MF Lenses that won't break the bank

paolojackson · 09-21-2011, 02:58 PM

I left Pentax (sadness) a while back but I held onto my ME Super and the 50/2 lens. Recently, I've had the itch to shoot film. In the past, my favorite lenses were the 77 and the 40 limited. I never really got into the manual focus lenses so I'm wondering what would be some good ones to consider without breaking the bank.

**boriscleto** · 09-21-2011, 03:07 PM

The ME Super doesn't need A lenses so...M28/3.5, M50/1.7, M135/3.5

joe.penn · 09-21-2011, 03:13 PM

Originally posted by paolojackson

I never really got into the manual focus lenses so I'm wondering what would be some good ones to consider without breaking the bank

There's sooooooooooooo many - that Vivitar S1 90mm 2.5 in your signature literally has me foaming at the mouth and weak in the knees right now (if you ever consider selling it, please pm me first

).

Now, back to your original question - what will you mostly be shooting? Some of the best (well, actually, the best if comparing on a price performance scale) newer MF lenses are manufactured by Samyang - 85mm 1.4 | 35mm 1.4 | 14mm 2.8 | 8mm 3.5 FE. But again, there are so many good MF lenses, a little insight on what you will be shooting the most will help...

EDIT: Just realized that you noted using the ME Super, so the 8mm FE mentioned above wouldn't work (without sawing the lens hood up), so disregard that one

....

---

**paulh** · 09-21-2011, 03:21 PM

Originally posted by boriscleto

The ME Super doesn't need A lenses so...M28/3.5, M50/1.7, M135/3.5

Three great choices, imo. If you're really pinching pennies, you could go for the M28/2.8 (or a 3rd party equiv.), or one of the inexpensive but good Vivitar 135s. I have the vanilla Viv 135/2.8 that I love for $20. Hard to find a better bang for the buck fifty than the M50/1.7 - great lens. If you need more reach, there's a ton of cheap (but mostly slow) MF 80-200 zooms out there. I've got a Tokina RMC 80-200 that's very nice for the price. Good luck!

**Lowell Goudge** · 09-21-2011, 03:23 PM

How big is the bank

paolojackson · 09-21-2011, 08:20 PM

Thanks for the recommendations...sold all of it minus the 50-135, so I need to change that.

The bank wants to afford a 43mm but it has yet to decide!

Quicksand · 09-21-2011, 11:01 PM

Paging RioRico. RioRico, please report to the lens forum.

**JimD** · 09-21-2011, 11:24 PM

I've got my original M20mm f4, M28mm f2.8, M50mm f1.4 and M100mm F2.8 which all come up on Ebay from time to time and were superb on my MX's. They are also top notch on my K5.

Last month I picked up a mint M200 f4 on Ebay for £30 incl. postage. So there is still some great stuff around for a good price.

RickyFromVegas · 09-22-2011, 03:08 AM

Vivitar/Samnyang/Rokinon/etc. 85mm 1.4 is about $250USD new.

Amazing glass for its price, I think.

I find myself using less and less DA70 thanks to that lens.

RioRico · 09-22-2011, 04:33 AM

Originally posted by Quicksand

Paging RioRico. RioRico, please report to the lens forum.

Actually, I was writing a response along the line of: Buying prime MFLs labeled Sears, Vivitar, Focal, Soligor, Chinon, etc probably won't break many banks. And I was going to recommend the PKM-mount Chinon Auto 45/2.8 (mine was thirteen bucks) as a cheap stand-in for the 45Ltd. But I didn't know if this would be appreciated or even noticed. So I just lurked, till you called me out, damn you!

OK, so THE cheap MFL's to get are: Soligor-Tokina 21/3.8; Vivitar-Komine 28/2 CFWA; Meyer Primagon 35/4.5; Chinon Auto 45/2.8; Sears-Tomioka 55/1.4; Super Takumar 55/1.7; Meyer Trioplan 100/2.8; Focal-Ricoh 135/2.8; Tele-Takumar 200/5.6. And the Vivitar Series 1 70-210 is always nice to have. For those who can't afford the Meyer Trioplan 100/2.8, grab a cheap Enna Tele-Sandmar 100/4.5 and I'll tell you how to mount it on your dSLR.

