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tonygamble
Joined: 25 Oct 2012 Posts: 2
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Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2012 9:06 am Post subject: Any advice for a newcomer |
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tonygamble wrote:
I'm a Panasonic GH2 user and, through another forum, met someone who advised me on my first manual focus lens.
It is a Meyer-Optik 2.8 50mm.
I wanted something with 'a more intesting bokeh' than I was getting with my automatic M43 lenses. It was a good recommendation.
I'd now like to move on. My next steps would be to get (a) wider aperture and (b) closer focussing lenses.
The same contact advised me to join this forum for advice and then to look on eBay for potential lenses.
The advice I need, and I'm not getting it with a generalised www Google, is how can one tell if a lens is going to have that 'more interesting bokeh'.
OK, you can perfectly correctly say this is a similar question as 'how long is a piece of string?' Or how do you define 'interesting'?
But you folk must have started somewhere. You can't have gone along to flee markets and bought every lens you saw until you found a good one!
My first buy was a good one. But I can't expect my contact to go on doing research for me. Can anyone offer any pointers so I know what to buy next?
Thanks for any help that can come my way.
Tony |
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Aanything
Joined: 27 Aug 2011 Posts: 2187 Location: Piacenza, Italy
Expire: 2014-05-30
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Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2012 9:18 am Post subject: |
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Aanything wrote:
If you surf the galleries in this forum you will get very nice examples of many aspects of lenses (not only bokeh), and you can make your own idea according to what you mean by "interesting".
There are many factors that can make people suggest you a lens or another, such as Focal Length, max aperture wanted, mount. And yes, again, your idea of "interesting bokeh", but there is one lens that i feel to suggest: it's the Helios-44 2/58 (in any version).
It's damn cheap, can be extremely sharp, looks great on digital and has a very distinctive bokeh. _________________ C&C and editing of my pics are always welcome
Samples from my lenses
My gear
My Flickr |
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sonyrokkor
Joined: 24 Sep 2012 Posts: 222 Location: Perù, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay
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Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2012 9:28 am Post subject: |
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sonyrokkor wrote:
Hi Tony.
You have a Domiplan, a triplet (three elements lens).
I¡m sorry to tell the following: You can use your lens from F/8 to F/11, not greater apertures than them, except you look for not very sharp images.
At F/5,6 perhaps you find a center in decent sharpness, but not the borders, I guess. And in small sensor, don't know if the sharpness can be in the borders of it.
About lenses with good or interesting bokeh, you can begin from the helios, is a cheap and good lens. With a bokeh carasteristic and not conventional nor average one. Old meyers have a nice bokeh too, old zeiss, "Auto Vivitar"s medium teles, orestor 135, etc.
Good luck. The way just begin |
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Excalibur
Joined: 19 Jul 2009 Posts: 5017 Location: UK
Expire: 2014-04-21
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Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2012 9:32 am Post subject: |
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Excalibur wrote:
Hello
Well I'm a film user and results can differ for a digital camera...but there is a thread about some cheap 28mms and I've just checked on the bay and the Tamron 28mm can go as cheap as £11..well I have the Tamron 28mm f2.8 ver and for £11 or about £18 with adapter you can get some good shots and how can you go wrong for general shooting for that price.
e.g.
Tamron 28mm f2.8 on film
_________________ Canon A1, AV1, T70 & T90, EOS 300 and EOS300v, Chinon CE and CP-7M. Contax 139, Fuji STX-2, Konica Autoreflex TC, FS-1, FT-1, Minolta X-700, X-300, XD-11, SRT101b, Nikon EM, FM, F4, F90X, Olympus OM2, Pentax S3, Spotmatic, Pentax ME super, Praktica TL 5B, & BC1, , Ricoh KR10super, Yashica T5D, Bronica Etrs, Mamiya RB67 pro AND drum roll:- a Sony Nex 3
.........past gear Tele Rolleiflex and Rollei SL66.
