ "The eyes are useless when the mind is blind."
Sony ILCE-6000, SELP1650, SEL1855, SEL55210, SEL5018. Sigma 19/30/60mm f2.8 EX DN Art.
Rokinon 8mm f3.5 Fish-Eye, 14mm f2.8 IF ED UMC. Samyang 12mm f2.8 ED AS NCS Fish-Eye.
And a bunch of Manual-Focus Lenses
My Flickr |
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TrueLoveOne
Joined: 30 Sep 2012 Posts: 1839 Location: Netherlands
Expire: 2013-12-24
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Posted: Sun Jan 10, 2016 7:41 am Post subject: |
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TrueLoveOne wrote:
Let's not forget about the Pentacon 1.8/50! _________________ My Flickr photostream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/chantalrene/
Sony A7, Canon 5D mkII, Minolta 7D + RD3000 and some more.....
Minolta and Konica collector.... slowly selling all the other stuff! |
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stevemark
Joined: 29 Apr 2011 Posts: 4006 Location: Switzerland
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Posted: Sun Jan 10, 2016 11:49 pm Post subject: |
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stevemark wrote:
stevemark wrote: |
Just bought a Panagor 2.5/28mm (looks absolutely identical to the Vivitar 2.5/28mm, which is Kiron-manufactured). I played a bit with the lens using the 24MP FF Sony A7 II. Then I compared it with the Minolta MC 2.5/28mm - and found it to have much better performance than the Minolta, especially at f2.5!
I do own three Minolta MC 2.5/28mm lenses (an MC-I, MC-II, and MC-X), and all of them perform identically. Therefore the test result should be valid.
Quite a surprise, in fact. I have tested other lenses from Kino Precision (Kiron), such as the 2/28mm; all of them were nearly as sharp as their Minolta counterparts, but up to now none of them was clearly better. Until today ...
Stephan |
I must correct myself to a certain extent: While the Full Frame corners were in fact clearly better when using the Panagor, the center and the field was much better when using the Minolta MC 2.5/28mm!
Stephan _________________ www.artaphot.ch |
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