I stumbled upon your channel and I’m so thankful I did. Your delivery oozes experience and professionalism. You have one of those rare voices that are calm and un-offending. The work you put into your videos is clearly extensive and considered and I’m sure I’m not the only one who salutes you in that. Looking forward very much to more of your wonderful refreshing and informative presentations 👍🏼
I've been thinking about why I enjoy your channel so much, even from your first videos. Here are a couple of the reasons: 1) You speak with the relaxed authority of someone who knows what they talking about. You're not working to drum up a sense of authority because you already own it. 2) The information you provide is based on experience, rather than parroting information that is available widely. 3) Your voice tonality and cadence lend themselves to this medium. 4) The opinions you represent are very good. 5) You back up your opinions with demonstration. I'm sure there are other reasons, but for today, these are some of what impresses me so much about your work.
Thank you so much for your kind and encouraging words. These videos are quite time consuming (but fun) to make, and your feedback means a lot to me. Cheers, Simon
This is a fantastic video! Your understanding of each lens’ pros/cons is remarkable and is a true sign of someone who has mastered their craft over time. Seriously, I love this.
I feel like I just watched the national geographic on vintage lenses. You are truly a natural at this. This was extremely informative and I look forward to following you. WELL DONE!!
As a pentax lens owner for some years, I must say this is the best and most easy to follow review I've ever watched. Well presented, great use of images and overall, highly compelling viewing. Thank you so much.
I've got a few lenses, including a couple of Takumars, but my favourite all-rounder is the Meyer Optik Gorlitz Oreston 50mm 1.8. For some reason, it seems much faster than a 1.8 and I have to stop down more than you would expect on a bright day. I have the older zebra version which may be why. Beautiful bubbles wide open, smooth bokeh stopped down, sharp on landscapes. For marco, not a true macro lens but I love my Flektogon 35mm 2.8. It focuses to 18cm normally, but on my cropped sensor that's down to around 11cm. On a cropped sensor it works like a 50-55mm and does a bit of everything well. Worth considering if you don't have full frame.
Many thanks for your comments. I really like the Oreston too - the old zebra version. As you write, it's like a faster fifty wide open, with great bokeh bubbles, and good stopped down too. I used to own the Pentacon version as well, and this stopped me using the Oreston more (so I sold the Pentacon). The Flektogon has been top of my wish list for a long time (or at least the f2.4 version), and it's something I look forward to trying at some point. (And I 100% agree on the crop sensor advantages; I've been enjoying using an Auto-Takumar 35/2.3 on crop all week).
Great video and good overview of the capabilities of these old lenses. I tottally agree about the Tak 50/1.4 8-lens version. It's one of the best portrait lenses I own and also shines in landscape photography, producing painting-like images with an incredible color-depth. It's amazing how different these are from the ones taken at the same time with the later 50/1.4 SMC version. The other very good portrait lens is my Revuenon 55mm/1.4 Tomioka I bought in 1975 with my Revue 3000SL (=Chinon CX) that complemented my trusty Spotmatic SP500. I own and use them to this day. Only my 'lens-park' of old M42 Pentax lenses has 'slightly' increased and contains among others the 50/4.0 100/4.0 macros or the Görlitz made Pentacon 16 blade 135/2.8 Bokeh monster etc..
I too have been collecting vintage lenses, mostly in the 50 to 58mm range, 85 and 105. About 32 vintage lenses to date; all for my IBIS stabilized M4/3 bodies (GX9 & EM-10). However, the camera bag and small camera tote have the following, usually. For the big bag...I keep the Helios 44-2, the Auto Sears (Tomioka) 55/f1.4 w/FR (focal reducer) attached, Jupiter-9 85/f2 w/FR attached, and Industar-61 50/f2.8 (macro). This bag carries plenty of other stuff (4K gimbal, filters, cleaners, extra body...). In the smaller tote, I usually have my Nikkor 55/f1.2 w/FR attached and the pancake Industar 50/f3.8; plus Lumix 35-100 (OIS), Lumix 12-32 (OIS), and Lumix 20/f1.7. Sometimes, I will swap the pancake Industar with a Jupiter-8 50/f2 or Jupiter-3 50/f1.5, within the smaller tote. The L39 mounts I keep oversized to M42 with an eBay thread ring. The rest of the lenses I pull out of the display cabinet from time to time...usually a Super Tak 50/1.4 or 55/1.7 as most of my other gear favors M42 for convenience. I have plenty of fast Canon lenses too...but I haven't used them much over the last 3 years. I also like the Konica Hexanons, but haven't been able to source a decent FR, so their use is even more limited with my M4/3 bodies. The classic Nikkor 50/f1.4's have remained on display, as well...little sense to play with them as my 55/f1.2 remains my goto Nikkor lens. It is amazing what I can place in that smaller tote...which is really just a shoulder strap Nylon case for a lensed GX7, with a few extra pockets.
Back in the late 1960s when my Miranda Sensorex broke, a colleague loaned me his Asahi Pentax Spotmatic 35mm SLR with a normal lens. I fell in love with the Spotmatic and the 50mm f/1.4 8-element M42 lens. Eventually, I purchased my own which I still own and use today. I use it in a 28/50/135mm lens kit. That 50mm lens was so good that I never felt the need to buy a normal lens for my Leica M6.
Thank you Simon for your always incredibly well researched content, along with your perfectly paced delivery style. I'm a big fan of vintage glass and my understanding of, and appreciation for, lenses of yesteryear is always enhanced through watching one of your videos. Again, thank you.
Thanks for sharing everything on your channel. I just get the Takumar f4 macro early version. Amazing sharp and the bokeh is realy very smooth... My new favourite lens...
This is one of the best vintage lens comparisons I've ever seen. The only downside to using these lenses on modern mirrorless cameras is that they seem to get out resolved with higher MP cameras. 24 MP seems to be the safe zone. Than again, there might be some vintage lenses that could handle higher MP cameras. I'd like to see you do a comparison on that if you don't mind. Keep up the good work. I'm looking forward to your future content.👍🏼
Thank you! My simple experience with old lenses is that if they were excellent lenses on 35mm film cameras, then they are just fine on the more powerful full-frame sensors. (My FF camera has 36MP). However, it's not always as simple as that. You've given me a good idea for a comparison video, and I'll look at doing one after I've finished what I'm working on now. Cheers.
