Stradivari of MF lenses

[Pancolart]

I just watched doc about Stradivari cellos like: Davidov Stradivarius, Duport Stradivarius. Anyway i found some resemblance in those highly appreciated handmade tools for musicians that are itself work of art with some of MF lenses having unique character or to say a bit mystically even soul. Though still not regarded highly enough since the resurrection phenomena of MF lenses is relatively new.

Anyway i am here asking of your top vintage optics in "normal" categories: super-wide (around 20mm but not fisheye), wide (around 28mm-35mm), portrait (around 50mm), portrait (around 85mm-100mm), short tele (around 135mm-200mm) meant for 35mm film full frame in any mount. I am not seeking here only collectors value due to rarity of item but something that can also be admired in terms of photo results. Not for and by everyone of course .

[Attila]

There is many ...

I know a few one of them.

My suggestion for this title:

Carl Zeiss Jena Biotar 75mm f1.5 any variant.
Carl Zeiss Jena Olympic Sonnar 180mm or cm f2.8

All Carl Zeiss Contax lenses.

Carl Zeiss Jena Pancolar 80mm f1.8

Carl Zeiss Jena Flektogon 20mm f4

Konica 85mm f1.8
Konishiroku 100mm f2.8
Minolta PF 100mm f2

Carl Zeiss Jena Pancolar 55mm f1.4

Nikkon 85mm f1.8 pre-AI black

Olympus OM 90mm f2
Olympus OM 21mm f2
Olympus OM 18mm f3.5

Nikon 24mm f2.8
Nikon 24mm f2
Nikon 35mm f1.4
Nikon 105mm f2.5

Helios-40 85mm f1.5
Helios-40-2 85mm f1.5

[semso]

1. Schneider-Kreuznach Tele-Xenar 1:3,5 / 90 (bokeh)
2. Hexanon AR 1.7 50mm (sharpness + rendering)

[Esox lucius]

Any of the three Voigtländer SL APO-Lanthar lenses: 90/3.5, 125/2.5 or 180/4

Cosina's unconventional thinking, rarity, build quality, image quality; every aperture good even for large size prints. Works of art, made by an artist for other artists to use.

[estudleon]

1- Summicron M DR 2/50. (a real jewel, mechanical and optically). One specialist workman measured the exactly focal lenght of each lens and put it into the lens one by one (like all the older leica M lenses) Tolerance +/- 0,3 mm. in DR lenses.

2- Noctilux 1,2/50 first version.

3- Summilux 1,4/35 ASPHERIC.

4- Kern macro switar 1,9/50.

5- Voigtlander skopagon 2/40.

6- nikkor 1,4/35.

7- Nikkor medical lens.

8- Nikkor 6 mm fisheye.

9- Leica R APO 3,4/180.

And a lot more. I didn't include any CZ in C/Y 'cos I should have to put all.

Rino.

[hexi]

Carl Zeiss Planar 50mm, 1.4 or 1.7 although its the same 7 elements in 6 groups package, besides the 1.4 is heavier. But slightly brighter. So for me its this lens, i'd be buried with

[Arkku]

I'd vote for the (Cosina) Voigtländer APO-Lanthars, too, despite the likelihood that I will probably never get to use one (can't really justify the cost, but then most people who play the violin don't buy a Stradivarius either).

Another lens which comes to mind with similar criteria is the Minolta (now Sony) 135mm f/2.8 t/4.5 STF. Unique, uncompromising design for a specific goal (smoothest bokeh).

[cxo]

Zeiss Biogon 4.5/21 - the one made for the Zeiss Ikon Contarex cameras. It's the best 21mm lens ever built.

Of course, the modern Summicron 2/50.

[Attila]

[cxo]

Look here, they are not too bad I think... taken with an analog Leica M6 on Efke IR 820 Infrared film. It's definitely neither the finest grain film available nor the sharpest and produces a spooky glow around the highlights. As you can see, from this, I have a very special custom-made adapter to use this beast of a lens on a Leica M.

This first one is a good image for the question about distortion - what distortion?










If you wonder what that is:

- The first image shows the old Citadel in the city of Mainz, Germany.
- The other images show roman remainings in Mainz.

