top three manual lenses

[xpiotiavos]

ok, here's one that kindof interests me as a young gun to photography (read

here: film is a foreign concept to me).<P>

What are your three favorite lenses with manual aperture (i.e., with an aperture

ring)?

[rogerdaltx]

All of my manual lenses are older M42 glass. My top three would have to be. Zeiss Jena Flektogon 35mm f/2.4 - a tiny compact close focusing little wonder, but not as sharp as my Pentax FA limited's. The Takumar SMC 50mm f/1.4 - my best 50mm and wonderful build quality. And my Pentacon 135mm f/2.8 - a.k.a the bokeh monster. The bokeh on this thing is so creamy smooth and the built in hood is handy. But none of these get used much any more due to all the Pentax AF glass I've purchased over the last year. And I just don't like switching between M42 and Kaf in the field.

 

/Roger

[miserere_mei]

You can have automatic aperture with an aperture ring (Pentax-A lenses). So are you asking about our favourite M42 and Pentax-K and -M lenses?

[JDMvW]

A lens that is a monster on a small camera, but incredibly sharp is the 6x6 cm (medium) format lens the 180mm f/2.8 Sonnar.

 

For M42 mount, the wonderful Biotar f/2.0. Later versions even have fairly decent lens coatings.

 

 

Of course, there are a number of superb Takumars. One of those would be my third favorite in "Pentax" mounts. Perhaps not one of those with the radioactive rare earths that turn brown with age, however! ;)

[godfrey]

SMC Pentax-FA 43mm f/1.9 Limited.

 

Godfrey

[xpiotiavos]

Mis: doesn't really matter. just as long as you can manually set the aperture.

[miserere_mei]

So basically, which 3 non-DA lenses we like best, right?

 

Well, my current workhorse lens is a Toyo 28mm f/2.8 in K-mount. It might have been built by Kiron, I'm not sure. When not using the 28mm, I use a Sigma Super-Wide II 24mm f/2.8 in KA-mount. I'm trying to figure out which one is the better lens (the 24mm or the 28mm) so I can just stick with one. I'm hoping it's the Sigma so I don't have to get stuck with the stop-down metering of the Toyo.

 

I'm trying to learn to love the Jupiter 85/2 in M42 mount.

 

I use the Sigma APO 70-300mm a lot more than I expected, and it performs a lot better than anyone would expect for a $220 lens.

[michael_kuhne]

I vote with Godfrey. Then for me, the FA 77mm f/1.8 Limited. From there it becomes more complicated. For a mid/wide fast prime, my FA 35mm f/2, and for a wide angle fast prime it's the Sigma EX 24mm f/1.8 DG. Short- to mid tele zoom, my Tokina 28-70mm f/2.6-2.8 Pro II. The long tele Sigma 70-300mm APO DG Miserere mentions is an outstanding value as well.

 

Most of my lenses have aperture rings, as I still do often shoot film.

[michael_kuhne]

Incidently, digital is a near-foreign concept to me!

[rogerdaltx]

Oh, I misunderstood the question... you said manual and I think manual focus. Best three non DA lenses I own with an aperture ring... that's easy. The FA 43mm limited FA 31mm Limited (This one is tucked under my pillow at night; it's my new blinkie), and until the 77mm Limited get's here next week I have to go with the Sigma 70-300 APO. Like Mis says it's amazing for the price.

 

/Roger

[mike_gatch]

the super takumar 105mm f2.8 is great. love the contrast and the crisp images it gives. and the SMC Sup Tak 50mm f1.4 WITH radioactive element is great. they yellow, they get a week on the window sill and it's all good.

 

then the Pentax-M 28mm f2.8 is also a very nice lens.

 

hell, really all of the old super takumar lenses are great, I use them from time to time on different shoots, just depends on my mood i guess.

[monochromekx]

Adam: Understanding that I am referencing the lenses in <u>my</u> bag, not necessarily describing the BEST 3 manual lenses in the universe:<p>

<ol>

<li>Sharpness: Vivitar S1 105mm f/2.5 Macro & SMC PENTAX 28mm f/3.5 & smc PENTAX-M 50mm f/1.7</li>

<li>Color: SMC PENTAX 35mm f/3.5 & SMC PENTAX 35mm f/2 AL</li>

<li>Most fun to use: Asahi Pentax Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 50mm f/1.4 & SMC PENTAX 50mm f/1.4</li></ol><p>I know, I fudged on the number of lenses. The series is so close that these choices are almost random.

