[paulh]

Sometimes the dirt cheap lenses can surprise the hell out of you.

Looks like a winner #1 and #3 are especially nice.

[Sagitta]

Looks like a winner #1 and #3 are especially nice.

It definitely was a surprise. I was expecting a paperweight and wound up with one of my favorite zooms. The biggest shocker was how nice and contrasty it is. I'm use to budget 80's zooms being fairly flat by nature.

[paulh]

It definitely was a surprise. I was expecting a paperweight and wound up with one of my favorite zooms. The biggest shocker was how nice and contrasty it is. I'm use to budget 80's zooms being fairly flat by nature.

I've got an old Tokina RMC 80-200 that has very Pentax-like colors and contrast, too. I was surprised. But serious zoom-creep and weight keep it at home most of the time

[simple1]

Hope it's ok to revive this thread.
I do a lot of driving for work. After looking through the "prime, prime, everywhere a prime" I started allowing myself some extra time to stop in thrift/pawn shops if I come across one. Now it's kind of become an addition and I have to give myself a LOT of extra time - I blame pepperberry farm

What I've found in the last couple of months:

$5 - SMC Tak 55/1.8 Focus ring wouldn't turn. Had to remove the broken distance scale and clean/lube. Otherwise in good condition.
$30 - ME Super w/M 50/2 and Vivatar 135/2.8 Auto Telephoto Close Focusing. Both lenses in great shape except for a small amount of fungus I had to clean from the 50/2.
$5 - Tamron Adaptall-2 80-210mm f/3.8-4 (103A) Very clean.
$10 A 50/1.7 Had to fix the aperture ring spring. Otherwise great shape.
$12 Tokina RMC 28-70/3.5-4.5

My favorite so far is the Vivitar Close Focusing. Splitting the bundle evenly I call it $10.

[Neuse River Sailor]

Hope it's ok to revive this thread.

My vote is yes! Here is a Super Takumar 150mm f/4 that I picked up with an SP500 off ebay. The ad had a couple of good pictures clearly showing the Tak 150 attached to the camera.The seller made no mention of the lens so I checked with him to be sure it was included and when he said yes I hit his "buy it now" and got the combination for $19.50 including shipping. The aperture ring is a little stiff and the exterior shows some light wear, but the focus is silky smooth and the optics are near perfect. I don't use it a lot but on a short extension tube it is just the ticket for bees, moths and butterflies. It lets me step back and give the little bugs their space.

[simple1]

My vote is yes! Here is a Super Takumar 150mm f/4 that I picked up with an SP500 off ebay. The ad had a couple of good pictures clearly showing the Tak 150 attached to the camera.The seller made no mention of the lens so I checked with him to be sure it was included and when he said yes I hit his "buy it now" and got the combination for $19.50 including shipping. The aperture ring is a little stiff and the exterior shows some light wear, but the focus is silky smooth and the optics are near perfect. I don't use it a lot but on a short extension tube it is just the ticket for bees, moths and butterflies. It lets me step back and give the little bugs their space.

That’s quite a deal, especially for ebay.

[simple1]

A rare (I think) good Goodwill auction deal. Nice K2 with M 50/4 Macro, Super Tak 50/1.4, and Asahi Pentax M42 to K mount adapter for $84 shipped.
I don't bid on these auctions often but, since the pictures showed a K2 with the Super Tak mounted, I figured it was a safe bet for a genuine Pentax adapter. The 50/1.4 was clear from the pictures and one other unknown Pentax lens. I got lucky and the other lens was the M 50/4. There was another (forget brand) 28/2.8 lens and Vivitar 2x.
Since the package wasn't a lot more than current price for the M42/K adapter I figure it qualifies for DCL.

KP w/Super Tak 50/1.4 @ f/1.4





KP w/M 50/4 @ f/4

[Neuse River Sailor]

I got lucky and the other lens was the M 50/4.

That lens alone was probably worth the cost of the package. Heck of a good deal, I'd say.

[simple1]

That lens alone was probably worth the cost of the package. Heck of a good deal, I'd say.

It would’ve been to me. I was going to pick up a used adapter on ebay anyway, and they go for ~$35 shipped. So that sweetened the deal.

[Wasp]

My cheap lenses are, with approximate prices from memory:

• SMC Pentax M 24mm f/2.8, $35
• SMC Pentax M 50mm f/1.7, $20 with broken Cosina body
• SMC Pentax A 50mm f/1.7, $40 with broken Pentax MX body
• SMC Pentax M 50mm f/2, free with broken Pentax K1000 body
• Rokinon 50mm f/2, $5
• Fotar 135mm f/2.8, $10
• SMC Pentax F 70-210mm f4-5.6, $30

[simple1]

My cheap lenses are, with approximate prices from memory:

• SMC Pentax M 24mm f/2.8, $35

Is that an M 28/2.8 or K 24/2.8? Good deal either way.

[Wasp]

Is that an M 28/2.8 or K 24/2.8? Good deal either way.

It is actually an A. Sorry, my bad.

There was some fungus included for free.

[simple1]

It is actually an A. Sorry, my bad.

There was some fungus included for free.

Even better deal...even without the fungus

I've been pretty lucky on fungus. Only one or two I think, and both were easily cleaned, no permanent damage.

[simple1]

Bid on one of those mystery deals and ended up with a Mamiya/Sekor 1000DTL and Macro-Takumar 50/4 for $35 shipped. The Mac-Tak is cosmetically a turd, obviously was never a shelf queen. But mechanically and optically it's great.

Also found an Olympus OM-1 with a G.Zuiko 50/1.4 for $30. And a M/S 1000DTL with a M/S 58/1.7 for $15. The Oly and lens are both very clean. The 1000DTL and 58/1.7 both looked new, but the lens aperture was stuck.
Cleaning a 10 blade diaphragm is a bit...tedious

Mac-Tak@f/4





M/S 58/1.7 @ forgotten what aperture but between 1.7 and 2.8

[Dartmoor Dave]

A couple of air show shots with an ancient Palinar 200mm preset that I got for £5 from the local market.