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
[J_Gasper]
Posts: 2983 - Karma: 1,594
Should say under 150 actually
Apr 2 2012 8:45PM
1 0
profile picture
bakedpow
Posts: 8770 - Karma: 10,462
Look into more pentax. I got a pentax 135 and love it.
Apr 3 2012 1:15AM
1 0
profile picture
TijmenDal
Posts: 4849 - Karma: 1,295

85mm's are really expensive, even the old ones.
Jupiter 9 is probably your best shot. It will run you about 150$. Personally I would recommend you to dish out another 100$ and get the Samyang 85mm f/1.4. Super nice lens for a good price (270$ish or so).

135mm:
Carl Zeiss Jena f/3.5
S-M-C Takumar 135mm f/3.5
Vivitar (Komine build, serial starts with 28) 135mmm f/2.8
Meyer Orestor 135mm f/2.8
Pentacon 135mm f/2.8
Jupiter 37

Can't really go wrong with any of those.

A 200mm prime won't be very good likely. I got a 200mm Soligor in T2 mount that's pretty good, but I wouldn't know which manufacturer made it. It's pretty much hit-and-miss with 200mm's.
You can look into the Nikkor 200m f/4, SMC Takumar 200mm f/4 and Tamron Adaptall 200m f/3.5. Those are some decent ones out there that aren't to costy.
Apr 3 2012 6:06AM
1 0
profile picture
steezysteeze
Posts: 1739 - Karma: 1,012
Could anybody recommend a f1.4 or preferably f1.2 50 on the cheaper side? For my t2i I have my moms old praktika 50mm f1.8 and 70mm f2.8 but the 50 isn't the sharpest and I'd really like something with copious amounts of bokeh.

Karma to anybody who can help me out!
Apr 3 2012 6:29AM
1 0
profile picture
TijmenDal
Posts: 4849 - Karma: 1,295
SMC Takumar
Olympus Zuiko

Those are your best bets. Can be had for around 80-100$. If you're willing to spend more, get the Contax C/Y Zeiss 50mm f/1.4 Will run you 250$, but is amazing.

1.2's: Zuiko 55mm or Rokkor converted to EF 58mm are both nice. Those are the cheapest f/1.2's. Will run you 300-350$. There's also the Canon FL f/1.2 in 58 and 55mm. I think the 55mm is the better version but I wouldn't know exactly. The Canon FL's aren't nearly as nice as the Rokkor and Olympus.

Those 55mm Zuiko and 58mm Rokkor are the first versions. In my opinion the best 'cheap' F/1.2 is the Rokkor-X, should run you like 400$, but you would have to get it converted to EF and that will cost you a lot as well. Get the Zuiko for most convenient/cheapest/best quality.
Apr 3 2012 11:40AM
1 0
profile picture
EC-Skier
Posts: 3899 - Karma: 668
just found this 135 2.8
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Petri-CC-Auto-F2-8-135mm-M42-Mount-Lens-For-SLR-DSLR-Cameras-Pictures-/330709340986?pt=Camera_Lenses&hash=item4cffd0133a#ht_10390wt_952

I don't know much about brands, maybe it is not a nice brand, i don't know. Just found it
Apr 3 2012 11:48AM
1 0
profile picture
TijmenDal
Posts: 4849 - Karma: 1,295
Rokkor-X converted to EF. Best 'cheap' f/1.2 out there.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Minolta-MC-Rokkor-X-58-mm-f-1-2-MC-Lens-SN-2716380-Converted-to-EOS-/320877781445?pt=Camera_Lenses&hash=item4ab5ce61c5