09-21-2011, 02:58 PM	#1
paolojackson Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 379	MF Lenses that won't break the bank I left Pentax (sadness) a while back but I held onto my ME Super and the 50/2 lens. Recently, I've had the itch to shoot film. In the past, my favorite lenses were the 77 and the 40 limited. I never really got into the manual focus lenses so I'm wondering what would be some good ones to consider without breaking the bank.

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09-21-2011, 03:07 PM	#2
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	The ME Super doesn't need A lenses so...M28/3.5, M50/1.7, M135/3.5

09-21-2011, 03:13 PM	#3
joe.penn Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Maryland (Right Outside Washington DC) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,902	Originally posted by paolojackson I never really got into the manual focus lenses so I'm wondering what would be some good ones to consider without breaking the bank There's sooooooooooooo many - that Vivitar S1 90mm 2.5 in your signature literally has me foaming at the mouth and weak in the knees right now (if you ever consider selling it, please pm me first ). Now, back to your original question - what will you mostly be shooting? Some of the best (well, actually, the best if comparing on a price performance scale) newer MF lenses are manufactured by Samyang - 85mm 1.4 \| 35mm 1.4 \| 14mm 2.8 \| 8mm 3.5 FE. But again, there are so many good MF lenses, a little insight on what you will be shooting the most will help... EDIT: Just realized that you noted using the ME Super, so the 8mm FE mentioned above wouldn't work (without sawing the lens hood up), so disregard that one .... ---

09-21-2011, 03:21 PM	#4
paulh Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: DFW Texas/Ventura County, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 33,262	Originally posted by boriscleto The ME Super doesn't need A lenses so...M28/3.5, M50/1.7, M135/3.5 Three great choices, imo. If you're really pinching pennies, you could go for the M28/2.8 (or a 3rd party equiv.), or one of the inexpensive but good Vivitar 135s. I have the vanilla Viv 135/2.8 that I love for $20. Hard to find a better bang for the buck fifty than the M50/1.7 - great lens. If you need more reach, there's a ton of cheap (but mostly slow) MF 80-200 zooms out there. I've got a Tokina RMC 80-200 that's very nice for the price. Good luck!

09-21-2011, 03:23 PM	#5
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,887	How big is the bank

09-21-2011, 08:20 PM	#6
paolojackson Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 379 Original Poster	Thanks for the recommendations...sold all of it minus the 50-135, so I need to change that. The bank wants to afford a 43mm but it has yet to decide!

09-21-2011, 11:01 PM	#7
Quicksand Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Central Ohio (formerly SF Bay Area) Posts: 1,519	Paging RioRico. RioRico, please report to the lens forum.

09-21-2011, 11:24 PM	#8
JimD Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Newport, South Wales Posts: 187	I've got my original M20mm f4, M28mm f2.8, M50mm f1.4 and M100mm F2.8 which all come up on Ebay from time to time and were superb on my MX's. They are also top notch on my K5. Last month I picked up a mint M200 f4 on Ebay for £30 incl. postage. So there is still some great stuff around for a good price.

09-22-2011, 03:08 AM	#9
RickyFromVegas Veteran Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Las Vegas Photos: Gallery Posts: 366	Vivitar/Samnyang/Rokinon/etc. 85mm 1.4 is about $250USD new. Amazing glass for its price, I think. I find myself using less and less DA70 thanks to that lens.

09-22-2011, 04:33 AM	#10
RioRico Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Limbo, California Posts: 11,263	Originally posted by Quicksand Paging RioRico. RioRico, please report to the lens forum. Actually, I was writing a response along the line of: Buying prime MFLs labeled Sears, Vivitar, Focal, Soligor, Chinon, etc probably won't break many banks. And I was going to recommend the PKM-mount Chinon Auto 45/2.8 (mine was thirteen bucks) as a cheap stand-in for the 45Ltd. But I didn't know if this would be appreciated or even noticed. So I just lurked, till you called me out, damn you! OK, so THE cheap MFL's to get are: Soligor-Tokina 21/3.8; Vivitar-Komine 28/2 CFWA; Meyer Primagon 35/4.5; Chinon Auto 45/2.8; Sears-Tomioka 55/1.4; Super Takumar 55/1.7; Meyer Trioplan 100/2.8; Focal-Ricoh 135/2.8; Tele-Takumar 200/5.6. And the Vivitar Series 1 70-210 is always nice to have. For those who can't afford the Meyer Trioplan 100/2.8, grab a cheap Enna Tele-Sandmar 100/4.5 and I'll tell you how to mount it on your dSLR.