</ol>

[pgavalis]

From my current collection: Takumar 55mm/1.8, Takumar 100mm/1:4, and SMC Pentax-A 70-210mm/1:4 (I hated this lens at first but I am starting to love it). Is the Vivitar REALLY that much better? Your input would be appreciated. My roadmap has changed but considering I paid $75 for all 3, I cannot complain.

[bkpix]

FA* 24/2.

[markus maurer]

Takumar M42 : 50mm macro F4, SMC 85mm F 1.8, SMC 35mm F 3.5,

Pentax A-series: 50mm macro F 2.8, 24mm F 2.8, 50mm F 1.7

Tamron : SP 90mm macro F 2.5, SP 70-150mm F 2.8

[monochromekx]

@Pete: the Vivitar Series 1 70~210 f/2.8~4 has achieved cult crazy status. It probably is sharper than the corresponding Pentax lens, was one of the best lenses made in its day - and it remains today a fine lens (I have owned the first three versions - certified LBA), but the color balance is somehow warmer than a Pentax lens. Those who really know say this is due to coatings difference.<p>If you haven't seen Mark Roberts' pages yet, go here<p>

<A HREF="http://www.robertstech.com/vivitar.htm"> Mark Roberts' Vivitar Series 1 Macro Zooms Page </a><p>There is also a huge website on Cult Classic lenses (non-OEM, for the most part) by Robert Monaghan here<p><A HREF="http://medfmt.8k.com/third/index.html"> Third Party Lenses Resource Megasite </a><p>This website is UP right now, but is down quite a lot - take advantage of the opportunity to read more than you ever wanted to know about the heyday of SLR and independent glass manufacturers.<p>Paul

[monochromekx]

Oops! Down again.

[stemked]

1) Pentax 200mm macro f4 A*

 

2) Pentax 50mm f1.4 A and Super Takumar SMC 1.2

 

3) 77mm f1.7 Limited.

[tommyinca]

1. Pentax 200mm macro f4 A*

2. Pentax 85/1.8 SMC K

3. Pentax 50/1.4 radioactive version or 55/1.8 SMC M42 mount

[ryan_v.]

I absolutely love my Lester A. Dine 105mm 2.8 macro.

[rod_sainty2]

Of the Pentax 35mm lenses I own:

 

1) Pentax-M 20mm f4: Wide wide, very compact, very sharp, fun, but get in close and fill the frame.

 

2) Pentax K 35mm f2: Good for out and about; bright, plenty sharp, nice wide focus and aperture rings, somewhat heavy.

 

3) Pentax K 50mm 1.4: Good for one or two people in low light, nice wide aperture ring; somewhat heavy.

 

Douglas: There's no such thing as a Takumar 50mm 1.2!!

[acrummey]

Well, since it is just manual aperture you need, here are three of my favourites.

 

FA 35mm f2.0 AI my "standard" lens since it approximates a 50mm on a film camera.

 

FA 50mm f1.4 a wonderful portrait lens since it now acts like a 75mm on film. Wonderful Bokeh.

 

A 70-210mm f4 the best manual focus zoom lens I have. I appreciate the constant aperture which is fairly fast.

[miserere_mei]

"Douglas: There's no such thing as a Takumar 50mm 1.2!!"

 

Doug is clearly having to mark way too many papers, because there's no such thing as a 77mm Ltd f/1.7 either!!

 

Doug, maybe you shouldn't post until exams are over. ;-p

[pgavalis]

Thanks Paul. I have visited both of those sites. I would love to see some simple side-by-side samples from both lenses. I've been hunting for one that is reasonably priced but they seem to be pretty scarce...but the hunt is at least half of the fun of the LBA!

[daniel_tong1]

To me it has got to be the manual focus A300mmF4.

 

Very very small (77 mm filter) and likely the smallest of all make

 

http://www.pbase.com/danieltong/image/

 

 

<img src="http://www.pbase.com/danieltong/image/73277811/medium.jpg">

 

 

 

 

It's sharpness is just.....

 

 

 

<img src="http://www.pbase.com/danieltong/image/84579375/original.jpg">

 

 

 

 

Daniel, Toronto