Perfectly presented and discussed bunch of M42 lenses - best ever. Although a convinced Nikonian since 1971, I ever had good vibes with Pentax since 1967;-)) So I own a lovely Spotmatic SP II in black, now with the 2.8/105 Super Takumar. Nevertheless, I recommend the 3.5/35 Super Takumar as a good choice for 'walk around town': it's tiny, decent, and a good performer.
Amazing collection, thank you so much for sharing it along with very helpful information! This video will help people for many years to come. I use a lot of different m42 lenses on my Pentax K-1 and love it.
I picked up a Super Takumar 50mm f1.4 8 element lens a couple of years ago for embarrassingly cheap and am still "learning" it, I shoot with my 1968 Honeywell Spotmatic which I bought when I got back from Vietnam. Still fun to shoot film but now I'm interested in adapting those Takumar lenses to my Canon EOS Rebel. Woo Hoo!
Great review, thank you. I have been a Nikon shooter for over 35 years. I own many great A-is lenses and now I am interested in buying and using some vintage lenses to use with my Nikon FX cameras. I especially liked your vintage lenses review and I fell in love with your images especially those taken with the radioactive lenses with yellow hue. I greatly appreciate your lens recommendations for me and where I can get them. Thank you very much.
Great video. Thanks for taking time to make this wonderful video, sir. Enjoyed watching. By the way, I thought in bokeh lenses you could have added Volna too which gives hexagonal shape bokeh. Now I realize Auto revuenon 55mm 1.2 should be my next purchase 😊
Thank you so much for your kind words. I really like your idea of including hexagonal shape bokeh (stopped down bokeh)...next time!! The Auto Revuenon was made by Tomioka, and Tomioka made the f1.2 lens for a variety of different brands...I got the Auto Revuenon one because I found a "cheap" one. It took me ages!
Thanks, Simon - all these lens series videos are incredibly useful and beautifully made. I have to say my own experiences are very close to yours. I am a long-time Pentax fan and though I grew up with PK lenses from the late 70's - I'm really starting to appreciate how good the M42 Takumars are. The Russian lenses can be very good too, but you really need to strip them completely and remove every bit of old grease, and then re-lubricate. Please keep the videos coming!
Hello Simon. Thank you for this excellent presentation. Enjoyable as are all your vids. Now, it would seem that the vast majority of these vintage lens vids from you and others, focus in on the usual lenses, Pentax, Helios, CZJ, Jupiter, Fuji, Yashinon, Tomioka etc. I find it odd that Topcor lenses are vastly overlooked or outright ignored. Let us consider the Topcor 58mm F1.4, the grandfather to the Voigtlander 58mm Nokton for instance. Fabulous lens, as is the 35mm F2.8 and the 100mm F2.8, but never featured in any vids. So please Simon, if you happen to get your hands on any of the wonderful Topcor lenses, I would love to see your learned take on them. Cheers from Canada.📸
Many thanks for your kind words and suggestion. I've looked very carefully at the Topcor 58mm f1.4, and talked to a couple of owners, and my personal conclusion is that I don't particularly like the wide open bokeh the lens produces, or the Voigtlander produces. Purely personal taste, of course. Since I own many fast fifties that are excellent stopped down a little (as I'm sure the Topcor is too), I've decided to give it a pass. However, Topcors do have a wonderful reputation. So a few months ago I bought a Topcor 58mm f1.8 lens on a Topcon camera: www.flickr.com/photos/95859572@N06/53192222822/in/dateposted/ My copy won't focus to infinity on my Exakta mount. And there's a problem (quite common it seems) with the stop-down aperture mechanism - on both my adapter and when it's on the film camera. So it's not my favourite lens right now! I have made a work around for stopping down, and I may include the lens in a video on fast fifties at some point. The 35mm and 100mm seem to be excellent lenses, and I'd be happy to use them and write about them if they came into my possession for little cost, but I have a lot of other lenses (not to mention Nikon and Canon lenses) I should look at too. There's never enough time or money!!! All the best, Simon
I really enjoyed this one too. Watched it twice already! (If I'm honest I've watched all your videos at least twice.) Keep making them, you have a gift as a presenter, not to mention the excellent experience you are bringing to the medium.
An excellent review! Back in the day, more lenses offered unique character. This is a quality seemingly not appreciated by contemporary photographers, thus they opt for the "sharpest" lens, which seems their yardstick for lens choice. I feel too few manufacturers invest in specialized lenses, whose "value" (character) is only appreciated over an extended period of actual use. I love many vintage lenses (Takumars) on my contemporary Fujifilm digital bodies.
This is a great video. I have four Takumars and love them. Love Pentax. The only problem with finding your videos is I have a feeling I'm going to spend so damn much money!
Ordered myself a Yashica Yashinon DS 1.7 50mm in pretty good condition for 45€ and a carl zeiss jena pancolar auto 50mm f1.8 for 80€ in very good condition for my a7iii these days. My first vintage lenses. I find this really exciting, such a huge variety of great lenses!
There is another category of macro I would consider, and that is document copying. I generally like to make copies of my tax records every year. For better or for worse, the US has no standard for the size for tax documents so they can range from standard letter size paper down to odd post card size. I find it awkward and slow using a scanner so I use an APSC sensor DSLR on a copy stand. The process is then pretty quick. I usually set the focus to capture an 81/2 x11 area regardless of document size. I've tried the Pentax f4 macro takumar, which is a fine lens. I find that I get slightly but noticeabley better edge to edge sharpness with a Russian 50 mm f2.8 macro usually set to f8 or f11. The engraving is in cyrillic which I can't translate but I'll try to describe the letters: (Backwoods "N") ("H") (triangle looking letter) ( lower case "y") ("C") ("T") ("A") ("P") - ("6") ("1" or an "I") (upside down "V") ("/") ("3"). Please forgive my awkward way of describing this lens. This was painful to type in and maybe even more painful to read, but I think the lens is worth having. Update: I was looking at a eBay listing from a Russian seller and I think I found the translation that may be close to the Russian lens I have: Industar 61 L/Z 2.8/50
Really great video, Simon, and super useful too. You deserve so many more subscribers....like another couple of zeros, at least! Keep up the good work 🏆
Awesome video. You've left me with some serious M42 lens envy! I have a like new 44M-4 and a like new 44-2, plus the like new bodies (Zenit 12XP and EM) they came with, and a Asahi Pentax 50mm f1.8, the latter of which is not on your list, for good reason I suppose, but this video has left me wanting more. Much more! Thanks for the time you took to put this together, and I look forward to watching more from you. Consider me subscribed! 😉 Will find you on Flickr also....
