What are your "Hidden Gems" in your lens inventory?

**monochrome** · 03-12-2016, 05:53 PM

Originally posted by ChrisPlatt

I once gave one of these away in lieu of a body cap.
Who knew? Live and learn - always the hard way...

Chris

Look on your porch. Don't do that again.

**luftfluss** · 03-12-2016, 06:08 PM - **1 Like**

Thoughts on several of the lenses mentioned in this thread...

F 50/1.7 - a few years ago I had the FA 50/1.4 and was disappointed in it's performance wide open. Many older 50/1.4's suffer from poor sharpness wide open, so for many the 50/1.7, already sharp at f/1.7, is a far better choice.

Helios 44M 58/2 - it's known for its swirly bokeh, but it does resolve a good amount of detail and has it's own smooth and mellow rendering. Also, easily-provoked veiling flare and maybe even light leaks!

Character!!!

F 35-70 - so well-known for a cheap and hidden gem that some folks think it is as overrated as a Duke University basketball player. I like my copy a bunch, very sharp and nice color.

FA 24-90 - a year or two ago it was so highly regarded that prices on the used market approached $400!

Looks like things have calmed down a bit. From what I've read there is quite a bit of sample variation.

Now for my nominee: the oft-maligned Tamron 70-300 f/4-5.6 1:2 Macro. Purple fringing in the highlights! Occasional purple fringing in the midtones Slow AF. Pentax has the 55-300. But! It has that 1:2 macro mode. And that is very, very nice if you like to photograph butterflies, dragonflies and other large-ish insects (and spiders). And the Tammy is sharp when used as a close-up lens... except in this case "close up" is more like a meter away, and that's really great if you are shooting things with stings or flapping wings.

Oh yeah, add the Raynox DCR-150 close-up adapter and you get a real macro lens.

And have I mentioned that the Tammy is stupidly cheap? It's frequently found (used) in some variation - Tamron itself has a couple different models of essentially the same thing, and there's a Quantaray-labeled copy as well - for $50 or less.

**onlineflyer** · 03-12-2016, 06:20 PM

I own several highly respected lenses, including the K 30/2,8, Sigma 70mm macro, Vivitar Series 1 90-180mm flat field, and K 200.2.5. I'd say my hidden gem is the M 35-70/2.8-3.5 and i'm a prime guy.

**ivanvernon** · 03-15-2016, 05:11 AM

I found my hidden gem last night at daughter's String Festival--a newly acquired Pentax-A 135mm f 2.8. This lens gave better results than I have ever achieved previously in a high school gym with indifferent lighting. I used auto/green mode, and these three shots were all wide open at f 2.8. I have two other 135s (Sears and Chinon), but this one tops them all. I think it will also be a great portrait lens.

---------- Post added 03-15-16 at 08:13 AM ----------

Originally posted by Just1MoreDave

Mine is the Pentax-A 135mm f2.8. The "hidden" part is because an early influential website gave this lens a bad rating. Also, its optics look similar to the inexpensive Takumar Bayonet 135/2.5, with only 4 elements. I think most people who have used one would agree that none of this matters. It's really good.

Yep, your hidden gem is same as mine. See my other posting in this thread.

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Dewman · 03-15-2016, 05:17 AM

Originally posted by ivanvernon

I found my hidden gem last night at daughter's String Festival--a newly acquired Pentax-A 135mm f 2.8. This lens gave better results than I have ever achieved previously in a high school gym with indifferent lighting. I used auto/green mode, and these three shots were all wide open at f 2.8. I have two other 135s (Sears and Chinon), but this one tops them all. I think it will also be a great portrait lens.

---------- Post added 03-15-16 at 08:13 AM ----------

Yep, your hidden gem is same as mine. See my other posting in this thread.

Very nice images!

normhead · 03-15-2016, 06:24 AM

I never met a lens I didn't like. As for hidden gems, I tend to buy on reputation and performance, so if I buy a lens it's not "hidden". The one lens I bought that was way better than expected was my Tamron 90 macro. That lens just exceeded all expectations.

TaoMaas · 03-15-2016, 06:39 AM

Originally posted by luftfluss

Now for my nominee: the oft-maligned Tamron 70-300 f/4-5.6 1:2 Macro.

I would agree with this! I bought this lens for my wife, but I use it more than she does. I recently shot video with it at the 300mm end and...uh, yeah, it wasn't that great. But in-between, it did a wonderful job. I would also agree with the endorsement of it's macro features. I've gotten good pics using it in that range. It's not a stellar lens, but a very good all-round performer for it's price.

