What's the latest lens you added to your collection?

Alun Thomas · Joined: 20 Aug 2018 Posts: 636 Location: New Zealand

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I'm slowly adding to my Pearl River lens kit. The makers of the system were clearly fans of the Nikon F system, and this lens is perhaps their answer to the 43-86mm Nikon lens. I've never shot the Nikon lens but have heard that it has quite strong distortion. This lens does too, going from fairly strong barrel distortion at 45mm to fairly strong pincushion distortion at 90mm.

This lens first appeared as a 2 touch lens, similar to the Nikon lens (and having very similar styling), but it appears in 1982 to have been converted to a 3 touch setup.

My initial impressions are that the lens is no world beater, but is competent for what it is, in terms of being perhaps the first Chinese zoom lens design. If I had known the exact performance of the lens prior, I would still have bought it Smile

Doc Sharptail · Joined: 23 Nov 2020 Posts: 1043 Location: Winnipeg Canada

Alun Thomas · Joined: 20 Aug 2018 Posts: 636 Location: New Zealand

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The second leg of my Chinese lens budget blowout arrived on the same afternoon. This lens is basically the same as the Pearl River Lens, but for some reason is labelled 'Mountain Brand', and is another clue that the manufacturers of the Pearl River line were big fans of the Nikon F system. I don't have a diagram for this lens, and no intention to disassemble it as it is in beautiful condition. It is a 5/4 design as per the S-201 manual, this is about all that is known. The later Xenotar version of Nikons lens is also 5/4. The rear element of the this lens is larger than you might expect for a Sonnar type scheme, but that's all I can say really. The styling of the lens is also strongly influenced by Nikon. This lens also appears in two different stylings, this 'Mountain Brand' styling, and a somewhat different 'Pearl River' badged styling.

The wide open performance of the lens does not disappoint.

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connloyalist · Joined: 22 Jul 2020 Posts: 274 Location: the Netherlands

In the category "thrift store".... Was visiting a large thrift store here in town to ask if they would come pick up an old bed frame I have (yes they will). Knowing that they also have a small camera section I went to take a look.

An Olympus OM-2 Spot Program labeled "defective" (or maybe it just needs batteries?) with a 50mm 1.8 (version 4), also thought to be defective. They couldn't get the aperture to open and close. Well, it helps if you know which lever on the lens mount to move, or which button on the side of the lens to press. The lens is a bit dusty on the inside but otherwise just fine.

The whole bundle, 5 euros. I told them "hey, this lens works fine and is worth more than 5,- by itself". Answer: "eh, no problem you can have the bundle for 5. That's what it is priced at". OK, sold!

So I scored myself a possibly functional OM-2S and a lens for a fiver. For that kind of money I will take the camera as a display piece even if it really doesn't work.

Regards, C.

calvin83 · Joined: 12 Apr 2009 Posts: 7555 Location: Hong Kong

DrBB · Joined: 26 Mar 2014 Posts: 87 Location: Croatia

won bidding, should get em by the end of the week

Staeble Telexon 135mm f3.8
Staeble Lineogon 35mm f3.5
Staeble Braun-Colour-Ultralit 50mm f2.8

(and Super Paxette camera, all in great condition)

What's the deal with Staeble triplets? I have Katagon (OK-ish) and lately I got Braun-Colour-Ultralnit 50mm f2.8 (very nice) now there is also Kata, Kataplast, ... they had problems choosing name or what? Very Happy

Doc Sharptail · Joined: 23 Nov 2020 Posts: 1043 Location: Winnipeg Canada

gaeger · Expire: 2021-03-09

How about the latest lens I have un-added? I finally sold my Nikkor 50mm f1.2 AI. I had it for a long time, but it was either sell that one or my Nikkor 50mm f1.2 AIS, and the AI sold first, so the AIS stays.

Now I'll do the same with two Nikkor 85mm f1.8 K version lenses. Both in exquisite shape and super sharp, but one is converted to AI.

Baekmann · Joined: 28 Feb 2021 Posts: 66

caspert79 · Joined: 31 Oct 2010 Posts: 2978 Location: The Netherlands

Just acquired a Nikkor ai 135mm f/3.5 and Zuiko 28mm f/3.5.

