Originally posted by GeneV In a pinch, the DA55-300 is nice on film at F8 or smaller.
It's full-frame ?????
Originally posted by stevebrot Sarcasm regarding film resolution aside, I would like to know where rico gets the Series I Viv for under $50.
eBay, natch. Mine (M42) was US$32.75 including shipping. Check COMPLETED SALES and you'll see them still going for under US$50. Not always, but enough.
Resolution: In
this discussion at mflenses.com,
cooltouch describes resolution tests, and is unsurprised that pro MF gear is available cheap now. The former users dumped their analog Pentaxes, Bronicas, Fujis et al, because digital is just better. And fine-grain 135 film just doesn't compare to a 12mpx sensor, doesn't even come close. I still use it (occasionally) but I'm a perv.
So, back to 135 cams and lenses. Anything from the Kodachrome era is probably quite good. For instance, I have four similar zooms that each cost me US$9: a PK Takumar-A 70-200/4, and three Korean-made near clones: KR Sears 70-210/4, AI Albinar 80-200/3.9, and M42 Sears 80-200/4. For a little more stretch, there's a KAR Promaster (Tamron) 60-300/4-5.6, cost me all of US$13 total.
Zooms aside, there are compelling reasons to shoot 135 SLRs. One is film -- each roll is a string of frames that are clean sensors, in whatever emulsion you desire. No need to IR-mod a camera, just drop in a cart of IR film. Or copy film, or s-l-o-w B&W, or whatever. Another reason is power, or the lack thereof. I keep some ancient folder and boxes and SLRs around because they don't need batteries, so I'm good for an extended blackout.
But the greatest reason is: WIDTH. I don't usually keep a long zoom on my ZX-M or the M42 cams; I get all the reach I need with any tele on my K20D. No, the 135 cams mostly mount WIDE lenses. My Lentar-Tokina 21/3.8 (US$24) is as wide as a DA14 I can't afford would be on the K20. My Sigma-Z 24/2.8 (US$3) has the coverage of a rectilinear 16mm on APS-C. My Zenitar 16/2.8 is actually a fisheye. THAT is what 135 SLRs are good for -- to load down with cheap wide glass.
Forget long zooms. Go short.