Oh, and I forgot to mention the Canon FL's are actually cheaper than the Zuiko/Rokkor but also optically worse.
Apr 3 2012 11:51AM
1 0
profile picture
1337
Posts: 31038 - Karma: 29,003
you gotta go with the 58 if you get a 1,2. It's such a dreamy lens
Apr 3 2012 12:20PM
1 0
profile picture
TijmenDal
Posts: 4849 - Karma: 1,295
I know right? I'd really like one, but it's too expensive. Am probably picking up the Contax Zeiss 1.4 for now... Not too big a fan of my SMC Tak.
Apr 4 2012 3:49AM
1 0
profile picture
Moosen
Posts: 4285 - Karma: 2,585
i have a venus 135mm f/2.8 i love it
Apr 4 2012 3:58AM
1 0
profile picture
TijmenDal
Posts: 4849 - Karma: 1,295
Never heard of that lens. Could you post some samples?
Apr 4 2012 10:31AM
1 0
profile picture
zbphoto
Posts: 7789 - Karma: 12,037
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/150788954972?ssPageName=STRK%3AMESELX%3AIT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649#ht_762wt_1299
Apr 4 2012 11:18AM
1 0
profile picture
steezysteeze
Posts: 1739 - Karma: 1,012
Thanks Dude! I think it would be more worth while to get the Zuiko or the Zeiss. Then maybe down the road get a canon eos 1.2 it I really feel like upgrading. Would the Takumar and Zuiko be significantly worse than the Zeiss?
Apr 4 2012 5:24PM
1 0
profile picture
Sklar
Posts: 8863 - Karma: 31,577
bumping this to the new page, soo much alt glass
Apr 4 2012 5:41PM
1 0
profile picture
[J_Gasper]
Posts: 2983 - Karma: 1,594
Seems like some of these are hard to come buy now. Anyway... Im looking for either an SMC or S-M-C Takumar 50mm f/1.4 M42 Mount. Paypal is ready.

Also looking for SMC Takumar 135mm f/3.5 or 2.8

PM me!
Apr 4 2012 10:43PM
1 0
profile picture
Moosen
Posts: 4285 - Karma: 2,585
Here you go. Don't really have any pictures with it yet. Need to get out and take some. It's a lot of sexy glass

Click for larger image
Click for larger image
Click for larger image
Click for larger image
Click for larger image

Apr 4 2012 11:50PM
1 0
profile picture
.Ian.
Posts: 1568 - Karma: 71
I've been getting into some vintage glass stuff lately for my more "personal" photography stuff, mainly because it's cheap. Haha.

I got a Pentax 28mm 2.8 in Nikon mount for $40.
A Soligor 28mm 2.8 in Nikon mount for $30, so now I ordered basically 2 of the same lenses for almost the same price, just because the Soligor seemed like a good deal haha. I'm probably going to test out which one I prefer better, and then I'm planning on giving the other one to my mom.
I also have an old Pentax K1000 that I shoot on occasionally and I have a 50mm f/2 for that, and I'm wondering how that would perform on my Nikon D7000. Would it be worth it to buy an adapter for it? I think it's possible, the 50mm is a Pentax K mount I wanna say, to Nikon f mount. Anyone know if they make those?
Apr 6 2012 8:34AM
1 0
profile picture
.Ian.
Posts: 1568 - Karma: 71
Sorry about my wording on that. "Adapted" to nikon mount. It obviously wasn't made in Nikon F mount haha.
Apr 6 2012 8:36AM
1 0
profile picture
TijmenDal
Posts: 4849 - Karma: 1,295
Pentax K isn't adaptable to Nikon sadly. Too bad!
Apr 6 2012 9:34AM
1 0
profile picture
TijmenDal
Posts: 4849 - Karma: 1,295
Oh, and I just got back from a walk-around through the park. Finally got to use my Helios-44 for more than a few shots. Will post results later.