Many lenses from good to excellent. |
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hifisapi
Joined: 25 Sep 2012 Posts: 941 Location: USA
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Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2012 9:51 am Post subject: |
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hifisapi wrote:
that looks pretty good for a film scan. _________________ ===========
ACQUIRED OVER 30 YEARS:
Cameras: DSLR=Pentax istDS FILM=Pentax SP, SP-F, ESII, SP1000, KX, K2
Lenses : Pentax M42 = Super Multi Coated Takumars 50/1.4 55/1.8 100/4-BELLOWS 500/4.5 1000/8 135-600/6.7 Pentax PK= SMC Pentax-Ks K17/4-FF Fisheye K18/3.5 K20/4 K24/3.5 K28/3.5 K28/2 K35/3.5 K35/2 K50/1.2 K50/1.4K 50/4-MACROK 55/1.8 K85/1.8 K100/4-MACRO K100/4-BELLOWS K105/2.8 K120/2.8 K135/3.5 K135/2.5 K150/4 K200/4 K400/5.6 K45-125/4K 85-210/4.5 Pentax PKM = SMC Pentax-M M40/2.8-Pancake M50/1.4 M75-150/4 M80-200/4.5 Pentax PKA= SMC Pentax-A A15/3.5 A50/2.8-MACRO A28/2 A35/2 A50/1.4 A135/2.8 A200/4 A*300/4 A35-105/3.5 A24-50/4 A70-210/4 TAMRON AD2= SP80-200/2.8 SP180/2.5 TOKINA AT-X PK= ATX28-85/3.5-4.5 ATX35-70/2.8 ATX60-120/2.8 ATX80-200/2.8 ATX100-300/4 ATX90/2.5 MACRO KIRON-LESTER DINE PK = 105/2.8-MACRO VIVITAR PK = 135/2.8-MACRO 28-85/4 NOFLEXAR AUTOBELLOWS PK = 60/4 105/4 |
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Excalibur
Joined: 19 Jul 2009 Posts: 5017 Location: UK
Expire: 2014-04-21
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Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2012 10:30 am Post subject: |
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Excalibur wrote:
hifisapi wrote: |
that looks pretty good for a film scan. |
Reala film helps .......Fuji have stopped making it for 35mm _________________ Canon A1, AV1, T70 & T90, EOS 300 and EOS300v, Chinon CE and CP-7M. Contax 139, Fuji STX-2, Konica Autoreflex TC, FS-1, FT-1, Minolta X-700, X-300, XD-11, SRT101b, Nikon EM, FM, F4, F90X, Olympus OM2, Pentax S3, Spotmatic, Pentax ME super, Praktica TL 5B, & BC1, , Ricoh KR10super, Yashica T5D, Bronica Etrs, Mamiya RB67 pro AND drum roll:- a Sony Nex 3
.........past gear Tele Rolleiflex and Rollei SL66.
Many lenses from good to excellent. |
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Nisseliten
Joined: 26 May 2012 Posts: 332 Location: Sweden
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Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2012 11:39 am Post subject: |
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Nisseliten wrote:
Quote: |
You can't have gone along to flee markets and bought every lens you saw until you found a good one! |
I do that.. _________________
DSLR: Canon 550D, Panasonic DMC-GF3
SLR: Leica R3mot electronic, Leica R4s, Leica R4mot electronic. and more.
Medium Format: Many.
Lenses
Leica: 19/2.8, 35/2, 35/2.8x2, 50/2, 60/2.8 macro, 90/2, 90/2.8, 180/3.4, 250/4, 500/8 T-Noflexar 400/5.6
Other: When will it end?!
Canon: 50/1.8, 70-200 f4 IS
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Aanything
Joined: 27 Aug 2011 Posts: 2187 Location: Piacenza, Italy
Expire: 2014-05-30
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Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2012 11:42 am Post subject: |
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Aanything wrote:
Nisseliten wrote: |
Quote: |
You can't have gone along to flee markets and bought every lens you saw until you found a good one! |
I do that.. |
Me too, actually. _________________ C&C and editing of my pics are always welcome
Samples from my lenses
My gear
My Flickr |
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fuzzywuzzy
Joined: 18 Dec 2010 Posts: 1258 Location: Down East, Canada, eh?
