Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

Well, some folks have those old lenses left over from the 60's and 70's and wonder if they are any good or not. I have several of them and do use them from time to time. One of my favorite old lenses is the Pentax Super Takumar 35mm f/3.5, for this I took three shots with this lens to demonstrate how well it performs on my DSLR. The first I set it as a point and shoot, by setting the aperture at f/11 and focusing the lens at about 20 feet I then just pointed and shot across the back of the patio to see if everything comes into acceptable focus. A second shot was of my dog to see just how well the lens performs as far as sharpness and clarity, and for the last pic I mounted the lens backwards to an old m42 bellows and took a shot of Hibiscus pollen getting close enough to see the barbs on the pollen.

These lenses are very inexpensive as compared to their modern counterparts (this lens is aroung $50 used) and perform very well in my estimation. If you don't have one you can find them on ebay or sometimes in garage sales. Just make sure which of the old lenses are easily adapted to your camera before purchasing, not all work on the different manufacturers bodies.

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davidheald1942 Loc: Mars (the planet)

Most of the lenses from the70's and all of the 80's
were multi-coated and the resolution were every bit as good as todays lenses. In fact a lot of photographers prefer
the old lenses.

The sharpest lens I've ever owned, was the lens on an old
Kodak Retina 35mm made in Germany. I have no idea what happened to that camera. It was made in the early
fifties or the late forties.

seeya
ronny

ote=Blurryeyed]Well, some folks have those old lenses left over from the 60's and 70's and wonder if they are any good or not. I have several of them and do use them from time to time. One of my favorite old lenses is the Pen tax Super Takumar 35mm f/3.5, for this I took three shots with this lens to demonstrate how well it performs on my DSLR. The first I set it as a point and shoot, by setting the aperture at f/11 and focusing the lens at about 20 feet I then just pointed and shot across the back of the patio to see if everything comes into acceptable focus. A second shot was of my dog to see just how well the lens performs as far as sharpness and clarity, and for the last pic I mounted the lens backwards to an old m42 bellows and took a shot of Hibiscus pollen getting close enough to see the barbs on the pollen.

These lenses are very inexpensive as compared to their modern counterparts (this lens is aroung $50 used) and perform very well in my estimation. If you don't have one you can find them on ebay or sometimes in garage sales. Just make sure which of the old lenses are easily adapted to your camera before purchasing, not all work on the different manufacturers bodies.[/quote]

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

Most of my lenses are manual focus lenses from the 70's, and from what I can tell, they seem to perform just as well or sometimes even better than the newer lenses - the prime lenses in particular.

Unlike many photographers, I don't mind manually focusing; not only am I used to it, but I actually enjoy using the focus ring to establish focus as part of the process. Besides, I think the old manual lenses tend to have a more user-friendly focus ring compared to many of the auto-focus lenses of today. Specifically, they usually have just the right resistance to be able to operate it with one finger. Same is true with the aperture ring.

selmslie Loc: Fernandina Beach, FL, USA

They are also easier to focus manually because you turn the focus ring further going from near to far. The short travel on autofocus lenses makes it easier on the motor but harder to make fine manual adjustments.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Blurry, most old lenses are pretty good, and some are VERY good. If your style of photography lends itself well to being on manual, they're just fine.
But say a modern nifty fifty at $99 is as good or better, and it has full functions, at those prices it's hardly worth having to resort to manual everything, unless your subjects lend themselves to that.
Imagine trying to chase your future Olympic champion grandson all over the yard on his new bike and trying to get a good sharp and tight shot of the wee, wee smile on his face, as he races around the yard helter-skelter!
Suddenly that $99 lens has a lot of value, no matter how good that old lens was! :lol:
SS

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

Yes, I have a Sigma 50/1.4 and use it more often than I do the Takamur 50/1.4 that I also have. But, the older lenses are good too, Canon has dropped it's inexpensive 35mm lens and replaced it with a newer one that costs $600, the Sigma is closer to $800 so this little Tak is a gem in my book. The other think is that you take more time with a manual lens and have to pay closer attention to your camera and what you are doing. My adapter is telling my camera that I am shooting a 50mm at f/1.4 so the light meter is fooled when I stop down the lens and I have compensate the EV values, also when manual focusing I think that you pay a little bit more attention to what you are shooting.

Anyway, I would never go entirely manual, but it is a good way to pick up a couple of great lenses until you are ready to shell out the big bucks for that really special one that we all seem to want.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Blurry, I agree fully. And in some cases, it makes a lot of sense. I shoot one manual lens, a 600mm, for obvious reasons, but will some day replace it.
Say in a studio doing product, or macro, no problem.
But it's pretty hard to go out and do real photography with one. If it's all still life, sure. But you already know how difficult it is to try and focus manually on something that's moving, AND keep that little needle in the middle, at the same time. And 3 seconds later, the shot is gone!! :lol
How many shots do you miss, before it goes back into the drawer, and never comes back out?!
SS

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

That is true, manual telephotos don't make much sense if you can afford to buy an auto, I have had a both 200mm and 300mm manual lenses, old presets, they take fine pics but if you are birding or shooting sports, the things that most people do with such lenses, you will miss a lot of shots.

The 35mm though is a lot of fun and I totally love that lens, I also have a few old 55mm fast lenses that bring a contrast and color quality to them that the Sigma does not bring as well as some pretty outrageous background blur. They are all pretty much fun and generally small investments.

n3eg Loc: West coast USA

There's nothing like a Canon FD 50mm f/1.8 on a micro four thirds camera. Best $5 lens ever.

Second best is a 135mm f/2.8, also for $5.

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

You are lucky to find both of these for only $5 each. On eBay, they normally go for $20 and up... unless they are infested with fungus or otherwise severely damaged.

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

Well for $5 I guess that is hard to beat, it is no doubt a good lens, the reason that it is so inexpensive is that they require an expensive adapter to use on a Canon DSLR that has an optical element, it is like buying a cheap set of glasses to put behind your really good optics.... It is just better to use other old glass on a Canon DSLR, the Pentax Glass is my favorite for my Canon cameras... The old German glass is supposed to be the best but it is too expensive for my taste, I would just go ahead and buy new EF lenses before I would buy the old German glass.

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

Blur, those lenses are 30 years younger than me - they CAN'T be old! :lol:

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

M-42 are excellent for special use because they are manual.

I have a Sony Alpha system adapter to M-42. For reverse lens Macro use both focus and f stop must be adjusted. Modern lenses and AF and so that is a problem. The manual M-42 lenses are Ideal.

Please remind me to tell my X that there was a good reason for me to save that old 1970s junk... knew I would use it some day.

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

Geff, you already know my opinions on the subject of older , manual focus lenses

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

Yes, and you have the best collection that I have ever seen.