Doc Sharptail · Joined: 23 Nov 2020 Posts: 1043 Location: Winnipeg Canada

visualopsins · Expire: 2025-04-11

The earlier 4/3 Nikkor-Q & QC is also worth trying.

Alun Thomas · Joined: 20 Aug 2018 Posts: 636 Location: New Zealand

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It took a while to post the third leg, this lens was a basket-case despite the vendors description. I've never seen so much grease inside a lens, some had vapourised and settled on one internal element of the zooming groups. Once I disassembled to get at it, it became obvious that the cam follower screws were overly worn, the moving element carrier had 1-2 millimeters of play. The original design uses metal on metal cam followers, which I substituted for some teflon covered types I had removed from a busted zoom some time ago, the zoom action is very precise now. The rubber focus grip material was toast, but the measurement is 50mm exactly and I found some very suitable sticky backed grip material on Taobao which was the exact width needed, I'm happy with how that turned out.

Nikon fans will notice a definite resemblance between this lens and Nikons 80-200/4.5, and I can confirm it is very close in constructional details, I haven't checked about the optical arrangement. While I was disassembling I got to a point where I was stuck. Because there aren't any guides for this particular lens, I headed to Richard Haw's site where he provides a guide for the Nikon lens, and the advice there also applied to this lens. This lens does have a 1.7m MFD as opposed to the Nikon 1.8m. I used to have the Nikon lens but no longer do, it would be fun to compare. I imagine the coatings on the Pearl River lens might not be quite as good.

calvin83 · Joined: 12 Apr 2009 Posts: 7555 Location: Hong Kong

Optically, it is has the same arrangement as the Nikkor with 12e/9g and the design is pretty close to. It will be interesting to see a comparison with the Nikkor.

ZuikosHexanonsandVivitars · Joined: 03 Nov 2021 Posts: 231 Location: Austria

Olympus Zuiko 28mm f2 MC.

I own and very much like the Zuiko 2.8 (non-MC) version of this focal length, and since the f2 was very reasonably priced, I couldn´t resist. Here it is on the Sony, and the f2.8 version next to it.

All the 2.8 and 3.5 wide angle Zuikos are almost of the same size, comparable to the compact 40 Hexanon pancake, and quite uniform in their appearance and performance (*). The fast Zuikos, like the 28 and the half shown 35 next to it on the following image, they are not only bigger (obviously), but also individualists in the way they look and behave. This 28mm f2 Zuiko has floating elements for better close focus distance performance. The 35 f2 has no floating elements, but a dubious reputation - more despised than loved by folks who tried it. I carried it around most of the time since I got it in summer last year, as an always-on on the Sony. I find it excellent.

(*) some think the 21mm f3.5 is a dud, though Wink

quidam · Joined: 28 Sep 2012 Posts: 217 Location: Belgium

visualopsins · Expire: 2025-04-11

pepperberry farm · Joined: 02 Jan 2017 Posts: 28

marcusBMG · Joined: 07 Dec 2012 Posts: 1308 Location: Conwy N Wales

I acquired my "bokina" in cfd mount a few years ago. Since then I have kept my eye out for the 1:1 extender, knowing it would be a bit of a long shot for one to crop up, and in the right mount. Earlier this year one finally did, a listing with a canon 50-1.8. So I put in a decent bid - but didn't win. Well thats that for another 5 years... I thought. But no. And this time I was the only bidder.

paulhofseth · Expire: 2018-06-28

Forther to the post by drBB of may 29th stating that a Staeble lineogon was bought. That 35mm lens has the same optical construction as the Novoflex 35mm macro which also came from Staeble but was equipped with the peculiar snap-out mount for macro use . It can be successfully used forr UVphotos.

p.

visualopsins · Expire: 2025-04-11

caspert79 · Joined: 31 Oct 2010 Posts: 2978 Location: The Netherlands

caspert79 · Joined: 31 Oct 2010 Posts: 2978 Location: The Netherlands

Just ordered a Minolta AF 80-200mm f/2.8 APO (the older black version).
Not exactly an MF lens, but quite old by now and it will be adapted to my A7RII.

kiddo · Joined: 29 Jun 2018 Posts: 1177