*Off to LR*
Apr 6 2012 9:36AM
1 0
profile picture
.Ian.
Posts: 1568 - Karma: 71
Damn that sucks! Oh well, it's still a good lens on my K1000
Apr 6 2012 9:44AM
1 0
profile picture
zbphoto
Posts: 7789 - Karma: 12,037
So jealous, I want a wide for my k1000 so badly.
Apr 6 2012 10:33AM
1 0
profile picture
TijmenDal
Posts: 4849 - Karma: 1,295
You call 28mm wide? If that's the case there's a million good 28mm's out there for less than 50 bucks...
Apr 6 2012 5:22PM
1 0
profile picture
.Ian.
Posts: 1568 - Karma: 71
Well using film, I consider 28mm to be kind of wide too. It's not ultra-wide or anything, but it is definitely considered wide.
Apr 6 2012 5:28PM
1 0
profile picture
nkmo.
Posts: 3994 - Karma: 285
Just got my Helios the other day. Weathers been kinda shit, but I went out a snapped a few shots.

Click for larger image
Click for larger image
Click for larger image
Apr 6 2012 6:55PM
1 0
profile picture
zbphoto
Posts: 7789 - Karma: 12,037
Picking up 3 fd's with an F1 + grip and a Nikon 135mm 2.8 for my Nikkormat from my grandpa, stoked!
Apr 7 2012 12:20PM
1 0
profile picture
TijmenDal
Posts: 4849 - Karma: 1,295
Nice work!
I'm really loving the Helios bokeh more-and-more!

Here's a few of mine. All shot wide open on the Helios-44:
Click for larger image

Click for larger image

Click for larger image
Apr 7 2012 5:19PM
1 0
profile picture
TijmenDal
Posts: 4849 - Karma: 1,295
God-damnit I hate the NS quality rape! I'd pay to get better quality photo's...
Apr 7 2012 5:20PM
1 0
profile picture
zbphoto
Posts: 7789 - Karma: 12,037
28mm on full frame would be a wide standard. I'm hoping to pick up a 24 2.8 K for the summer, 28 is to much like a 35 which is to close to my 50...
Apr 7 2012 6:31PM
1 0
profile picture
goodiepocket
Posts: 950 - Karma: 640
here's my current 'vintage glass' that I have...

Nikkor-
24 2.8
35 2
50 1.4
35-70 3.5 (micro)
80-200 4.5

Pentax
135 3.5

Volna
80 2.8 (still need to find the right mount for this guy)

Apr 7 2012 6:56PM
1 0
profile picture
TijmenDal
Posts: 4849 - Karma: 1,295
Nice. Those three Nikkor primes are really good!
Apr 7 2012 7:06PM
1 0
profile picture
goodiepocket
Posts: 950 - Karma: 640
thanks! yeaa I am really pleased with all of them...especially the 50
Apr 7 2012 7:11PM
1 0
profile picture
EARL
Posts: 598 - Karma: 3,052
love it!
Apr 8 2012 12:56AM
1 0
profile picture
TijmenDal
Posts: 4849 - Karma: 1,295
Thanks man, I like it as well. Really love the Helios! I actually like it much better than my S-M-C Takumar 50mm f/1.4. I love the Helios' bokeh.
Apr 8 2012 5:11AM
1 0
profile picture
goodiepocket
Posts: 950 - Karma: 640
I have been thinking of picking one of them up because I think they look absolutely fantastic. that picture, as posted above, may have just sold me on it.
Apr 8 2012 9:48AM
1 0
profile picture
[J_Gasper]
Posts: 2983 - Karma: 1,594
Damn. Might look into that now, or just buy both.
Apr 8 2012 9:51AM
1 0
profile picture
TijmenDal
Posts: 4849 - Karma: 1,295
Thanks guys.

There's one advantage of the Takumar vs 2 of the Helios when filming (I presume you both are, since everybody on here is).

- The Takumar is faster: f/1.4 vs f/2 on the Helios

- The Helios has a longer focus throw, thus making it easier to focus
- The Helios doesn't have a preset aperture blade, meaning it does not 'click' when adjusting the aperture. It also has 8 vs 6 blades, so it has a smoother bokeh.