I love takumars as much as you do, but I think Minolta needs some love too. I find the fast fifties of Minolta to be great performers (and super cheap!). The downside is that you need a mirrorless camera in order to adapt them without extra optics in the middle. Oh God, you could walk by a flea market and get thrown with at 45mm f2 at your head, for free! They are that cheap. And it's an amazing lens, almost a pancake. For macro shots, the Vivitars (and other brands, I think made by Kiron) are dirt cheap and great too. Nice videos!
Thank you. This, and other videos you made, helped me choose a different lens. I have been using a Mamiya 55mm f1.4 on my Sony. I have two copies. Both lenses have different recipes. The alu+black one has a convex rear lens, the all black one is rather flat. The colors of the alu+black one are much sweeter, and it allows for details in saturated flowers. The reason I was out to get a new lens, is that the alu+black, which is very radio active. My geiger tube rattles even when I measured form the side of the lens + at a distance + outside of the cabinet it is stored in. o_O I thought the other all black copy was much less radio active, so I started using that. But I tested it a again with my simple "counter" that just clicks, no display. But it is enough to tell me it is also ridiculously radioactive. My "counter" goes beserk compared to the counter in your tests. I do not feel so safe with it as a daily shooter. I'm not sure if I measured differently, or if the radiation of that lens has gone up over the years, but either way, it is just as radioactive as the alu+black one, and more than I feel comfortable with. So I watched your videos. Decided on the fuji... also radioactive. So that does not solve my problem. And I was not sure how to find a non radioactive Takumar. So then I searched online if the Zenitar (6 blades version) is also radioactive. It is, but with lanthanum rather than thorium. It think that will be within my limits.
I just noticed in your Mamiya 55/1.4 album on your Flickr account, that you photographed the Zenitar along with the other radioactive lenses. Ohoh. How does it compare to your Mamiya, in radiation?
If you’d like the Mamiya/Sekor 55mm f1.4 experience, you could try a Cosina Cosinon 55mm f1.4. It has a similar flat rear element, but my copy shows absolutely no signs of radioactivity. My Zenitar also has no radioactive readings. Of the Takumars, the early 8 elements 50mm f1.4 versions have hardly any radioactive glass. Thanks for sharing the information on your lenses.
Thank you for your reply,@@Simonsutak. I will keep an eye open for the Cosina Cosinon 55mm f1.4 The two mamiyas differ a bit in the flatness of the rear element, I think. They are optically a bit different. There is a Nikkor 50mm f1.4 that has a quite similar optical design to the mamiyas with one doublet differen, but it has quite a lot of vignetting. A good friend of mine has a Nikkor 50mm f1.2, that only just covers 24x36mm. Coverage is important to me, because I use tilt adapters (Arax are the best by far) and the Nikkor 50mm f1.2 does not cover the frame while tilted. The 1.4 won't either, since it has such dark coners already. The Mamiyas cover full frame with room for tilt though, easily. Alas, the angle of coverage is never discussed among m42 users, so I'm on my own here. I have the Zenitar on the way. If it does not cover 24x35 with tilt, I will try the Cosina. Or I might anyway.
@@Simonsutak My Zenitar just came in. Not radioactive above background level. The image circle is wide enough to show no vignetting. That is better than the Mamiyas, and way better than the Nikkor 50mm f1.2. What, in your eyes make the Conina like the Mamiya experience?
I just stumbled upon your channel and I absolutely love all of your content. Very well produced and super informative. I just started getting into photography and I find this stuff absolutely fanscinating
I was watching this video a few weeks back and as I bought a Pentax Spotmatic here in Japan… I went to the lens section at the vintage camera store near suitengumae here in Tokyo.. imagine my surprise when I found the Primotar E for less than 50 bucks. Never pulled the trigger faster and I have never regretted it ahaha
Well done, very interesting. Thanks for taking the trouble. Your focus is 50-60mm but beyond that the CZJ 80mm 1.8 is a very special portrait lens in my experience. For Landscape I use a wider lens like the Meyer- Optik 30mm 3.5, the Mir 37 2.8 or the Mir 20mm3.5
As for the CZJ Pancolar. I am getting ready to give up on mine. I have a radioactive zebra. Optically it's great even with yellowing. However, it is a mechanical piece of crap. It makes me appreciate the Helios lenses I have. I have cleaned up the aperture to get it unstuck from old grease and after working for awhile it's back to being stuck wide open.
Yes, it's a bit of a lottery with the mechanics. I couldn't use my version all the time, even though it works OK. But when I do, it nearly always performs well optically, so it's a shame your version is so poor mechanically.
Thank you, love the video and also the one about the 50 mm. I was wondering why there is not one Nikon lens listed. Hope you can shine a light on some Nikkors also like the Nikon 55 mm f/2.8 micro
this channle is a real gem :D, cool to find out about that whole toppic! Just got into Photography and Filmmaking.. wondering if these lenses are good for vintage vibe films aswell? Also realy like your voice, has a verry calming vibe
@@Simonsutak Thanks! It WAS Chiswick House that I saw! I used to go to London every year, for anything from a week all the way up to a month. Good photo.
After watching this video, i still don't know which vintage lens to pick up for myself... i mean, everything is good, but the choice is still very hard... anyway very good video!
