Member of the Month

PartyBullshiit
March, 2024

Online

Welcome to the Newschoolers forums! You may read the forums as a guest, however you must be a registered member to post. Register to become a member today!

The Official Vintage Glass Thread

profile picture
S.C
Posts: 3068 - Karma: 2,281
Alright, figured that enough people have posted threads about vintage glass that we should just put our knowledge into one go to place.

Vintage lenses are great deals for spectacular glass if you are unaware

I just bought the pentax-m S-M-C takumar 50mm 1.4 I've read that this is better than the k mount version or the super takumar version. the SMC is the same as the S-M-C but with a rubber focus ring. the M42 mount version is radioactive though, and may have to have UV treatment to remove the yellowing.

Anyone know about the Zenitar 16mm 2.8? Kinda want!
Aug 11 2011 6:37PM
463 54
profile picture
1337
Posts: 31038 - Karma: 29,000
i own a zeiss c/y 50 1,7 and a nikon ai-s 35 2 and they both rock
Aug 11 2011 7:01PM
1 1
profile picture
[evan]
Posts: 5628 - Karma: 119
I just got a Canon FD 50mm 1.8 from my aunt and ordered a Canon FD > Nikon DSLR Adapter, I'm stoked to try it out on my Nikon!
Aug 11 2011 7:04PM
2 1
profile picture
Balto
Posts: 25985 - Karma: 4,398
28 3.5
2 50 1.4s
135 2.8
135 3.5
200 3.5

all pentax m42 mounts, am looking into picking up a nikon 35 f2
Aug 11 2011 7:11PM
1 1
profile picture
blatt
Posts: 5584 - Karma: 3,097
I love my canon FD 50mm. Haters gonna hate, lovers gonna love. It's got great bokeh and I got it for $35
Aug 11 2011 7:14PM
1 1
profile picture
[evan]
Posts: 5628 - Karma: 119
How clear is it and what do you use it for primarily?
Aug 11 2011 7:18PM
1 1
profile picture
Balto
Posts: 25985 - Karma: 4,398
there are much better 50's then the FD, converting FD to eos doesn't really work well at all
Aug 11 2011 7:20PM
1 1
profile picture
blatt
Posts: 5584 - Karma: 3,097
Well, its mainly a telephoto prime. The full frame equivalent with the adapter's lens element is about 100mm. I was using it today for some portrait shots and It worked great. It's definitely not a lens I'd use as a standard prime. I'll be uploading some photos I took with it today tonight or tomorrow (importing to lightroom as we speak). It's got great bokeh as well.

