What are your favorite SLR lenses for under $100?

fccwpe · 02-08-2012, 10:59 AM

Pentax M 50mm f1.7 (USD$7)
Helios 44/2 M42 ($30)
Industar 61 L/Z 50mm Macro f2.8 M42 (~$50)
Tamron Adaptall 80-210 ($8)

All of these are worth every penny paid!

Docrwm · 02-08-2012, 11:28 AM

Originally posted by paulh

Ditto - Some of my favs are the aforementioned M50/1.7 and K55/1.8 - just a pleasure to use. I'll also give a nod to the Quantaray 28-90 AF macro. Punches well above its weight, and the macro is very usable. Probably my "go-to" everyday walkaround lens. Huge bang for the buck. (There's a couple of these in the Marketplace right now for cheap!)

In the interests of full disclosure, I have a Quant. 28-90 on the Marketplace right now but it is NOT the Macro version. Still a very nice lens but just wanted to be clear.

The Quantaray 28-90s,l by all accounts, are a rebagged Sigma product but appears better than their own 28-80 in that its both MIJ (some find that better) and is MultiCoated where the Sigma 28-80 from that time period was not.

northcoastgreg · 02-08-2012, 11:33 AM

Pentax K 35/3.5 ($90)
Pentax M 50/1.7 ($45)
Pentax F 35-70 ($41)
Pentax A 35-105 ($98)

The K 35 is the best of the lot -- really quite stunning for landscape work: sharp, contrasty, with a color rendition to die for. Admittedly, I was fortunate to get for $90; I've seen it sell on ebay for over $180. The A 35-105 is another lens you don't find often for under $100.

RioRico · 02-08-2012, 01:24 PM

Sorry for getting in here late, I've been having worse-than-usual computer problems. Anyway, I won't torture y'all again with my bargains. I'll just say that it's hard to find BAD manual primes at 28-35-50-55-58-100-135mm. If you want brand suggestions, try (in absolutely no order):

Vivitar, Ricoh|Rikenon, Takumar, Sears, Chinon, Focal, Jupiter, Zeiss, Albinar, Helios, Sigma, Lentar, Industar, Tokina, Yashica|Yashinon, Petri, Steinheil, Mamiya-Sekor, Zenitar, Porst, Meyer|Pentacon, Mir, Tamron, Enna, Toyo|TOU 5-Star, Cosina, Soligor, and Isco.

Many of those will be in M42 screwmount and some are M39 (mostly Jupiter and Helios) -- these need simple adapters. Some will be PK mount, with no adapter needed. And Exakta-mount lenses (without the stop-down button) are very easily adapted to PK mount. Just remember these simple rules:

* If it costs less than a sandwich, buy it; if more than a good meal out, think real hard about it.
* For auctions: Bid low; bid often; lose 99%; don't sweat it, another will come along immediately.

morpho · 02-08-2012, 01:27 PM

Not to hijack the thread, but, do you guys have any recommendations for good, cheap, primes around 70-85mm?

jezza323 · 02-08-2012, 01:39 PM

The Jupiter-9 is a relatively good 85mm f2.0 lens (available in M42 mount). Little soft at f2.0, but sharp by f2.8 in most copies

**crewl1** · 02-08-2012, 01:39 PM

Originally posted by morpho

Not to hijack the thread, but, do you guys have any recommendations for good, cheap, primes around 70-85mm?

Samyang 85 1.4 and its variants.

Wolfie665 · 02-08-2012, 01:43 PM

Pentax SMC A 135mm f2.8 - 100 USD

Pentax SMC A 50mm f1.7 - 60 USD

Primes4ever · 02-08-2012, 03:15 PM

My best bargains.
A50 1.7 $60
M135 3.5 $50
Sigma 75-200 Autofocus $75

All are great on the K5

**mgvh** · 02-08-2012, 03:36 PM

All under $45:
Vivitar 28-105 f3.5-4.5 MacroFocusing Zoom
Pentax F 35-70
Pentax M 50 1.7
Takumar 135 f2.5
Five Star 500mm f8

demp10 · 02-08-2012, 03:49 PM

Most of my 40+ lenses were less than $100. Some of the best bargains from KEH in UGLY condition were.