The ZENITAR-M f1.7/50mm M42 EXPORT I ordered from the Ukraine came in. I was impressed with the weight. It is heavier than my other vintage prime lenses. I need to weigh this against my Jupiter 9 and see how that turns out. Of course, I have zooms that are much heavier, but not primes. I wonder if this is from the glass or the metal? Jim
Excellent video! How about the exakta mount next? You would have the zeiss jenas, Meyer Optiks and topcons in that line. No wide lenses though but all full of character
the multi coated Takumar 55mm/1,8 is fantastic lens, way underrated and not getting much attention, with the right conditions produces beautiful bokeh. Along with the 50mm/1,4, these are the two lenses I find myself carrying around most.
Are you using a crop or full frame camera? Of these 50mm to 58mm lenses, you need a sharp lens with good colours. A Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 55mm f1.8 would be good. However, I think a 28mm or 35mm lens might be better for real estate photography. I really like the Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 28mm f3.5 and 35mm f3.5 lenses - they are sharp and clean with good colours.
@@Simonsutak Hello! Thank you for your reply, I recently bought the Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 55mm f1.8 after seeing your review. I'm using both crop and full frame. I will search for the 28mm and the 35mm and give them a try. Best regards!!
Great video sir, thank you. If you had a few words about Minolta's fast 50's what would you say or how would they generally line-up with this group? Thank you.
Nice video and really good explanation. i just wanna ask about the TAKUMAR lense. Is there any diiferent between AUTO-Takumar, SUPER-Takumar, Soper-Multi-Coated Takumar, SMC Takumar.
Which lens is better than another depends on factors that are more complex than just the lens, such as the photographer, the scene/context and the person who owns the face that the photographer is taking a picture of. Ranking bits of decontextualised equipment simply suit consumerist material desires to own and rank and order things.
You mention the Macro Takumar due to its 1:1 but can tell you from personal experience in my attempts to get a copy I was looking at absurd amounts of money, auctions going crazy or finding dud copies. I considered trying to get a couple of dud copies (like with my auto Tak 55mm f2 which is actually 3 lenses and looks new) but even broken ones don't sell cheap: it's like a watch made out of solid gold, even if it stopped working as a watch it's price wouldn't change - because it's made out of gold! Off that segway: if you can find a copy for a reasonable price, great, but when the price is approaching/greater than a copy of something like -- a Tokina 100mm f2.8 -- I stop seeing it as a good, viable choice especially if you take the later 1:2 models into consideration. The difference between 1:1 & 1:2 is only like a 25mm extension tube and something like a skinny m42 adapter + a 25-55mm macro helicoid insures infinity and 1:1(as long as you're using a mirrorless camera) and as someone who settled on an SMC Macro Takumar that I picked up on adorama.com for something like $50 I gotta say it's IQ is AMAZING - some of my BEST macro shots of bees were with it, it's sharp and clear and came looking and working like I was the first owner. The 1:1 would be nice to have but the later versions aren't anything to sneeze at, I'd recommend either and for the value conscious the newer ones over the latter...
best review in youtube history for old lens
Wo, thank you for this compliment! Much appreciated.
Agreed!
Fact!
I stumbled upon your channel and I’m so thankful I did. Your delivery oozes experience and professionalism. You have one of those rare voices that are calm and un-offending. The work you put into your videos is clearly extensive and considered and I’m sure I’m not the only one who salutes you in that. Looking forward very much to more of your wonderful refreshing and informative presentations 👍🏼
I've been thinking about why I enjoy your channel so much, even from your first videos. Here are a couple of the reasons: 1) You speak with the relaxed authority of someone who knows what they talking about. You're not working to drum up a sense of authority because you already own it. 2) The information you provide is based on experience, rather than parroting information that is available widely. 3) Your voice tonality and cadence lend themselves to this medium. 4) The opinions you represent are very good. 5) You back up your opinions with demonstration.
I'm sure there are other reasons, but for today, these are some of what impresses me so much about your work.
Thank you so much for your kind and encouraging words. These videos are quite time consuming (but fun) to make, and your feedback means a lot to me. Cheers, Simon
1. Ultra-Close up 0:50
2. Macro 1:54
3. Product Shots 3:09
4. Bokeh/Artistic Shots 5:09
Dreamy and Paintery Bokeh 5:52
Bubble Bokeh 6:53
Onion Ring Bokeh Bubbles 7:30
Swirly Bokeh 8:45
5. Portaits 9:13
6. Sports/ fast moving Object 12:40
7. Walking around town 13:33
8. Landscape 14:48
9. Astro 16:46
This is a fantastic video! Your understanding of each lens’ pros/cons is remarkable and is a true sign of someone who has mastered their craft over time. Seriously, I love this.
Thank you!!
I feel like I just watched the national geographic on vintage lenses. You are truly a natural at this. This was extremely informative and I look forward to following you. WELL DONE!!
As a pentax lens owner for some years, I must say this is the best and most easy to follow review I've ever watched. Well presented, great use of images and overall, highly compelling viewing.
Thank you so much.
I've got a few lenses, including a couple of Takumars, but my favourite all-rounder is the Meyer Optik Gorlitz Oreston 50mm 1.8. For some reason, it seems much faster than a 1.8 and I have to stop down more than you would expect on a bright day. I have the older zebra version which may be why. Beautiful bubbles wide open, smooth bokeh stopped down, sharp on landscapes.
For marco, not a true macro lens but I love my Flektogon 35mm 2.8. It focuses to 18cm normally, but on my cropped sensor that's down to around 11cm. On a cropped sensor it works like a 50-55mm and does a bit of everything well. Worth considering if you don't have full frame.
Many thanks for your comments. I really like the Oreston too - the old zebra version. As you write, it's like a faster fifty wide open, with great bokeh bubbles, and good stopped down too. I used to own the Pentacon version as well, and this stopped me using the Oreston more (so I sold the Pentacon).
The Flektogon has been top of my wish list for a long time (or at least the f2.4 version), and it's something I look forward to trying at some point. (And I 100% agree on the crop sensor advantages; I've been enjoying using an Auto-Takumar 35/2.3 on crop all week).