**WPRESTO** · 03-15-2016, 07:47 AM

Originally posted by normhead

I never met a lens I didn't like. As for hidden gems, I tend to buy on reputation and performance, so if I buy a lens it's not "hidden". The one lens I bought that was way better than expected was my Tamron 90 macro. That lens just exceeded all expectations.

I'll inject that Tamron's 90mm macros going back to the Adaptall version have always had a good reputation.

03-12-2016, 06:08 PM - 1 Like	#62
luftfluss Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: NJ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,627	Thoughts on several of the lenses mentioned in this thread... F 50/1.7 - a few years ago I had the FA 50/1.4 and was disappointed in it's performance wide open. Many older 50/1.4's suffer from poor sharpness wide open, so for many the 50/1.7, already sharp at f/1.7, is a far better choice. Helios 44M 58/2 - it's known for its swirly bokeh, but it does resolve a good amount of detail and has it's own smooth and mellow rendering. Also, easily-provoked veiling flare and maybe even light leaks! Character!!! F 35-70 - so well-known for a cheap and hidden gem that some folks think it is as overrated as a Duke University basketball player. I like my copy a bunch, very sharp and nice color. FA 24-90 - a year or two ago it was so highly regarded that prices on the used market approached $400! Looks like things have calmed down a bit. From what I've read there is quite a bit of sample variation. Now for my nominee: the oft-maligned Tamron 70-300 f/4-5.6 1:2 Macro. Purple fringing in the highlights! Occasional purple fringing in the midtones Slow AF. Pentax has the 55-300. But! It has that 1:2 macro mode. And that is very, very nice if you like to photograph butterflies, dragonflies and other large-ish insects (and spiders). And the Tammy is sharp when used as a close-up lens... except in this case "close up" is more like a meter away, and that's really great if you are shooting things with stings or flapping wings. Oh yeah, add the Raynox DCR-150 close-up adapter and you get a real macro lens. And have I mentioned that the Tammy is stupidly cheap? It's frequently found (used) in some variation - Tamron itself has a couple different models of essentially the same thing, and there's a Quantaray-labeled copy as well - for $50 or less. Last edited by luftfluss; 03-15-2016 at 06:46 AM.

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03-12-2016, 05:53 PM	#61
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Originally posted by ChrisPlatt I once gave one of these away in lieu of a body cap. Who knew? Live and learn - always the hard way... Chris Look on your porch. Don't do that again.

03-12-2016, 06:20 PM	#63
onlineflyer Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: NW Ohio Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,092	I own several highly respected lenses, including the K 30/2,8, Sigma 70mm macro, Vivitar Series 1 90-180mm flat field, and K 200.2.5. I'd say my hidden gem is the M 35-70/2.8-3.5 and i'm a prime guy.

03-15-2016, 05:17 AM	#65
Dewman Veteran Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Idaho Posts: 5,492 Original Poster	Originally posted by ivanvernon I found my hidden gem last night at daughter's String Festival--a newly acquired Pentax-A 135mm f 2.8. This lens gave better results than I have ever achieved previously in a high school gym with indifferent lighting. I used auto/green mode, and these three shots were all wide open at f 2.8. I have two other 135s (Sears and Chinon), but this one tops them all. I think it will also be a great portrait lens. ---------- Post added 03-15-16 at 08:13 AM ---------- Yep, your hidden gem is same as mine. See my other posting in this thread. Very nice images!

03-15-2016, 06:24 AM	#66
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	I never met a lens I didn't like. As for hidden gems, I tend to buy on reputation and performance, so if I buy a lens it's not "hidden". The one lens I bought that was way better than expected was my Tamron 90 macro. That lens just exceeded all expectations.

03-15-2016, 06:39 AM	#67
TaoMaas Pentaxian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Oklahoma City Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,574	Originally posted by luftfluss Now for my nominee: the oft-maligned Tamron 70-300 f/4-5.6 1:2 Macro. I would agree with this! I bought this lens for my wife, but I use it more than she does. I recently shot video with it at the 300mm end and...uh, yeah, it wasn't that great. But in-between, it did a wonderful job. I would also agree with the endorsement of it's macro features. I've gotten good pics using it in that range. It's not a stellar lens, but a very good all-round performer for it's price.

03-15-2016, 07:47 AM	#68
WPRESTO Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Massachusetts Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 59,138	Originally posted by normhead I never met a lens I didn't like. As for hidden gems, I tend to buy on reputation and performance, so if I buy a lens it's not "hidden". The one lens I bought that was way better than expected was my Tamron 90 macro. That lens just exceeded all expectations. I'll inject that Tamron's 90mm macros going back to the Adaptall version have always had a good reputation.