Tamron Adaptall-2 (02B) 28mm F2.5 for $2.49

Tamron SP (01A) 35-80mm F2.8/3.8 for $17. Terrible at the short end but stellar at 80mm as macro. It rivals my M 100mm F4 macro in sharpness and with a gutted 2X teleconverter 01F ($5) gives me 1.5X magnification.

Docrwm · 02-08-2012, 04:07 PM

Originally posted by demp10

Most of my 40+ lenses were less than $100. Some of the best bargains from KEH in UGLY condition were.

Tamron Adaptall-2 (02B) 28mm F2.5 for $2.49

Tamron SP (01A) 35-80mm F2.8/3.8 for $17. Terrible at the short end but stellar at 80mm as macro. It rivals my M 100mm F4 macro in sharpness and with a gutted 2X teleconverter 01F ($5) gives me 1.5X magnification.

I just wish that KEH didn't charge a $30 pickup fee or I'[d be getting more lenses from them.

demp10 · 02-08-2012, 04:13 PM

Originally posted by Docrwm

I just wish that KEH didn't charge a $30 pickup fee or I'[d be getting more lenses from them.

I think their cheapest ground rate is $9.99 and I live less than 10 miles from them. I usually wait to have several items so S/H is less than the total

lytrytyr · 02-08-2012, 05:08 PM

Originally posted by demp10

I usually wait to have several items so S/H is less than the total

What a wonderful excuse for LBA!
Get more lenses so the cost of S/H per item is minimized.

**gofour3** · 02-08-2012, 05:54 PM

K55/1.8
K50/1.4
A70-210/4
K35/3.5 (If you are VERY lucky)
K28/3.5
K135/3.5

Phil.

02-08-2012, 01:24 PM	#34
RioRico Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Limbo, California Posts: 11,263	Sorry for getting in here late, I've been having worse-than-usual computer problems. Anyway, I won't torture y'all again with my bargains. I'll just say that it's hard to find BAD manual primes at 28-35-50-55-58-100-135mm. If you want brand suggestions, try (in absolutely no order): Vivitar, Ricoh\|Rikenon, Takumar, Sears, Chinon, Focal, Jupiter, Zeiss, Albinar, Helios, Sigma, Lentar, Industar, Tokina, Yashica\|Yashinon, Petri, Steinheil, Mamiya-Sekor, Zenitar, Porst, Meyer\|Pentacon, Mir, Tamron, Enna, Toyo\|TOU 5-Star, Cosina, Soligor, and Isco. Many of those will be in M42 screwmount and some are M39 (mostly Jupiter and Helios) -- these need simple adapters. Some will be PK mount, with no adapter needed. And Exakta-mount lenses (without the stop-down button) are very easily adapted to PK mount. Just remember these simple rules: * If it costs less than a sandwich, buy it; if more than a good meal out, think real hard about it. * For auctions: Bid low; bid often; lose 99%; don't sweat it, another will come along immediately.

02-08-2012, 01:27 PM	#35
morpho Forum Member Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 95	Not to hijack the thread, but, do you guys have any recommendations for good, cheap, primes around 70-85mm? Last edited by morpho; 02-08-2012 at 01:35 PM.

02-08-2012, 03:36 PM	#40
mgvh Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: MD Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,030	All under $45: Vivitar 28-105 f3.5-4.5 MacroFocusing Zoom Pentax F 35-70 Pentax M 50 1.7 Takumar 135 f2.5 Five Star 500mm f8 Last edited by mgvh; 02-08-2012 at 04:05 PM.

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02-08-2012, 10:59 AM	#31
fccwpe Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Perris, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 380	Pentax M 50mm f1.7 (USD$7) Helios 44/2 M42 ($30) Industar 61 L/Z 50mm Macro f2.8 M42 (~$50) Tamron Adaptall 80-210 ($8) All of these are worth every penny paid!