Here's a video I HIGHLY suggest watching if you're looking to buy FD lenses. Very informative.
Aug 11 2011 7:24PM
1 1
profile picture
1337
Posts: 31038 - Karma: 29,000
ugg, no fd's
Aug 11 2011 7:32PM
1 1
profile picture
eheath
Posts: 61084 - Karma: 117,924
Any old nikon lens is going to be beautiful as long as the glass and inside of the lens are in good condition. My 50mm 1.4 and 135mm 2.8 fucking shine on my fs100, its insane and the 50s are like $100 and the 135s are like $50.
Aug 11 2011 7:33PM
1 1
profile picture
[evan]
Posts: 5628 - Karma: 119
WHAT!? When did you fs100 come in?
Aug 11 2011 7:39PM
1 1
profile picture
eheath
Posts: 61084 - Karma: 117,924
two days ago, shot an interview yesterday with my 135 and 50, check out page 2 of wills fs100 thread for screen shots.
Aug 11 2011 7:42PM
1 1
profile picture
S.C
Posts: 3068 - Karma: 2,281
this, unless you are shooting on a mount that doesnt require a glass element in the adapter (e.g. NEX or four thirds) in that case, FD lenses are awesome and cheap!
Aug 11 2011 7:46PM
1 1
profile picture
alexat955
Posts: 2732 - Karma: 112
thank you for making this thread, I was planning on it a couple weeks ago then forgot. thinking about picking up a Mir-1b 37/2.8, anyone ever used it before?
Aug 11 2011 8:03PM
1 1
profile picture
blatt
Posts: 5584 - Karma: 3,097
I actually should take back what I've said about the FD lens. All my images that are telling me were shot with the 50mm FD mount turned out really, really soft when zoomed in about 100%. Idk if I was out of focus or this is a lens problem. I believe it's not the latter but somebody else with an FD lens should check this out.
Aug 11 2011 8:26PM
1 1
profile picture
andstuff
Posts: 1118 - Karma: 61
You're introducing a new glass element; which is the main reason FD lenses on DSLRs is a no-no.
Aug 11 2011 8:31PM
1 1
profile picture
[evan]
Posts: 5628 - Karma: 119
It can be easily removed, tons of tuts on youtube
Aug 11 2011 8:40PM
1 1
profile picture
alexat955
Posts: 2732 - Karma: 112
But then it doesn't focus to infinity does it?
Aug 11 2011 8:42PM
1 1
profile picture
eheath
Posts: 61084 - Karma: 117,924
Which is pointless...
Aug 11 2011 8:43PM
1 1
profile picture
NJurkiewicz
Posts: 1597 - Karma: 697
Threads for when I get my Jag35 with fd adapter on it for my cx550v!
Aug 11 2011 8:48PM
1 1
profile picture
blatt
Posts: 5584 - Karma: 3,097
no, the lens element keeps it from being upside down if I'm correct. You need to have an even # of lens elements to have your image be rightside up with a convex lens.
Aug 11 2011 9:01PM
1 1
profile picture
S.C
Posts: 3068 - Karma: 2,281
no, it wont focus to infinity. the flange(or whatever) distance is shorter. however, you can remove the glass element in the adapter a use it for macro (im thinking about it)
Aug 11 2011 9:14PM
1 1
profile picture
eheath
Posts: 61084 - Karma: 117,924
No man, the sensor/mirror flip its, its for infinite focus. In that video you posted (which was fucking terrible IMO) he wasn't upside down in the image.
Aug 11 2011 10:00PM
1 1
profile picture
blatt
Posts: 5584 - Karma: 3,097
wierd, thats what we talked about inmy physics class. 1 convex lens flips the light that enters it so you get an upside down image.
Aug 11 2011 10:05PM
1 1
profile picture
eheath
Posts: 61084 - Karma: 117,924
Well yeah, but thats not what the adapter is doing, its setting flange distance for accurate focus. The lens in your fd adapter doesn't flip the image, correct me if im wrong?
Aug 11 2011 10:09PM
1 1
profile picture
blatt
Posts: 5584 - Karma: 3,097
I'll take a closer look at the element, it's probably not a convex lens so therefore no image flipping
Aug 11 2011 10:22PM
1 1
profile picture
alexat955
Posts: 2732 - Karma: 112
It's a weak magnifying glass making it like the lens is closer to the sensor. And it gets more complicated when it's not just one side thats curved, but I don't really remember too much about optics haha
Aug 12 2011 12:31AM
1 1
profile picture
TaranItUp
Posts: 1313 - Karma: 802
So my sister has a few old canon fd lenses and now I am wondering, should I buy the adapter?
Aug 12 2011 1:07AM
1 1
profile picture
1337
Posts: 31038 - Karma: 29,000
sell them and buy some other vintage glass. not worth your money
Aug 12 2011 1:09AM
1 1
profile picture
Tanner-D
Posts: 2061 - Karma: 4,116
Just curious what kind of "other" vintage glass is worth it I'm always in the market
Aug 12 2011 1:18AM
1 1
profile picture
1337
Posts: 31038 - Karma: 29,000
Zeiss
Helios
Nikon/Nikkor
some vivitar primes
pentax
SMC's
Aug 12 2011 1:24AM
1 1
profile picture
Sklar
Posts: 8863 - Karma: 31,577
Olympus OM zuiko 28mm f/3.5
Not super fast, but super small and incredibly sharp. I really like this lens
Aug 12 2011 1:32AM
1 1
profile picture
TaranItUp
Posts: 1313 - Karma: 802
I would, but they are my sisters and not mine.
Aug 12 2011 11:46AM
1 1
profile picture
50in07
Posts: 3070 - Karma: 1,471
I have a Nikon 28mm 3.5 and love it.
Aug 12 2011 12:37PM
1 1
profile picture
hollygrove
Posts: 7845 - Karma: 93
Looking to get a Pentax SMC adapter to Canon but cant seem to find on on ebay. Only the PK adapter is showing in my search. Anyone want to link me? Thanks.
Aug 12 2011 1:22PM
1 1
profile picture
alexat955
Posts: 2732 - Karma: 112
Pentax smc isn't a mount. It's either the k mount or m42 screw mount
Aug 12 2011 1:54PM
1 1
profile picture
hollygrove
Posts: 7845 - Karma: 93
Now I know. Thanks alot man.
Aug 12 2011 2:05PM
1 1
profile picture
eheath
Posts: 61084 - Karma: 117,924
Yeah, pk is what you want.
Aug 12 2011 3:02PM
1 1
profile picture
S.C
Posts: 3068 - Karma: 2,281
unless he has the M42 version
Aug 13 2011 11:31AM
1 1
profile picture
TijmenDal
Posts: 4849 - Karma: 1,295
Love my vintage glass.
To be honest, I mostly have just vintage glass.
The only non-vintage glass I have are my Canon 85mm f/1.8 (which is the best thing ever) and the 50mm f/1.8

