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June, 2025

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The Official Vintage Glass Thread

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S.C
Posts: 3071 - Karma: 2,523
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!
14 years ago
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S.C
Posts: 3071 - Karma: 2,523
bokeh on my 50mm 1.4 pentax-m smc

14 years ago
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TijmenDal
Posts: 4849 - Karma: 1,296
Wow nice!

I really want the S-M-C 50mm f/1.4.
14 years ago
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Ethan.G
Posts: 1166 - Karma: 465
meh yeah it's not horrible though.

it's incredibly sharp when stopped down a bit
14 years ago
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YooperSteeze
Posts: 1248 - Karma: 45
I figured this would be the best place to ask. My mo
14 years ago
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YooperSteeze
Posts: 1248 - Karma: 45
Fffaaaaiiiillll. Damn iPones
14 years ago
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YooperSteeze
Posts: 1248 - Karma: 45
I suck so much. My mom found a lens in our house the other day. It was the kit lens from a camera she got a good 25+ years ago, that camera met its demise when my dad ran it over with a bulldozer, but thats a story for another day. Anyways, the lens says "KATANA MC 1:3.5/4.5 f=35-70mm 52(o with a slash through it) No.406133" anybody have useful info? As in potential value or useability? I have a t2i.
14 years ago
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alexat955
Posts: 2732 - Karma: 112
any idea what the camera was? im guessing that the lens wont be that great if its adaptable to your t2i. its off brand which generally doesnt mean great things... and its variable aperture too. i wouldnt be surprised if it wasnt even as good as the t2i kit lens
14 years ago
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YooperSteeze
Posts: 1248 - Karma: 45
My mom knows it wasn't a canon or a nikon, and her best guess is it was a pentax. Other than that she has no clue. Thanks for the help, i'd +k you but alas I'm on an iPhone. I'll see if I can find a cheap adapter for and just try and see.
14 years ago
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bakedpow
Posts: 8770 - Karma: 10,468
What would be the best place to purchase vintage lenses? Ebay?
14 years ago
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ChucklesNorman.
Posts: 1197 - Karma: 706
Just got a yashica YUS 135mm f2.8 for 10 bucks on craigslist. Will post with results!
14 years ago
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chacharlie
Posts: 228 - Karma: 20
In my experience ebay is rarely the best place. anyone savvy enough to be selling on ebay is going to look up lenses and find out what they're going for, and price for a fat margin. KEH is fantastic if you have a specific lens you want. As it has been said, CL is absolutely the best. When people find a box of lenses in their aunt's attic, they throw them on CL because its free and easy, and they have no idea what they're worth. I've gotten a nikon 50 1.4 ais for 30 bucks, 105 2.5 for 50, and an 80-200 push pull for 175$. the key is to check often and never be in a hurry to find a lens, wait for the deal to appear. I'd been wanting those lenses for a while and could have spend 5 times as much if i was in a hurry to buy them. patience is key.
14 years ago
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eheath
Posts: 61964 - Karma: 126,855
ebay and keh.com
14 years ago
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bakedpow
Posts: 8770 - Karma: 10,468
Would you suggest going with the non mfg?
14 years ago
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eheath
Posts: 61964 - Karma: 126,855
ahh i dunno, i bought a 20mm 3.8 vivitar from there once. If it lists the name of the lens, look it up on google and see if its legit. The internet literally has a review on every lens ever made. Id stick with bigger brands; nikon, canon, pentax, vivitar, minolta, etc.
14 years ago
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steep
Posts: 6063 - Karma: 298
Just picked up a pentax 50mm 1.4! Stoked!
14 years ago
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alexat955
Posts: 2732 - Karma: 112
pentax can be adapted, itll either be m42 (screw) mount or k (bayonet) mount. i mean it cant hurt to pick up an adapter, worst comes to worst you only lost $15 haha
14 years ago
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.Max.
Posts: 2930 - Karma: 701

50mm f/1.2 Test from Max Erickson on Vimeo.

A few shots, day and night, with my Pentax SMC 50mm f/1.2. All shot on a Canon 60d with an iso of 1200 and under.