02-08-2012, 11:28 AM	#32
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285	Originally posted by paulh Ditto - Some of my favs are the aforementioned M50/1.7 and K55/1.8 - just a pleasure to use. I'll also give a nod to the Quantaray 28-90 AF macro. Punches well above its weight, and the macro is very usable. Probably my "go-to" everyday walkaround lens. Huge bang for the buck. (There's a couple of these in the Marketplace right now for cheap!) In the interests of full disclosure, I have a Quant. 28-90 on the Marketplace right now but it is NOT the Macro version. Still a very nice lens but just wanted to be clear. The Quantaray 28-90s,l by all accounts, are a rebagged Sigma product but appears better than their own 28-80 in that its both MIJ (some find that better) and is MultiCoated where the Sigma 28-80 from that time period was not.

02-08-2012, 11:33 AM	#33
northcoastgreg Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Northern Michigan Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,174	Pentax K 35/3.5 ($90) Pentax M 50/1.7 ($45) Pentax F 35-70 ($41) Pentax A 35-105 ($98) The K 35 is the best of the lot -- really quite stunning for landscape work: sharp, contrasty, with a color rendition to die for. Admittedly, I was fortunate to get for $90; I've seen it sell on ebay for over $180. The A 35-105 is another lens you don't find often for under $100.

02-08-2012, 01:39 PM	#36
jezza323 Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Brisbane Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,421	The Jupiter-9 is a relatively good 85mm f2.0 lens (available in M42 mount). Little soft at f2.0, but sharp by f2.8 in most copies

02-08-2012, 01:39 PM	#37
crewl1 Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Los Angeles, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,807	Originally posted by morpho Not to hijack the thread, but, do you guys have any recommendations for good, cheap, primes around 70-85mm? Samyang 85 1.4 and its variants.

02-08-2012, 01:43 PM	#38
Wolfie665 Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 95	Pentax SMC A 135mm f2.8 - 100 USD Pentax SMC A 50mm f1.7 - 60 USD

02-08-2012, 03:15 PM	#39
Primes4ever Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Cambridge, Ontario Posts: 179	My best bargains. A50 1.7 $60 M135 3.5 $50 Sigma 75-200 Autofocus $75 All are great on the K5

02-08-2012, 03:49 PM	#41
demp10 Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Atlanta Photos: Albums Posts: 602	Most of my 40+ lenses were less than $100. Some of the best bargains from KEH in UGLY condition were. Tamron Adaptall-2 (02B) 28mm F2.5 for $2.49 Tamron SP (01A) 35-80mm F2.8/3.8 for $17. Terrible at the short end but stellar at 80mm as macro. It rivals my M 100mm F4 macro in sharpness and with a gutted 2X teleconverter 01F ($5) gives me 1.5X magnification.

02-08-2012, 04:07 PM	#42
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285	Originally posted by demp10 Most of my 40+ lenses were less than $100. Some of the best bargains from KEH in UGLY condition were. Tamron Adaptall-2 (02B) 28mm F2.5 for $2.49 Tamron SP (01A) 35-80mm F2.8/3.8 for $17. Terrible at the short end but stellar at 80mm as macro. It rivals my M 100mm F4 macro in sharpness and with a gutted 2X teleconverter 01F ($5) gives me 1.5X magnification. I just wish that KEH didn't charge a $30 pickup fee or I'[d be getting more lenses from them.

02-08-2012, 04:13 PM	#43
demp10 Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Atlanta Photos: Albums Posts: 602	Originally posted by Docrwm I just wish that KEH didn't charge a $30 pickup fee or I'[d be getting more lenses from them. I think their cheapest ground rate is $9.99 and I live less than 10 miles from them. I usually wait to have several items so S/H is less than the total

02-08-2012, 05:08 PM	#44
lytrytyr Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2011 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,310	Originally posted by demp10 I usually wait to have several items so S/H is less than the total What a wonderful excuse for LBA! Get more lenses so the cost of S/H per item is minimized.

02-08-2012, 05:54 PM	#45
gofour3 Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 8,092	K55/1.8 K50/1.4 A70-210/4 K35/3.5 (If you are VERY lucky) K28/3.5 K135/3.5 Phil.