Thanks for a wonderful survey of the 50mm to 55mm ventage lenses.
I am getting into m42 lenses recently , your videos help me sooooo much!!! thanks
This is one of the best videos made by a very knowledgeable person..a Bible of good work. Thank you for taking your time.
Thank you for your kind words!
Fantastic! This compelled me to add a couple more vintage lenses to my collection
Haven't seen anybody share this amount of knowledge on vintage lens. Appreciate your effort!
this is a fantastic video. especially for someone who just got back into photography. this has saved me alot of time
Great video and good overview of the capabilities of these old lenses.
I tottally agree about the Tak 50/1.4 8-lens version. It's one of the best portrait lenses I own and also shines in landscape photography, producing painting-like images with an incredible color-depth. It's amazing how different these are from the ones taken at the same time with the later 50/1.4 SMC version.
The other very good portrait lens is my Revuenon 55mm/1.4 Tomioka I bought in 1975 with my Revue 3000SL (=Chinon CX) that complemented my trusty Spotmatic SP500.
I own and use them to this day. Only my 'lens-park' of old M42 Pentax lenses has 'slightly' increased and contains among others the 50/4.0 100/4.0 macros or the Görlitz made Pentacon 16 blade 135/2.8 Bokeh monster etc..
What a brilliant video. Wow. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge.
Simon , hats off to the depth of your coverage
Outstanding video. Slices the vintage lenses universe across multiple dimensions with ease and clarity.
I too have been collecting vintage lenses, mostly in the 50 to 58mm range, 85 and 105. About 32 vintage lenses to date; all for my IBIS stabilized M4/3 bodies (GX9 & EM-10). However, the camera bag and small camera tote have the following, usually.
For the big bag...I keep the Helios 44-2, the Auto Sears (Tomioka) 55/f1.4 w/FR (focal reducer) attached, Jupiter-9 85/f2 w/FR attached, and Industar-61 50/f2.8 (macro). This bag carries plenty of other stuff (4K gimbal, filters, cleaners, extra body...).
In the smaller tote, I usually have my Nikkor 55/f1.2 w/FR attached and the pancake Industar 50/f3.8; plus Lumix 35-100 (OIS), Lumix 12-32 (OIS), and Lumix 20/f1.7. Sometimes, I will swap the pancake Industar with a Jupiter-8 50/f2 or Jupiter-3 50/f1.5, within the smaller tote. The L39 mounts I keep oversized to M42 with an eBay thread ring.
The rest of the lenses I pull out of the display cabinet from time to time...usually a Super Tak 50/1.4 or 55/1.7 as most of my other gear favors M42 for convenience. I have plenty of fast Canon lenses too...but I haven't used them much over the last 3 years. I also like the Konica Hexanons, but haven't been able to source a decent FR, so their use is even more limited with my M4/3 bodies. The classic Nikkor 50/f1.4's have remained on display, as well...little sense to play with them as my 55/f1.2 remains my goto Nikkor lens.
It is amazing what I can place in that smaller tote...which is really just a shoulder strap Nylon case for a lensed GX7, with a few extra pockets.
Thanks been watching and rewatching the m42 series videos , thank you love you :)
Back in the late 1960s when my Miranda Sensorex broke, a colleague loaned me his Asahi Pentax Spotmatic 35mm SLR with a normal lens. I fell in love with the Spotmatic and the 50mm f/1.4 8-element M42 lens. Eventually, I purchased my own which I still own and use today. I use it in a 28/50/135mm lens kit. That 50mm lens was so good that I never felt the need to buy a normal lens for my Leica M6.
this channel deserves more viewers
Thank you Simon for your always incredibly well researched content, along with your perfectly paced delivery style. I'm a big fan of vintage glass and my understanding of, and appreciation for, lenses of yesteryear is always enhanced through watching one of your videos. Again, thank you.
Just picked up a Bessaflex TM and looking for M42 lenses to try out. Thanks for this video-it is exactly what I was looking for and then some.
My pleasure!
Thanks for sharing everything on your channel. I just get the Takumar f4 macro early version. Amazing sharp and the bokeh is realy very smooth... My new favourite lens...
Thanks! That lens is one of my favourite old lenses too.
Excellent viewpoints!
Really good! I have a few of those, and never thought of putting my Jena on bellows, but i will now! thank you.
You're welcome!
Fascinating review. I don't think I blinked once during the video.
This is one of the best vintage lens comparisons I've ever seen. The only downside to using these lenses on modern mirrorless cameras is that they seem to get out resolved with higher MP cameras. 24 MP seems to be the safe zone. Than again, there might be some vintage lenses that could handle higher MP cameras. I'd like to see you do a comparison on that if you don't mind. Keep up the good work. I'm looking forward to your future content.👍🏼
Thank you! My simple experience with old lenses is that if they were excellent lenses on 35mm film cameras, then they are just fine on the more powerful full-frame sensors. (My FF camera has 36MP). However, it's not always as simple as that. You've given me a good idea for a comparison video, and I'll look at doing one after I've finished what I'm working on now. Cheers.
Fantastic review from an experienced hands on photographer. Thank you so much. 👏
Perfectly presented and discussed bunch of M42 lenses - best ever. Although a convinced Nikonian since 1971, I ever had good vibes with Pentax since 1967;-)) So I own a lovely Spotmatic SP II in black, now with the 2.8/105 Super Takumar. Nevertheless, I recommend the 3.5/35 Super Takumar as a good choice for 'walk around town': it's tiny, decent, and a good performer.
Nicely done video and beautiful images.
Thank you!
Really enjoyed the video. Just purchased the Super Takumar 55 1.8 and looking forward to trying it out.
Thank you. Have fun! Not just the images, but also how nice feels to use.
Amazing collection, thank you so much for sharing it along with very helpful information! This video will help people for many years to come. I use a lot of different m42 lenses on my Pentax K-1 and love it.
Thank you so much for your kind words! Yes, I'm a K-1 user too, it works so well with these lenses.