And on top of that, the Takumar is about 4/5 times as much as the Helios-44 is. I would recommend buying one and just trying it out. It doesn't hurt to have and it's always nice to have a spare, fast 50mm.
Apr 8 2012 10:56AM
1 0
profile picture
zbphoto
Posts: 7789 - Karma: 12,037
Worth converting fd's, I know their a bitch but that 50 1.4!isntack shape and it would be such a fast tele on my 60d?
Apr 8 2012 5:13PM
1 0
profile picture
zbphoto
Posts: 7789 - Karma: 12,037
By converting I mean with an adapter, I need the lenses for my F1 as well.
Apr 8 2012 5:18PM
1 0
profile picture
zbphoto
Posts: 7789 - Karma: 12,037
If anyone is interested, its in pretty decent condition for its age, its a little dusty and the focus ring is a little slow but other than that its fine. Let me know and we can figure out a price.

Click for larger image
Apr 10 2012 8:21PM
1 0
profile picture
TijmenDal
Posts: 4849 - Karma: 1,295
Even though it isn't a vintage lens, I picked up a Samyang 35mm f/1.4 yesterday for an amazing price. SOOO sharp (if you get the focus right. It's inrecible!

Next lens is probably going to be the S-M-C Tak 135mm f/2.5 (second version). Then I'm all set for lenses. Maybe the Contax *T 135mm, but not sure about that. Oh, and I also want the Olympus 24mm f/2.0. Then I'm REALLY all set. So I need about another 200€ to finished my dream line-up. Hopefully I won't change my mind after that.
Apr 11 2012 4:05AM
1 0
profile picture
1337
Posts: 31038 - Karma: 29,003
the samyangs are so sick. you can get a 24/35/85 1,4 set for $1500 NEW. thats such a good deal if you consider the price for the canon equivs are about that much for a single lens.
Apr 11 2012 6:52AM
1 0
profile picture
TijmenDal
Posts: 4849 - Karma: 1,295
Yeah. If you're shooting video and haven't got too much to spend, Samyang is the way to go for sure.

I've yet to see much sample pics from the 24mm, but the ones I've seen are awesome.
Apr 11 2012 9:57AM
1 0
profile picture
hollygrove
Posts: 7845 - Karma: 93
bokeh isnt everything you guys.
Apr 11 2012 11:48AM
1 0
profile picture
TijmenDal
Posts: 4849 - Karma: 1,295
But sharpness stopped down is. Samyang renders beautifully.
Apr 11 2012 11:56AM
1 0
profile picture
Laurent.
Posts: 10054 - Karma: 25,277
Zenit 11 that I bought at the queens day flea market for one euro.
With Helios 44m f2 (and case.)

Everything works perfectly, including the selenium light meter.

Click for larger image
Click for larger image
May 22 2012 6:34PM
0 0
profile picture
Balto
Posts: 25985 - Karma: 4,398
been looking at the canon 7 for that reason, gets some what annoying have to carry my light meter with me when shooting a small slr/rangefinder
May 22 2012 6:38PM
0 0
profile picture
Laurent.
Posts: 10054 - Karma: 25,277
It's rather crude and slow procces on this Sovjet beast.

(Manually set ISO, point, turn knob to match needle indicator with sliding O thingy, read out the correct shutter speed with the chosen aperture, set shutter speed, take picture.)

But it works rather well, the meter is spot on. And unlike my Nikon F it doesn't use insanely expensive batteries to work properly.


May 22 2012 6:51PM
0 0
profile picture
miroz
Posts: 10333 - Karma: 3,947
My eyes are much widened after reading this thread. Collecting slash learning slash messing with glass seems fun as fuck...I'm intrigued...!
May 23 2012 1:11AM
0 0
profile picture
.Ian.
Posts: 1568 - Karma: 71
So pumped, getting a free Olympus Om-1 from some guy. I'll let you guys know how it is!
May 29 2012 9:20AM
0 0
All times are Eastern (-4)