| Review of: Kaleinar 5N MC 100mm F2.8 by barcooter on Sun January 24, 2021 | Rating: 10 | View more reviews | |
Views: 4868
Reviews: 1
|
Amazing Soviet era short telephoto with completely smooth bokeh rendition from close focus to infinity. Very light and small and amazingly sharp wide open. Shooting into the light causes crazy flare which seems to be prized among long time users as this gives a ghostly quality to the images.
| |
| Review of: Helios 44M-7 (Valday) 58mm F2 by barcooter on Sun January 24, 2021 | Rating: 10 | View more reviews | |
Views: 112484
Reviews: 13
|
Think this is the last version built in M42 mount and probably the best in terms of image control. Built like a tank and should have smooth easy focus if serviced correctly. Bokeh can be controlled or swirly dependent on the angle of light entry. In focus areas always sharp as a tack at f2.0 so no need to stop down unless you want large DoF.
Excellent colour reproduction and contrast if used with a deep enough hood. The M7 is considered the best in some circles so can only see them increasing in price in comparison to earlier iterations.
| |
| Review of: KONICA 40mm F1.8 by barcooter on Sun January 24, 2021 | Rating: 9 | View more reviews | |
Views: 6710
Reviews: 2
|
Once described as the sharpest prime lens available in it's day, wide open at close focus beats modern fast 50's even manaully using focus peaking. Very light and portable pancake design making it the same size as a normal prime when using an adaptor on a mirrorless camera. Lovely warm tones much like Pentax designs of the period and is most like the 50mm f1.7 M series in quality but lighter and slightly slower given it's 1.8 at 40mm.
Can only see the prices of these rising now that FF mirrlorless has arrived making adaption easy.
| |
| Review of: Chinon Auto M42 55mm F1.7 by barcooter on Sun April 12, 2015 | Rating: 10 | View more reviews | |
Views: 50126
Reviews: 6
|
It's hard not to love this lens, forget the big heavy f1.4 M42 lenses and get one of these or the Mamiya f1.8 they are abundant and cheap. Mine cost £3.
| |
| Review of: Mamiya / Sekor 55mm F 1.4 by barcooter on Sun April 12, 2015 | Rating: 8 | View more reviews | |
Views: 120243
Reviews: 17
|
Although a great lens for it's time I found it too unwealdy for walkabout use. They are also getting stupidly expensive.
I have tried the f1.8 and would get one of those every time over this. You need to stop the f1.4 down a bit anyway to achieve best results. The f1.8 is sharp wide open.
| |
| Review of: Mamiya Auto Mamiya/Sekor 55mm F1.8 by barcooter on Sun April 12, 2015 | Rating: 10 | View more reviews | |
Views: 85137
Reviews: 8
|
Hard to say anything bad about this lens. Not much between this and the f1.4 which is much heavier. I have had a few copies of this lens and prefer the older chrome finish version as it looks way cooler.
| |
| Review of: Vivitar / Panagor (Kiron 22xxxxx) 28mm F2.5 by barcooter on Sun April 12, 2015 | Rating: 8 | View more reviews | |
Views: 148741
Reviews: 12
|
Hard to know how my experience of this lens is so much better than everyone else! Needless to say that on APSC the issue of edge softness goes away and your left with the sweet spot. Also don't think it needs stopping down too far to reach good levels of detail. I would say f5.6.
| |
| Review of: Cosina Mc Macro ----- 70-210mm F4.5-5.6 by barcooter on Sun April 12, 2015 | Rating: 7 | View more reviews | |
Views: 31494
Reviews: 6
|
For the price I paid, I can't fault the performance. However, the lens is pretty poor at the long end and really only good for macro at the short end.
| |
| Review of: Vivitar (Komine 28xxxx) MC Close Focus Wide Angle 28mm F2.0 by barcooter on Sun April 12, 2015 | Rating: 10 | View more reviews | |
Views: 111562
Reviews: 8
|
Hard to fault this lens in any way, prices are rising all the time so get one now before they reach flektogon levels. | |
| Review of: Cosina Phoenix Vivitar Promaster Voightlander ---- 28-210mm F4.2-6.5 by barcooter on Sat April 11, 2015 | Rating: 9 | View more reviews | |
Views: 33344
Reviews: 7
|
I have the Voigtlander copy of this lens and I am very impressed with my results so far. It is a useful range for general purposes and I use this lens for site pictures. When teamed up with a quality CPL filter the contrast and colour comes to life. I had not used this with a hood and colours seemed a bit washed out so teamed it up with a Kenko CPL and now everything pings with no PP.
Sharpness is good al the way to the edges at all but the longest end. Bokeh it pretty smooth for a superzoom and certainly better than what I have seen from equivalent Nikon and Canon of the same vintage.
Focussing is accurate even at the long end and is pretty quick for a lens of this age!
Zoom noise is not intrusive and no worse than I have heard from kit lenses. After a while you filter it out. Using live view accentuates the noise due to the focus area check function making it zoom in and out.
Might be worth seeking out the Voigtlander version which I got from Germany. I can't believe they would have put their name on something in the 80's/90's without it being top notch? and it might be slightly better quality than the equivalent versions.:)
| |
| Review of: Sigma DC OS HSM 50-200mm F4-5.6 by barcooter on Mon August 26, 2013 | Rating: 7 | View more reviews | |
Views: 38509
Reviews: 5
|
Great at short focussing distances (5-20m) and stopped down to about 5.6. OS not great and eats the batteries. It's too heavy for me so am passing it on.
| |
| Review of: Vivitar (Cosina) 19mm F3.8 by barcooter on Mon August 26, 2013 | Rating: 9 | View more reviews | |
Views: 85154
Reviews: 14
|
Very lightweight yet sturdy, excellent length on an APS-C. Suits most conditions from landscape to walkabout during the day and very discrete. Very short focus turn which is useful for quick shots.
Updated 11/04/15 - Got another copy much sharper!
 | |