I picked up a Super Takumar 50mm f1.4 8 element lens a couple of years ago for embarrassingly cheap and am still "learning" it, I shoot with my 1968 Honeywell Spotmatic which I bought when I got back from Vietnam. Still fun to shoot film but now I'm interested in adapting those Takumar lenses to my Canon EOS Rebel. Woo Hoo!
Great review, thank you. I have been a Nikon shooter for over 35 years. I own many great A-is lenses and now I am interested in buying and using some vintage lenses to use with my Nikon FX cameras. I especially liked your vintage lenses review and I fell in love with your images especially those taken with the radioactive lenses with yellow hue.
I greatly appreciate your lens recommendations for me and where I can get them. Thank you very much.
Great video. Thanks for taking time to make this wonderful video, sir. Enjoyed watching.
By the way, I thought in bokeh lenses you could have added Volna too which gives hexagonal shape bokeh.
Now I realize Auto revuenon 55mm 1.2 should be my next purchase 😊
Thank you so much for your kind words. I really like your idea of including hexagonal shape bokeh (stopped down bokeh)...next time!! The Auto Revuenon was made by Tomioka, and Tomioka made the f1.2 lens for a variety of different brands...I got the Auto Revuenon one because I found a "cheap" one. It took me ages!
Brilliant video! Comprehensive comparisons for vintage lenses online are so rare, so this is great.
If you did reviews of th best of different focal lengths, I wouldn't complain!
Man, for a second I thought Adam Clayton (U2´s bassist) was reading this 😅 Loving the video!
Thanks, Simon - all these lens series videos are incredibly useful and beautifully made. I have to say my own experiences are very close to yours. I am a long-time Pentax fan and though I grew up with PK lenses from the late 70's - I'm really starting to appreciate how good the M42 Takumars are. The Russian lenses can be very good too, but you really need to strip them completely and remove every bit of old grease, and then re-lubricate. Please keep the videos coming!
Perfect cadence and straight to the point
I love your photos and videos...thanks for sharing!
Hello Simon. Thank you for this excellent presentation. Enjoyable as are all your vids. Now, it would seem that the vast majority of these vintage lens vids from you and others, focus in on the usual lenses, Pentax, Helios, CZJ, Jupiter, Fuji, Yashinon, Tomioka etc. I find it odd that Topcor lenses are vastly overlooked or outright ignored. Let us consider the Topcor 58mm F1.4, the grandfather to the Voigtlander 58mm Nokton for instance. Fabulous lens, as is the 35mm F2.8 and the 100mm F2.8, but never featured in any vids. So please Simon, if you happen to get your hands on any of the wonderful Topcor lenses, I would love to see your learned take on them. Cheers from Canada.📸
Many thanks for your kind words and suggestion. I've looked very carefully at the Topcor 58mm f1.4, and talked to a couple of owners, and my personal conclusion is that I don't particularly like the wide open bokeh the lens produces, or the Voigtlander produces. Purely personal taste, of course. Since I own many fast fifties that are excellent stopped down a little (as I'm sure the Topcor is too), I've decided to give it a pass.
However, Topcors do have a wonderful reputation. So a few months ago I bought a Topcor 58mm f1.8 lens on a Topcon camera: www.flickr.com/photos/95859572@N06/53192222822/in/dateposted/
My copy won't focus to infinity on my Exakta mount. And there's a problem (quite common it seems) with the stop-down aperture mechanism - on both my adapter and when it's on the film camera. So it's not my favourite lens right now! I have made a work around for stopping down, and I may include the lens in a video on fast fifties at some point.
The 35mm and 100mm seem to be excellent lenses, and I'd be happy to use them and write about them if they came into my possession for little cost, but I have a lot of other lenses (not to mention Nikon and Canon lenses) I should look at too. There's never enough time or money!!!
All the best, Simon
I really enjoyed this one too. Watched it twice already! (If I'm honest I've watched all your videos at least twice.) Keep making them, you have a gift as a presenter, not to mention the excellent experience you are bringing to the medium.
It's very kind of you to say this. I'm thinking about what to video to do next...but it will be shorter!
@@Simonsutak It's a lot of work to make a long video!
@@trinityharbour7054 Ha! Yes, it's occurred to me that it might be better all round if I do shorter, sharper videos....
Love this video very informative I personally have the helos 44m-4 and a super multi coated takumar 20mm looking to get a new fast 50
An excellent review!
Back in the day, more lenses offered unique character. This is a quality seemingly not appreciated by contemporary photographers, thus they opt for the "sharpest" lens, which seems their yardstick for lens choice. I feel too few manufacturers invest in specialized lenses, whose "value" (character) is only appreciated over an extended period of actual use. I love many vintage lenses (Takumars) on my contemporary Fujifilm digital bodies.
You are incredible. Best Review. I want More!
Thank you! Much appreciated.
Quality and quantity... Top review, again..👍🙏👌
Love it ! Superb review. I was thinking of selling my Takumar collection: 24, 35 , 50. Guess I’ll be keeping them 👍
A colleague gave me a 55mm f/1.8 Fujinon M42 lens that I use for portraits, travel, and vacation on my APS-C digital mirrorless camera. Great lens!
Yes, it's a nice lens. I don't use my nearly enough.
Wow! Thank you so very much for sharing your outstanding knowledge and information!
You're welcome - it was a fun video to put together!
This is a great video. I have four Takumars and love them. Love Pentax. The only problem with finding your videos is I have a feeling I'm going to spend so damn much money!
Thank you so much! Apologies for the LBA.
What a fabulous channel! Please keep making such videos. Obviously a very knowledgeable UA-camr. Beautiful Flickr gallery! Congrats!
Ordered myself a Yashica Yashinon DS 1.7 50mm in pretty good condition for 45€ and a carl zeiss jena pancolar auto 50mm f1.8 for 80€ in very good condition for my a7iii these days. My first vintage lenses. I find this really exciting, such a huge variety of great lenses!