Expire: 2013-11-30
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Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2012 11:44 am Post subject: Re: Any advice for a newcomer |
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fuzzywuzzy wrote:
tonygamble wrote: |
I'd now like to move on. My next steps would be to get (a) wider aperture and (b) closer focussing lenses.
The same contact advised me to join this forum for advice and then to look on eBay for potential lenses.
The advice I need, and I'm not getting it with a generalised www Google, is how can one tell if a lens is going to have that 'more interesting bokeh'.
Tony |
Welcome to the madhouse!
As another person suggested, the Helios 44 is a fine starting point, cheap and good. Don't be shy to boost contrast in PP if you need to.
To get closer focus, extension tubes or a macro bellows are a cheap way to get closer focus from your existing lenses.
As far as figuring out if you'll like a lens, if you see a bargain locally or on Ebay look for samples before you buy.
To search here I use google with the "site" command like this - https://www.google.ca/search?q=pentacon+135+site%3Amflenses.com
Search tags and groups on Flickr, they've got samples for a LOT of lenses. http://www.flickr.com/groups/helios44/
Do a google image search, which will often lead you back here anyway. https://www.google.ca/search?q=smc+takumar+50/1.4
After a while you'll get a feel for the common ones.
Good luck, and I know you'll have fun! _________________ I welcome C&C, editing my pics and reposting them on the forum is fine.
NEX-F3
~~~~~~~~~
CZJ Sonnar 135/4, Biotar 58/2, Pancolar 50/2, Tessar 50/2.8, Flek 35/2.8, Flek 25/4
Super Takumar 135/2.5, 135/3.5, 100/4 bellows, 50/1.4, 28/3.5
Helios 58/2, 3M-5A 500/8, Mir 20M
Vivitar Series 1 70-210 - - - - - - - - Nikkor 200/4
Rikenon 28/2.8 - - - - - - - - Zeiss 50/1.7 Planar
PB 50/2.4, 135/2.8
Yashica 50/1.9, 28/2.8, 135/2.8
Hexanon 28/3.5, 50/1.4 |
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Nisseliten
Joined: 26 May 2012 Posts: 332 Location: Sweden
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Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2012 11:49 am Post subject: |
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Nisseliten wrote:
Aanything wrote: |
Nisseliten wrote: |
Quote: |
You can't have gone along to flee markets and bought every lens you saw until you found a good one! |
I do that.. |
Me too, actually. |
It's a good thing we don't live in the same region, or we would have to fisticuff _________________
DSLR: Canon 550D, Panasonic DMC-GF3
SLR: Leica R3mot electronic, Leica R4s, Leica R4mot electronic. and more.
Medium Format: Many.
Lenses
Leica: 19/2.8, 35/2, 35/2.8x2, 50/2, 60/2.8 macro, 90/2, 90/2.8, 180/3.4, 250/4, 500/8 T-Noflexar 400/5.6
Other: When will it end?!
Canon: 50/1.8, 70-200 f4 IS
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kuuan
Joined: 14 Jan 2008 Posts: 4569 Location: right now: Austria
Expire: 2014-12-26
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Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2012 11:58 am Post subject: Re: Any advice for a newcomer |
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kuuan wrote:
wide aperture..I'd recommend pretty much any vintage f1.4/50mm!
Canon nFD seems to be the darling of many NEX users and might be fairly cheap, I personally love my S-M-C Takumar f1.4/50
not sure if they qualify for having an "interesting" enough bokeh, but they are great lenses opening up the world of narrow dof.
Smaller, not quite as fast and most likely a bit cheaper I recommend Pentax M f1.7/50mm and OM f1.8/50mm.
A small lens with a wider focal lengths and rather wide aperture having very unique and interesting bokeh is Pen-F f1.8/38. Small similar to rangefinder lenses but at 35cm much closer minimum distance. ( hu..I am selling one, see lens sales section )
If cheap is very important Fujian f1.7/35mm C mount lens, via ebay sold new I believe for less than 50 usd, could be you best bet. Because at wide apertures only center will be kind of sharp and distortion and aberration will be wild some consider it more of a toy lens but it certainly has interesting bokeh, close focus distance is 30 cm. _________________ my photos on flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/kuuan/collections |
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tonygamble
Joined: 25 Oct 2012 Posts: 2
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Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2012 1:51 pm Post subject: |
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tonygamble wrote:
Thanks folk,
Some good ideas coming.
