Loyal Site Supporter Registered: July, 2018 Posts: 992 | | Review Date: August 3, 2021 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | super sharp, high speed, beautiful bokeh, solid metal construction | | Cons: | cost and ease of use | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 7
Value: 6
Camera Used: Exaktas and Sony Nex C-3
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This is the first lens I ever used on my uncle's Exakta V. which he purchased in 1951 (I have the bill of sales). The version of the lens was the 39.5mm version. I'm not sure about M42 mount years, but in Exakta mount they go back much further than 1952. There was a heavy uncoated version 5.8cm f/1.9 Primoplan (with no red V) that dates from the late 1930s. Fast Primoplan lenses were also available for the Night VP Exakta medium format in 80mm f/1.9 and those date back to 1938. Anyway, over the years I have added and sold a number of these lenses and currently I have 3, the original one I used and two of the 49mm thread versions.. There was a time before the invention of "bokeh" when these lenses were practically being given away with bodies. I had a few of the heavy uncoated version pass through my hands and all were sold as something to put on the camera body for sales. I wish I kept one...
The lens is a wonderful lens. Yes, it does need a lens hood (as do almost all lenses) and being 60+ yrs old it may need a good cleaning. As I own 3, I wouldn't buy one for $300+ these days, but if I didn't own one I'd want one... primarily for shooting film or mounting on a 1950s camera.
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New Member Registered: July, 2019 Posts: 25 | | Review Date: September 29, 2020 | Recommended | Price: $150.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Distinctive cloudy bokeh merging colors with a pleasing transition to OOF areas, a very artistic lens Circular aperture at all f stops Easy to service hence the lower purchase price Sharpness is not everything | | Cons: | Need a lens hood to avoid desaturating colors on sunny days. Not for sharp detailed macros lacks the contrast of a modern lens. An expensive lens in good condition as the lens has soft glass and lens coatings | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 8
Camera Used: OMDEM1
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 Spring flowers at dusk. by Nick Cliff, on Flickr
Link to my album for this lens
https://www.flickr.com/photos/126962485@N05/37977597762/in/album-72157679911598473/ | |
New Member Registered: September, 2012 Location: Belo Horizonte Posts: 17
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: August 4, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $300.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | beautiful bokeh, very sharp, Light | | Cons: | in canon 6d the lens hits the mirror , limiting 4m | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: canon 6d
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Strengths:
This lens and incredible
it is even sharp wide open ,
has wonderful bokeh,
bokeh bubbles
Lens 1959 is still fully functional .
Weaknesses:
My came with damaged inner coated , which causes it to lose a lot of contrast
but problem solved with a lens hood made by me .
How do I use it on a full frame body a canon 6d , it only works until the 4m distance from the object , as it is a portrait lens for me it is perfect
Comments:
A lens with a lot of personality , very tasty to tame
I love the vintage look of the photos.
I surprises me in every job.
I recommend if you can get your hands on a take it
some examples I made with it:
Test done for me,
Where I realize that bokeh primoplan is more translucent
and the helios is more swirl and milky
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