14 years ago
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GreenHorn
Posts: 4896 - Karma: 1,209
Interested in this. I could use a cheap 135
14 years ago
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eheath
Posts: 61964 - Karma: 126,855
The nikon 135 2.8 is a good lens too, you can find the non-ai version (the one i have) for under 50 bucks.
14 years ago
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1337
Posts: 31080 - Karma: 29,700
save it for the 135L, its bokeh and sharpness will blow your mind

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=105818
14 years ago
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andstuff
Posts: 1118 - Karma: 61
Pretty sharp, but Canon bokeh is ugly to me.
14 years ago
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Bloc_chain
Posts: 26051 - Karma: 4,433
you do understand the HUGE price difference between an L lens and a vintage lens right? He did say he wants a CHEAP lens

i just picked up a vivitar 28mm f2.5 on ebay for $20
14 years ago
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1337
Posts: 31080 - Karma: 29,700
I know i know
14 years ago
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eheath
Posts: 61964 - Karma: 126,855
Ignore this. Buy a 50 dollar nikon 135. You really don't need the 135L unless you only shoot portraits.
14 years ago
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blatt
Posts: 5584 - Karma: 3,097
135 primes are generally only used in portrait photography. Get one of the canon 70-200's depending on your budget and need for lowlight performance if you're sold on a telephoto lens. It would really help if we knew your budget, what lenses you have, and what lenses you're looking at.
14 years ago
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bakedpow
Posts: 8770 - Karma: 10,468
Looks like i am going to pick up a pentax smc 50 1.4...
14 years ago
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GreenHorn
Posts: 4896 - Karma: 1,209
Reeeealy interested in one of those. It would be awesome if you could post your thoughts on it once you get it.
14 years ago
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YooperSteeze
Posts: 1248 - Karma: 45
I know is not a screw mount, but what is bayonet style? The mount on this lens is like eos but smaller.
14 years ago
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eheath
Posts: 61964 - Karma: 126,855
There should be a brand name on the lens. And a bayonet is like any other lens, it has a special mount. If its pentax, its pentax K mount. If its nikon its nikon F and if its an old canon its probably canon FD.
14 years ago
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bakedpow
Posts: 8770 - Karma: 10,468
http://www.keh.com/camera/Pentax-Manual-Focus-Fixed-Focal-Length-Lenses/1/sku-PK0601070018805?r=FE

What kind of adapter should i get for this lens? And is this a good purchase?
14 years ago
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eheath
Posts: 61964 - Karma: 126,855
I have that exact lens and its a PK mount (pentax k mount) you might be able to find it cheaper.
14 years ago
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bakedpow
Posts: 8770 - Karma: 10,468
Where did you buy yours?
14 years ago
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eheath
Posts: 61964 - Karma: 126,855
I acquired mine, but they go for like 30 on ebay sometimes. Always cross check with ebay and keh.com, sometime keh.com has good prices, sometimes it has bad prices.
14 years ago
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bakedpow
Posts: 8770 - Karma: 10,468
47 seems like a decent price for me.
14 years ago
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TijmenDal
Posts: 4849 - Karma: 1,296
I'm looking to pick up an upgrade to my SMC Takumar 135mm f/3.5 to the f/2.5 version. Saw one listed, but it's in K mount. I'm pretty sure there it just works on Canon, but just checking. K-mount+Canon works 100% right?

14 years ago
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alexat955
Posts: 2732 - Karma: 112
Yes
14 years ago
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Bloc_chain
Posts: 26051 - Karma: 4,433
if you have an aps-c sensor yes, 1.3/FF need to have the mirror shaved to avoid it hitting
14 years ago
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bakedpow
Posts: 8770 - Karma: 10,468
I just got a pentax smc 50mm f2 for 10 bucks...
14 years ago
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Tanner-D
Posts: 2061 - Karma: 4,116
Whats a good wider vintage lens something below a 35mm?
14 years ago
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ChucklesNorman.
Posts: 1197 - Karma: 706
olympus zuiko 28mm
14 years ago
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Tanner-D
Posts: 2061 - Karma: 4,116
hmmm seems good are there any vintage lenses that would be wide enough to get some good ski follow cams?
14 years ago
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ChucklesNorman.
Posts: 1197 - Karma: 706
Havn't done too much research but look into the zenitar 16mm. It's about 200 but pretty nice I think. It's fisheye on full frame but it looses it's distorion on a crop sensor.
14 years ago
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Bloc_chain
Posts: 26051 - Karma: 4,433
I've really been enjoying my pentax 50 1.4, everyone should go buy one right now
14 years ago
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steep
Posts: 6063 - Karma: 298
can't wait for mine!
14 years ago
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Bloc_chain
Posts: 26051 - Karma: 4,433
here's some stoke for you (click for high res)

Click for larger image

DAT CREAMY BOKEH
14 years ago
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1337
Posts: 31080 - Karma: 29,700
do you have an AF confirm adapter?
14 years ago
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Bloc_chain
Posts: 26051 - Karma: 4,433
no, I'm not a bitch
14 years ago
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[evan]
Posts: 5628 - Karma: 117
That kids ass was uncomofrtably close to that other kids face.
14 years ago
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1337
Posts: 31080 - Karma: 29,700
good
14 years ago
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207
Posts: 8969 - Karma: 3,852
i loled


does anyone know anything about the nikon or canon 70-210 4.0's or 4.0-5.6 (the only reason i'm including the 4.0-5.6) is because I've heard that its sharper than the 4.0
14 years ago
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