The Off-Brand Club!! - Page 13

dws1117 · 09-10-2008, 09:48 AM

Arjay those pictures are stunning. I always enjoy your work no matter what lens your using.

JETninja · 09-10-2008, 01:10 PM

Need some action shots in here!

Promaster 200mm F3.3 I picked up here couple weeks ago for $30! Has a 24yr old 67mm CPL (usually on my Vivitar S1 28-90) and shot ISO100, F5.6. Still learning, trying to remember to capture exp info (press this and this and this) and then get the shot. Focus can be better too...just need practice. Oh yeah, the CA in the last shot can be blinding...lol

marlon · 09-15-2008, 03:49 AM

Maybe someone can provide me with some information on one or both of these lenses, perhaps?

*Blue* · 09-15-2008, 08:53 AM

Cosina is a 3rd party lens manufacturer and have made lenses for several major companies as well as their own name. The have made some less than spectacular lenses as well as some excellent ones such as some of the Voightlander line and currently are making some of the Zeiss lenses in Pentax mount.

Hanimar and Hanimex were names used by Jack Hannes who founded that company after WWII. Apparently, Fujifilm assimilated that name. These lenses and cameras were made by firms all over the world including East & West Germany, Japan and China.

**Damn Brit** · 10-18-2008, 10:24 PM

I just started getting into some of these type of lenses. I recently picked up, among other things, an Accura brand screwmount 300mm 3.9, all metal construction, with a Lentar 2xTC. Two shots I posted with it can be found here; http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/366071-post1.html

This shot, I took today, it's not that good, it has CA, focus is a bit soft. But there's just something about what the combo has produced, the bokeh and the soft hexagonal highlights that makes me want to keep it. It has a nice 3d aspect as well. I boosted colour and sharpened a little in Elements 6.

I think a lot of these lenses, the Taks probably being the best known example, render an image that is very representative of the film look of their original era, hope that makes sense.

These lenses we are talking about in this thread are very important in that they very often open creative doors for our photography.

stevebrot · 10-18-2008, 11:08 PM

Originally Posted by Damn Brit

I just started getting into some of these type of lenses. I recently picked up, among other things, an Accura brand screwmount 300mm 3.9, all metal construction, with a Lentar 2xTC. Two shots I posted with it can be found here; http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/366071-post1.html

This shot, I took today, it's not that good, it has CA, focus is a bit soft. But there's just something about what the combo has produced, the bokeh and the soft hexagonal highlights that makes me want to keep it. It has a nice 3d aspect as well. I boosted colour and sharpened a little in Elements 6.

I think a lot of these lenses, the Taks probably being the best known example, render an image that is very representative of the film look of their original era, hope that makes sense.

These lenses we are talking about in this thread are very important in that they very often open creative doors for our photography.

Thanks for sharing! I saw your fire pictures earlier and vaguely remember that they were taken with a no-name with an off-brand TC. You are correct about many of the older off-brand lenses being representative of what was expected for film lenses of the era. The bar was set pretty high and while lenses like the Taks were and still are excellent, the rest of the field was not far behind. Things like bokeh and geometric highlights were not critically evaluated and some CA was also pretty much the norm.

The cool thing is that we can take these lenses of various pedigree, add them to our creative quiver and get results that we can truly be pleased with. As a pleasant side-affect we can also help to dispel both the elitist aura regarding certain lenses and the stigma associated with others.

Steve

**Damn Brit** · 10-19-2008, 01:55 AM

Steve, your remarks about bokeh, geometric highlights and CA not being critically evaluated got me thinking........................
In those days B, GH and CA would have been more socially acceptable as they were a fact of life with the lens technology at the time. If you watched a movie or, more especially, TV show in the seventies you would more than likely see at least one if not all of those characteristics. Filmmakers and Photographers were forced to make use of them artistically, a similar circumstance people find themselves in now, turning negative aspects in to positive ones. At often below bargain basement prices I would like to add.

*mel* · 10-19-2008, 04:31 AM

Originally Posted by marlon

Maybe someone can provide me with some information on one or both of these lenses, perhaps?

I have that Cosina on the left, same one, 28mm/f2.8. I used it quite a bit on my K1000 and was always happy with it. Playing around with it again on my K10D (nothing serious, just some testing shots around the house wide open, the images seem to be pretty sharp and bright with accurate color rendering.

I got the lens from my Grandmother when I was in college. It was hers, but then she decided I'd get better use out of it.

*maxwell1295* · 10-19-2008, 06:53 AM

Not really an off brand, but it's not a Pentax lens.

Yashinon-DS 50mm/1.4 (M42 mount) @ F1.4

*ovim* · 10-19-2008, 02:02 PM

Heres another Soligor, 55mm f2.8 Macro with M42 thread.

Build quality is very good (all metal, except for the knurled rubber focusing ring), focusing and aperture rings are smoother/better then on my SMC-A 50 f1.7 or on the two Takumars I've used. I learned on MFLenses forum that this same lens has also been sold under the Sears brand.

The lens does 1:2 macro on its own and 1:1 with an adapter. I didn't get the original 1:1 adapter ring with the lens but learned that the "adapter" is really just an extention tube. Now I get 1:1 with one 30mm M42 extention tube.

I haven't had time (or the weather has been lousy) to really use this lens much, but I did shoot some quick test shots this morning (handheld in wind and little bit of rain). There is some softness and vignetting wide open but at f4 and onwards both problems are gone (vignetting goes away after one click).

1:2 (probably f5.6) click for larger version

1:1 (f2.8 I Think) click for larger version

The seller on Ebay was pretty vaque in his description about the lens and I didn't have time to ask any questions because the bid was closing so I just went for it.
Before I held the lens in my hand I believed that I had been suckered because I couldn't find much info on the net, I was the only bidder and the price was a little high.

Now I think the price was just right!

jgredline · 10-19-2008, 04:54 PM

Here are a few images I took last week. A few may have seen these on a different thread. It has been tough to get out and shoot of late..
These are shot with the Cosina 55mm F/1.2 ''killer'' off brand lens...It is far from plasticy as those who own it can attest. It is a fine piece of glass...

**Damn Brit** · 10-19-2008, 06:25 PM

This lens is another I picked up last week. It's a Lentar 28mm F2.8 circa 1970. All metal construction, firm but smooth action.

First shot at f2.8 Second shot at f8.
The shots of the lens are taken with Voigtlander 58 Nokton 1.4, a new lens but made in the traditional way and manual focus. Product shots aren't my strongpoint, sorry.

jgredline · 10-19-2008, 06:45 PM

Gary, That second shot is breathtaking..''eh'' ....nice job...

**Damn Brit** · 10-19-2008, 07:33 PM

Originally Posted by jgredline

Gary, That second shot is breathtaking..''eh'' ....nice job...

Thanks Javier.

*mel* · 10-19-2008, 07:56 PM

Hey Gary I just got a Super Lentar 28/2.8 with a spotmatic on ebay. Mine isn't the auto version though. Is yours skinnier than most lenses? That part of it is kind of wild. Different to be sure. Mine also has 12 aperture blades, which I've heard but have never seen.

However, I think my old Cosina 28/2.8 gives me sharper, brighter images.