Sad to hear my Meyer-Optik may be a bit of a dog. I have only tried it, in poor weather, to a tablet computer so cannot comment. But it will be no good if it won't perform wide, or nearly wide, open.
Please keep the thoughts coming.
I love shopping.....
Tony |
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Attila
Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Posts: 57865 Location: Hungary
Expire: 2025-11-18
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Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2012 2:35 pm Post subject: |
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Attila wrote:
Your Domiplan is one of the worst MF lens and surely worst from Meyer Optik, some copy is better I had good one , but general opinion she is pretty crap.
http://www.mflenses.com/gallery/ _________________ -------------------------------
Items on sale on Ebay
Sony NEX-7 Carl Zeiss Planar 85mm f1.4, Minolta MD 35mm f1.8, Konica 135mm f2.5, Minolta MD 50mm f1.2, Minolta MD 250mm f5.6, Carl Zeiss Sonnar 180mm f2.8
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mackeral
Joined: 21 Oct 2012 Posts: 64 Location: United States
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Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2012 3:20 pm Post subject: |
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mackeral wrote:
Just got into this myself and am waiting on a Helios but in the meantime, My Super Takumar 50mm 1.4 is a gem. I can't recommend that little beauty enough. |
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hifisapi
Joined: 25 Sep 2012 Posts: 941 Location: USA
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Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2012 3:40 pm Post subject: |
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hifisapi wrote:
I would recommend a M42 mount lens, the pentax super takumar ( or super mullti coated takumar ) 55mm F1.8 or F2.0.
They are cheap but very high quality both opticallly and mechanically. Under $50 on ebay for the super tak. _________________ ===========
ACQUIRED OVER 30 YEARS:
Cameras: DSLR=Pentax istDS FILM=Pentax SP, SP-F, ESII, SP1000, KX, K2
Lenses : Pentax M42 = Super Multi Coated Takumars 50/1.4 55/1.8 100/4-BELLOWS 500/4.5 1000/8 135-600/6.7 Pentax PK= SMC Pentax-Ks K17/4-FF Fisheye K18/3.5 K20/4 K24/3.5 K28/3.5 K28/2 K35/3.5 K35/2 K50/1.2 K50/1.4K 50/4-MACROK 55/1.8 K85/1.8 K100/4-MACRO K100/4-BELLOWS K105/2.8 K120/2.8 K135/3.5 K135/2.5 K150/4 K200/4 K400/5.6 K45-125/4K 85-210/4.5 Pentax PKM = SMC Pentax-M M40/2.8-Pancake M50/1.4 M75-150/4 M80-200/4.5 Pentax PKA= SMC Pentax-A A15/3.5 A50/2.8-MACRO A28/2 A35/2 A50/1.4 A135/2.8 A200/4 A*300/4 A35-105/3.5 A24-50/4 A70-210/4 TAMRON AD2= SP80-200/2.8 SP180/2.5 TOKINA AT-X PK= ATX28-85/3.5-4.5 ATX35-70/2.8 ATX60-120/2.8 ATX80-200/2.8 ATX100-300/4 ATX90/2.5 MACRO KIRON-LESTER DINE PK = 105/2.8-MACRO VIVITAR PK = 135/2.8-MACRO 28-85/4 NOFLEXAR AUTOBELLOWS PK = 60/4 105/4 |
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Attila
Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Posts: 57865 Location: Hungary
Expire: 2025-11-18
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Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2012 3:40 pm Post subject: |
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Attila wrote:
http://www.mflenses.com/gallery/v/german/meyer/domiplan_50mm/
This was my copy I think I sold it already, don't know for sure. Don't know for sure which one was wide open. _________________ -------------------------------
Items on sale on Ebay
Sony NEX-7 Carl Zeiss Planar 85mm f1.4, Minolta MD 35mm f1.8, Konica 135mm f2.5, Minolta MD 50mm f1.2, Minolta MD 250mm f5.6, Carl Zeiss Sonnar 180mm f2.8
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