There is another category of macro I would consider, and that is document copying. I generally like to make copies of my tax records every year. For better or for worse, the US has no standard for the size for tax documents so they can range from standard letter size paper down to odd post card size. I find it awkward and slow using a scanner so I use an APSC sensor DSLR on a copy stand. The process is then pretty quick. I usually set the focus to capture an 81/2 x11 area regardless of document size. I've tried the Pentax f4 macro takumar, which is a fine lens. I find that I get slightly but noticeabley better edge to edge sharpness with a Russian 50 mm f2.8 macro usually set to f8 or f11. The engraving is in cyrillic which I can't translate but I'll try to describe the letters:
(Backwoods "N") ("H") (triangle looking letter) ( lower case "y") ("C") ("T") ("A") ("P") - ("6") ("1" or an "I") (upside down "V") ("/") ("3").
Please forgive my awkward way of describing this lens. This was painful to type in and maybe even more painful to read, but I think the lens is worth having.
Update: I was looking at a eBay listing from a Russian seller and I think I found the translation that may be close to the Russian lens I have:
Industar 61 L/Z 2.8/50
Thanks for taking the time to describe the name :)
really made me smile!
55mm 1.8 pentax super Takumar is my favourite on my Spotmatic and my Nikon D300s for portraits with a simple ring adapter.
Really great video, Simon, and super useful too. You deserve so many more subscribers....like another couple of zeros, at least! Keep up the good work 🏆
Thank you! Another couple of zeros would be great = many more lenses to buy and try!!!
this is a GORGEOUS overview
keep going!!
Thank you! Much appreciated.
Awesome review.Thanks for sharing👍
Awesome video. You've left me with some serious M42 lens envy! I have a like new 44M-4 and a like new 44-2, plus the like new bodies (Zenit 12XP and EM) they came with, and a Asahi Pentax 50mm f1.8, the latter of which is not on your list, for good reason I suppose, but this video has left me wanting more. Much more! Thanks for the time you took to put this together, and I look forward to watching more from you. Consider me subscribed! 😉 Will find you on Flickr also....
Thank you for your kind words. Looks like you have some fine lenses already!
Besides bellows, extension tubes can also work well for extreme close ups.
I love takumars as much as you do, but I think Minolta needs some love too. I find the fast fifties of Minolta to be great performers (and super cheap!). The downside is that you need a mirrorless camera in order to adapt them without extra optics in the middle. Oh God, you could walk by a flea market and get thrown with at 45mm f2 at your head, for free! They are that cheap. And it's an amazing lens, almost a pancake. For macro shots, the Vivitars (and other brands, I think made by Kiron) are dirt cheap and great too. Nice videos!
Many thanks for the tip - I'm looking at those Minolta lenses now!
THis was a master class. Thank you so much sir!
wonderful, informative and detailed review with tons of excellent examples to back it up.
Thank you Mr t. Finally posted a couple of snaps of my girls!!
whoa!! thanks so much! amazing so much information!
You're so welcome!
Hello.
I regularly watch your videos. Very well done and very useful. Thank you!
I love historical information.
Thank you. This, and other videos you made, helped me choose a different lens.
I have been using a Mamiya 55mm f1.4 on my Sony. I have two copies. Both lenses have different recipes. The alu+black one has a convex rear lens, the all black one is rather flat. The colors of the alu+black one are much sweeter, and it allows for details in saturated flowers.
The reason I was out to get a new lens, is that the alu+black, which is very radio active. My geiger tube rattles even when I measured form the side of the lens + at a distance + outside of the cabinet it is stored in. o_O
I thought the other all black copy was much less radio active, so I started using that. But I tested it a again with my simple "counter" that just clicks, no display. But it is enough to tell me it is also ridiculously radioactive. My "counter" goes beserk compared to the counter in your tests.
I do not feel so safe with it as a daily shooter. I'm not sure if I measured differently, or if the radiation of that lens has gone up over the years, but either way, it is just as radioactive as the alu+black one, and more than I feel comfortable with.
So I watched your videos. Decided on the fuji... also radioactive. So that does not solve my problem. And I was not sure how to find a non radioactive Takumar. So then I searched online if the Zenitar (6 blades version) is also radioactive. It is, but with lanthanum rather than thorium. It think that will be within my limits.
I just noticed in your Mamiya 55/1.4 album on your Flickr account, that you photographed the Zenitar along with the other radioactive lenses. Ohoh.
How does it compare to your Mamiya, in radiation?
If you’d like the Mamiya/Sekor 55mm f1.4 experience, you could try a Cosina Cosinon 55mm f1.4. It has a similar flat rear element, but my copy shows absolutely no signs of radioactivity. My Zenitar also has no radioactive readings. Of the Takumars, the early 8 elements 50mm f1.4 versions have hardly any radioactive glass.
Thanks for sharing the information on your lenses.
That was a mistake, to a include the lens, based on what I read on-line. When I got my own Geiger counter, the Zenitar’s glass didn’t register at all.
Thank you for your reply,@@Simonsutak.
I will keep an eye open for the Cosina Cosinon 55mm f1.4
The two mamiyas differ a bit in the flatness of the rear element, I think. They are optically a bit different.
There is a Nikkor 50mm f1.4 that has a quite similar optical design to the mamiyas with one doublet differen, but it has quite a lot of vignetting. A good friend of mine has a Nikkor 50mm f1.2, that only just covers 24x36mm. Coverage is important to me, because I use tilt adapters (Arax are the best by far) and the Nikkor 50mm f1.2 does not cover the frame while tilted. The 1.4 won't either, since it has such dark coners already. The Mamiyas cover full frame with room for tilt though, easily.
Alas, the angle of coverage is never discussed among m42 users, so I'm on my own here. I have the Zenitar on the way. If it does not cover 24x35 with tilt, I will try the Cosina. Or I might anyway.
@@Simonsutak My Zenitar just came in. Not radioactive above background level.
The image circle is wide enough to show no vignetting. That is better than the Mamiyas, and way better than the Nikkor 50mm f1.2.
What, in your eyes make the Conina like the Mamiya experience?
I just stumbled upon your channel and I absolutely love all of your content. Very well produced and super informative. I just started getting into photography and I find this stuff absolutely fanscinating
I was watching this video a few weeks back and as I bought a Pentax Spotmatic here in Japan… I went to the lens section at the vintage camera store near suitengumae here in Tokyo.. imagine my surprise when I found the Primotar E for less than 50 bucks. Never pulled the trigger faster and I have never regretted it ahaha
Great find!
