M42/other lenses with "character"

[Miguel]

Surely the Mamiya/Sekor M42 preset 60mm f 2.8 macro lens should be on your list. Fun and excellent.

M

[pingflood]

Hey, that's a new one to me. Looks interesting from a quick glance--thanks for the tip!

[Nick Siebers]

I have a Tele-Vivitar 85mm f/1.8 lens, it has a T mount, that gives a strange soft glow when wide open, and crazy bokeh. I've never seen another for sale, though. It appears estudlion has one too.

Samples:

[Blue]

I have a small collection of Tamron Adapt-a-matic lenses and I have both versions of the M42 mounts. I already posted this one but here it is again. This is with the Tamron 21mm f3.5 on an early SV body with Kodak BW400cn film and negatives scanned.

Click on the image to view it in a larger size

[Ron Redwood]

Probably not seen much but I've had my Soligor 35 2.0 a long time and like it a lot for landscape/seascape. with a polarizer..i really saturates color in a nice way.

The Vivitar 135 2.8 made by Komine was real nice. No longer have that. Vivitar's contractors varied..I'm sure there were a half dozen different versions.

I got a Meyer Optik Primotar 135..considered it as a convert to M42 for macro (its Exa mount) but probably won't. I do use a Novoflexar 100 mm as a bellows lens..VERY cool. Old Zeiss Tessars had some "charachter"...warm....but you probably can get that from a Super Takumar just as well.

Funny...putting M42's on a new body. They actually CAN do it..yet work easier on a real M42 body.

[Zav]

Originally Posted by thomascdk

Helios 44M-4.

+1
If this kind of rendering is not unique, then I don't know how to call it:

Jupiter 9 also has a strong "character".

Oh and have a look at the "Carl Zeiss Biotar 75mm f1,5".

[eSFotos]

When it comes to bokeh, I'd say Pentacon 135/2.8 Zebra has it all.
But when it comes to special 'character', I have to suggest Trioplan 2.8/100.
Some people don't like it's funky bokeh but it has this special ability to makes the subject glow.

[deadwolfbones]

Originally Posted by Miguel

Surely the Mamiya/Sekor M42 preset 60mm f 2.8 macro lens should be on your list. Fun and excellent.

M

I've actually got this one (but labeled Yashinon/Tomioka) and it is indeed very fun. Picked it up at an estate sale but haven't used it much yet.

Some examples (first shots I took with it, actually, and still the only):

[pingflood]

Jupiter-9 arrived and well, it's dreamy wide open.

[Ben_Edict]

Originally Posted by eSFotos

When it comes to bokeh, I'd say Pentacon 135/2.8 Zebra has it all.
But when it comes to special 'character', I have to suggest Trioplan 2.8/100.
Some people don't like it's funky bokeh but it has this special ability to makes the subject glow.

Your image shows that special character of the lens to its best. Really a great image!

Ben

[Igilligan]

It is one the the craziest 'character' lenses I own... but truly a Dr J / Mr H kind of personality.

Wide open it can shoot crazy shots like these







But other times wide open it can do this


And stopped down to F8 it is just a normal snapshot shooter... (sometimes)


I like it because honestly, you never know what you are gonna get!!!!!

[pingflood]

Geez, you guys are making me look for a Trioplan now...

Forgot I have a Tele-Lentar 135/2.8... threw it on today and damn if it isn't pretty nice wide open. The Industar-50 is next to test, and the OM 50/1.8 since I picked up an OM adapter as well.

[pingflood]

Tele-Lentar. It has a pretty "un-busy" bokeh.

[estudleon]

Originally Posted by Nick Siebers

I have a Tele-Vivitar 85mm f/1.8 lens, it has a T mount, that gives a strange soft glow when wide open, and crazy bokeh. I've never seen another for sale, though. It appears estudlion has one too.

Samples:

Hi Nick

Yes, I have one of the few vivitars 1,8/85.

I find yours pic with very attractive bokeh.

I like the lens very much, it's really has a personal character. It's my first choice to normal portrait. If want to take more nearest image, I use the CZJ 3,5/135.

My second choice, a J-9.

Regards.