Cheap Chinese Made Manual Lenses: Within the past week or so, a post was created regarding the 50mm Yongnuo lens. The OP had an interest in this lens because it was less than $100. I...

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

Within the past week or so, a post was created regarding the 50mm Yongnuo lens. The OP had an interest in this lens because it was less than $100. I told him to not buy the lens, as well as others on this forum. Some suggested he buy the Canon Brand 50mm for his Canon 80D camera. However, there was one who claimed he loved that lens, and he recommended it. The lens I want to discuss, is a Mitakon 135mm, f2.8 to f22, manual lens only, 9 blades, and a 58mm filter size. It comes in Canon, Nikon, and Pentax mounts. This lens looks similar to the Nikon 135mm f2 ais. This lens sells Brand New for $200 from B&H. Which is less than a used Nikon 135mm f2 ais lens. Other 135mm manual lenses cost more. Such as the Samyang 135mm f2 manual lens Which is over $450. Anyone on this forum own the Mitakon 135mm f2.8 II manual only lens?

BebuLamar

mas24 wrote:

Within the past week or so, a post was created reg... (show quote)

Nikon has a good number of expensive Chinese made autofocus lenses like the 105mm f/1.4.

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

From most of the hands-on reviews I've read, the 50mm Yongnuo is supposedly a surprisingly decent lens, especially considering its low price.

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

rook2c4 wrote:

From most of the hands-on reviews I've read, the 50mm Yongnuo is supposedly a surprisingly decent lens, especially considering its low price.

As I mentioned in my post, one person had praise for the 50mm Yongnuo lens. On that post about the Yongnuo 50mm. Most hoggers, including myself, told him to purchase the Canon 50mm f1.8 STM instead of the Yongnuo. For his Canon 80D.

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

mas24 wrote:

Within the past week or so, a post was created reg... (show quote)

I have read reviews on the Mitakon lenses that did not sound promising. If people are so concerned about the price of lenses to the point that they are looking for inexpensive Chinese manual lenses then possibly they should consider going mirrorless, I recently purchased a Minolta Celtic for about $30 that is so sharp that it creates a 3D effect that I rarely see on even my big Canon primes....

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

Cheap.... do you mean Low-Cost. Cheap immediately labels the item as being below standard.

I can not comment regarding your question about the lenses, the Chinese "knock off" or unique design may well be equal or sufficient for your use... however words have emotional meaning that may cloud judgment. Too many UHH people say "ya get what ya pay for" ... example put a Leica label on a Panasonic camera and immediately the price is $500 more. Is the Panasonic Cheap... no just less costly.

Good luck on you choice of lenses.

steve49 Loc: massachusetts

I am sure that these lenses would be functional and probably be better than the lenses used by Henri Cartier Bresson in his old Leicas. If you lack the means, go for it. No magic here.

lehighjack Loc: somewhere in FL

Re: Mitakon lenses-I use a Mitakon 85 f/2, manual lens that is heavy, well machined, very very sharp and has soft circular bokeh. I have not tried other Mitakon optics but I was impressed with the one I purchased to fill a hole in my prime lens array. If their other lenses are as good, you would save money, learn focus peaking and taking time to compose and set up a picture. Just because a lens, new, less than a tird of the native brand does nor take away from its ability to assist in photography.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

mas24 wrote:

Within the past week or so, a post was created reg... (show quote)

You answered your own question in your title. Cheap Chinese Made Manual Lenses

Bloke Loc: Waynesboro, Pennsylvania

Blurryeyed wrote:

I have read reviews on the Mitakon lenses that did not sound promising. If people are so concerned about the price of lenses to the point that they are looking for inexpensive Chinese manual lenses then possibly they should consider going mirrorless, I recently purchased a Minolta Celtic for about $30 that is so sharp that it creates a 3D effect that I rarely see on even my big Canon primes....

If the cost of 'better' lenses is a major factor in adding a particular focal length, then I would imagine the cost of upgrading their whole system, and adding a new camera too would be somewhat problematic...

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

Bloke wrote:

If the cost of 'better' lenses is a major factor in adding a particular focal length, then I would imagine the cost of upgrading their whole system, and adding a new camera too would be somewhat problematic...

Yeah, maybe, I purchased a used Fuji X-T2 for under $1000 with battery grip to use with my vintage lens collection and it is wonderful, higher pixel density than my 5DSR and much more user friendly than either of my Canon DSLRs plus it is compatible with almost any of the old film era lenses. I am a birder so I am not ready to abandon my DSLRs but if I were simply into street, family portraiture, and landscapes, my DSLRs would be gone.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

An employee for Tokina-Kenko used to say that "most lenses are better than most photographers."

Mark Sturtevant Loc: Grand Blanc, MI

If you want to go full manual, then you may be open to getting a legacy lens. There is a lot of legendary glass out there (from Zeiss, etc.).

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

Mark Sturtevant wrote:

If you want to go full manual, then you may be open to getting a legacy lens. There is a lot of legendary glass out there (from Zeiss, etc.).

Yes, I know there are many Legacy lenses you can purchase on eBay, and KEH. The Nikon manual lens, 135mm f2 ais, that I mentioned in my post, is a Legacy film lens.

nadelewitz Loc: Ithaca NY

rook2c4 wrote:

From most of the hands-on reviews I've read, the 50mm Yongnuo is supposedly a surprisingly decent lens, especially considering its low price.

Same can be said for Yongnuo's 35mm lens. It does a beautiful job! And on a crop-sensor camera, it's a normal focal length equivalent.