Hugely informative video. Thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thanks for your sharing, very useful!
Thank you,fabulus revew
With beautifull photos.
great information and thank you for the lesson ....
Glad it was helpful!
Well done, very interesting. Thanks for taking the trouble. Your focus is 50-60mm but beyond that the CZJ 80mm 1.8 is a very special portrait lens in my experience. For Landscape I use a wider lens like the Meyer- Optik 30mm 3.5, the Mir 37 2.8 or the Mir 20mm3.5
wow, you are truly some sort of steven hawkins for lenses great video!!!!!!
As for the CZJ Pancolar. I am getting ready to give up on mine. I have a radioactive zebra. Optically it's great even with yellowing. However, it is a mechanical piece of crap. It makes me appreciate the Helios lenses I have. I have cleaned up the aperture to get it unstuck from old grease and after working for awhile it's back to being stuck wide open.
Yes, it's a bit of a lottery with the mechanics. I couldn't use my version all the time, even though it works OK. But when I do, it nearly always performs well optically, so it's a shame your version is so poor mechanically.
A wealth of information, thank you.
Thank you, love the video and also the one about the 50 mm. I was wondering why there is not one Nikon lens listed. Hope you can shine a light on some Nikkors also like the Nikon 55 mm f/2.8 micro
this channle is a real gem :D, cool to find out about that whole toppic!
Just got into Photography and Filmmaking.. wondering if these lenses are good for vintage vibe films aswell?
Also realy like your voice, has a verry calming vibe
Great review of these lenses - many thanks!
You have to do some videos on how you get these shots, marvelous...
Great video. Would love to see your thoughts on the fisheye lenses, and the comparison of past and modern thoughts on them. 😎👌
I've been testing an old fisheye lens versus a digital one, and will post a video in the next month or so.
14:43- What is that building? The black and white shot? Pretty sure I have been there, but can't remember.
Hi, It's Chiswick House in West London. A Palladian-style villa, so you may have seen a similar design in Italy!
@@Simonsutak Thanks! It WAS Chiswick House that I saw! I used to go to London every year, for anything from a week all the way up to a month. Good photo.
Amazing collection
How different do you think the TOMIOKA AUTO REVUENON 55/1.2 is from the 1.4 ?
After watching this video, i still don't know which vintage lens to pick up for myself... i mean, everything is good, but the choice is still very hard... anyway very good video!
Awesome review!
Thank you!
for landscape rikenon 50mm f2
Thank you for sharing this excellent video.
The ZENITAR-M f1.7/50mm M42 EXPORT I ordered from the Ukraine came in. I was impressed with the weight. It is heavier than my other vintage prime lenses. I need to weigh this against my Jupiter 9 and see how that turns out. Of course, I have zooms that are much heavier, but not primes. I wonder if this is from the glass or the metal?
Jim
Excellent video! How about the exakta mount next? You would have the zeiss jenas, Meyer Optiks and topcons in that line. No wide lenses though but all full of character
Good idea. I have two Exakta mount lenses..and yes...good idea I should get some more!
@@Simonsutak 2? Definitely get more!
the multi coated Takumar 55mm/1,8 is fantastic lens, way underrated and not getting much attention, with the right conditions produces beautiful bokeh. Along with the 50mm/1,4, these are the two lenses I find myself carrying around most.
Hello and thank you for your nice reviews!!! What M-42-lens would you use for real estate photography? Thanks in advance!!!
Are you using a crop or full frame camera? Of these 50mm to 58mm lenses, you need a sharp lens with good colours. A Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 55mm f1.8 would be good. However, I think a 28mm or 35mm lens might be better for real estate photography. I really like the Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 28mm f3.5 and 35mm f3.5 lenses - they are sharp and clean with good colours.
@@Simonsutak Hello! Thank you for your reply, I recently bought the Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 55mm f1.8 after seeing your review. I'm using both crop and full frame. I will search for the 28mm and the 35mm and give them a try. Best regards!!
Thanks for your work
Great video sir, thank you. If you had a few words about Minolta's fast 50's what would you say or how would they generally line-up with this group? Thank you.
Nice video and really good explanation.
i just wanna ask about the TAKUMAR lense. Is there any diiferent between AUTO-Takumar, SUPER-Takumar, Soper-Multi-Coated Takumar, SMC Takumar.
You should put your Flickr's Link in the description, great video anyway !!
Good idea, I'll do that.
nice review man
Which lens is better than another depends on factors that are more complex than just the lens, such as the photographer, the scene/context and the person who owns the face that the photographer is taking a picture of. Ranking bits of decontextualised equipment simply suit consumerist material desires to own and rank and order things.
I agree, nicely put. Humans and photographers do like to rank and order things!
You mention the Macro Takumar due to its 1:1 but can tell you from personal experience in my attempts to get a copy I was looking at absurd amounts of money, auctions going crazy or finding dud copies. I considered trying to get a couple of dud copies (like with my auto Tak 55mm f2 which is actually 3 lenses and looks new) but even broken ones don't sell cheap: it's like a watch made out of solid gold, even if it stopped working as a watch it's price wouldn't change - because it's made out of gold! Off that segway: if you can find a copy for a reasonable price, great, but when the price is approaching/greater than a copy of something like -- a Tokina 100mm f2.8 -- I stop seeing it as a good, viable choice especially if you take the later 1:2 models into consideration. The difference between 1:1 & 1:2 is only like a 25mm extension tube and something like a skinny m42 adapter + a 25-55mm macro helicoid insures infinity and 1:1(as long as you're using a mirrorless camera) and as someone who settled on an SMC Macro Takumar that I picked up on adorama.com for something like $50 I gotta say it's IQ is AMAZING - some of my BEST macro shots of bees were with it, it's sharp and clear and came looking and working like I was the first owner. The 1:1 would be nice to have but the later versions aren't anything to sneeze at, I'd recommend either and for the value conscious the newer ones over the latter...