[LucisPictor]

super-wide (around 20mm but not fisheye)
>> Leica Elmarit-R 2.8/19

wide (around 28mm-35mm)
>> Leica Elmarit-R 2.8/28
>> Olympus Zuiko 2/28
>> Zeiss Distagon 1.4/35

portrait (around 50mm)
>> Leica Summicron-R 2.0/50
>> Nikkor-S.C 1.2/55
>> Meyer Primoplan 1.9/58

portrait (around 85mm-100mm)
>> Leica Summilux-R 1.4/80
>> Nikkor-H 1.8/85
>> Steinheil Culminar 2.8/85

short tele (around 135mm-200mm)
>> Leica APO-Summicron 2.0/180

[cooltouch]

As an instrument builder myself, I realize that a Stradavari-built instrument is not just an instrument, and not just a work of art, but it is the very best example of that particular instrumental form. Honestly, I don't know if I've had the opportunity to use any "very best examples" of photographic lenses. But I've used some that were mighty impressive.

So, I am in the same position as Attila: perhaps there are many lenses worthy of the title, but I've sampled only a few.

Of these few, my favorites (in no particular order):

Canon FL 35mm f/2.5
Canon FD 50mm f/3.5 Macro
Canon FD 85mm f/1.2 SSC Aspherical
Canon FD 300mm f/2.8 L

Nikkor 55mm f/3.5 Micro
Nikkor 105mm f/2.5
Nikkor 135mm f/2.8
Nikkor 180mm f/2.8 ED
Nikkor 200-400mm f/4 ED

Tamron 90mm f/2.5 Macro
Tamron 180mm f/2.5 LD
Tamron 300mm f/2.8 LD

Leitz 50mm f/3.5 Collapsible Elmar

Vivitar 17mm f/3.5
Vivitar S1 28-90mm f/2.8-3.5

Century Precision Optics 500mm f/5.6
Century Precision Optics 650mm f/6.8

Meade 10" LX-3 (for astrophotography)

[Attila]

@cxo thank you! Flektogon 4/20mm has also 0 distorsion

[cxo]

[pirius]

Minolta Rokkor 58/1.2. Work of genius for sure.
Helios-40 old version. Best portrait lens ever made, if used in the right light conditions. Or worst, if you can't control flare.
Contax Zeiss 35-70. Zoom that beats or meets every prime lens I tried.
Voigtlander 125mm.

[lulalake]

[cxo]

[Pancolart]

But come-on this discussion has nothing to do with topic .

[hinnerker]

Portrait:

Leica Elmarit 2.8/90mm
Asahi Pentax Super Takumar 1.9/85mm
CZJ Biotar 1.5/75mm
Edixamat Travenar 2.8/90mm

Normalos:

Leica Summilux 1.4/50mm
Makro Elmarit 2.8/60mm

Leica Summicron 2/35mm (E55 Version)
Leica Elmarit 2.8/35mm (E55 Version)

Tele:

CZJ Sonnar 2.8/200mm
Leica Elmarit 2.8/180mm (last Version)

Zoom:

Angenieux of France 2.5-3.3/35-70mm


Cheers
Henry

[koji]

Normal:

Minolta MC Rokkor-PG 58/1.2
KERN Macro Switar 50/1.9 and 1.8

Wide:

Contax G-Biogon 21/2.8
Contax G-Biogon 28/2.8

Tele:

Tamron Macro 90/2.5
Contax G-Sonnar 90/2.8

[Spotmatic]

I see that some here mention the Kern Switars (from the Alpa Reflex)? I have never seen samples, if there are any then please post them (in a separate thread).

I don't have a lot of favorite lenses, because I'm not easily impressed (bet you did not know that). But here they are:

Wide-angle:
- SMC Pentax 28mm f/2 (Zeiss Distagon 'Hollywood')

Normal:
- 50mm f/1.4 Super-Multi-Coated Takumar (or its successor the SMC Pentax 50mm f/1.4).

Moderate tele (portrait):
- Asahi 83mm f/1.9 Takumar (before I bought it I thought it was soft but it's a very very good lens wide open).
- 75mm f/1.5 'Fat' Biotar (only made 1 photo with it but I was really impressed with the sharpness in the center wide open).

Tele:
- 135mm f/3.5 Pre-set Takumar
- 200mm f/4 Super-Multi-Coated Takumar

[Attila]

[koji]

Sorry Attila, the most of my F1.2 lenses are destined to become "legend" or"Stradivari ".
So I did not list them.

Kern Macro Switars are only APO normal lens AFAIK, they are macro lenses too.

My Example are here (50/1.9) > http://www.pbase.com/kkawakami/other_macro_switar_50mm_f19
Not mine (50/1.8 ) > http://www.oldlens.com/kernmacroswitar50.html

These are not great shots IMHO, some people do better jobs.