I want to replace the 50mm f/1.8 for an SMC Takumar 50mm f/1.4 (or at least add that one).
Vintage glass I have now:
- Olympus OM Zuiko 28mm f/3.5, mentioned above: super light, tiny and very nice contrast. Awesome lens! Am looking to upgrade to the 24mm f/2.8 version though. Would like that tad bit wider at times I think. Though Samyang is releasing a 24mm too (at the end of the year/beginning 2012), which is undoubtedly going to be good that's probably worth considering. OM Mount.
- SMC Takumar 135mm f/3.5. Nice thing. Not very fast, which sometimes blows, but for the price it's really good. Thinking of upgrading to the SMC 135mm f/2.5. I just love the 135mm focal length on a crop. M42 mount.
- Vivitar Komine 135mm f/2.8. Haven't really had a change to use this lens yet, but so far it doesn't look like it's something very special, but for 10€ I figured I'd give it a try.


Love this thread already!
Aug 13 2011 7:37PM
1 1
profile picture
.jon
Posts: 2121 - Karma: 345
I made this mistake. I came across a SMC Pentax 55mm f/1.8 so I researched and thought I needed the PK-EOS adapter... but after trying it out today it's pretty clear I needed the M42-EOS adapter. Kinda sucks, but it's only a ten dollar loss I guess.
Aug 13 2011 9:24PM
1 1
profile picture
Ethan.G
Posts: 1166 - Karma: 465
I got a Nikon 50 1.2 and best of all I got it for free from my grandpa
Aug 14 2011 12:33PM
1 1
profile picture
I.B
Posts: 8137 - Karma: 24,354
I haz old camera.
Aug 14 2011 1:59PM
1 1
profile picture
Balto
Posts: 25985 - Karma: 4,398
those are soooooo soft from f2 and up though

probably the best old 50 you can buy is the rokkor 58 1.2, it takes a bit of work to convert it to eos (not sure about anything else), but everything I've seen seems to tell me it's well worth it. I'm going to be picking one up to replace my smc 50 1.4 when i come into some money

Click for larger image
Aug 14 2011 2:25PM
1 1
profile picture
TijmenDal
Posts: 4849 - Karma: 1,295
Fuck me, fuck me, fuck me...!

Just passed on the deal of a lifetime:
- Super-Takumar 50mm f/1.4
- Meyer-Gorlitz Orestor 135mm f/2.8
- Mir-1B 37mm f/2.8
- Pentacon 200mm f/4 (the zebra one)
- Jupiter 37A 135mm f/3.5

For 100€. OMFG! Should've jumped on it as soon as I saw it.
e-mailed the seller asking some questions and I got a response this morning which I didn't see because for some reason Thunderbird didn't load my e-mails.

Now, just saw the e-mails now and the set is gone.

All that beautiful glass for just 100€!!! OMFG! All those lenses are really good... I hate myself... Aaargh!
Aug 14 2011 3:45PM
1 1
profile picture
hollygrove
Posts: 7845 - Karma: 93
Would this be the same in my case then? Looking to order this later today. Do I go PK or M42?
Aug 14 2011 4:25PM
1 1
profile picture
*simba*
Posts: 9125 - Karma: 511
I've got an old Tamron 28mm f2.5. Boom.
Aug 14 2011 4:28PM
1 1
profile picture
alexat955
Posts: 2732 - Karma: 112
look at the mount. If it is like threads then it's m42 and if it's a bayonette then it's pk
Aug 14 2011 5:21PM
1 1
profile picture
edd1e
Posts: 679 - Karma: 16
I have a sony alpha a55 (soon to be a77 ) Alpha/minolta af mount.

Minolta 70-210mm f4 Beercan $150 (25 years old,mint, has AF and focus confirm, no adaptor)

Helios 44 f2 58mm $40 Ebay. Im not sure mine has the swirly bokeh...

Asahi Pentax Super Takumar 1.8 55mm . I love this lens I just need to get some filter stop down rings for its 49mm thread size. Mint condition 3000 Yen. From a shop in Osaka.

I live in Japan so there are alot of Pentax lenses here.



I want a 24mm prime and maybe a 14mm wideangle . I may go with the new Samyangs for both of these. Its hard to find an affordable vintage wide-angle.
Aug 15 2011 1:08AM
1 1
profile picture
Balto
Posts: 25985 - Karma: 4,398
I'm looking to sell one of my pentax super-t 50 1.4's, body is in alright shape, focus is smooth and aperture blades work perfectly. there are a few specs of dust on the inside, and 1 small sec on the front element(nothing a few seconds in post can't fix). I'll get some pictures tomorrow, but if anyone wants to pick up a fast classic fifty, ill let it go for 45+ship
Aug 15 2011 2:30AM
1 1
profile picture
Balto
Posts: 25985 - Karma: 4,398
forgot to say it's an m42 mount, and these are going for 100+ on ebay
Aug 15 2011 2:36AM
1 1
All times are Eastern (-4)