A fun discovery! - DPChallenge Forums

06/29/2008 11:45:07 PM · #1

I recently purchased a couple of M42 mount lens to play with. With an adapter these mount to my Sony A700 just fine. Manual focus, but hey, not a major deal on fairly still subjects. :-)

Took this shot this afternoon with a Sears 55mm 1.4 lens. I kinda like it. :-) This shot is straight from the camera with just a small crop down from the top (resized and sharpened for web).

[thumb]693290[/thumb] - "Gotta Love those Blues!"
Sony A700, ISO 1600, 1/200, Sears 55/1.4 @ 1.4

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

06/30/2008 08:18:29 AM · #2

Good morning! :-D

Strikeslip

Canon EOS-5D

06/30/2008 08:20:11 AM · #3

Nice detail!

sulamk

Canon EOS-60D

Sigma 70-200 /2.8 APO EX DG Macro HSM II

06/30/2008 08:34:30 AM · #4

I also have a some m42 lenses that I use with adapters on both my slrs, I use an old soligor 400 prime for birding sometimes! They are fun to use and being manual helps when there are branches in the way!

Message edited by author 2008-06-30 08:34:55.

Yo_Spiff

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

Olympus 12-100mm f/4.0 M.Zuiko ED IS PRO

06/30/2008 08:37:47 AM · #5

Sears lens? Sears sold SLR lenses of their own? I'm curious...

06/30/2008 08:58:16 AM · #6

Originally posted by Strikeslip:

Nice detail!

Thanks Slippy! I'm pleasantly surprised at the image quality too, especially considering the lens was $10. :-)

06/30/2008 09:04:30 AM · #7

Originally posted by yospiff:

Sears lens? Sears sold SLR lenses of their own? I'm curious...

From what I've read, it seems that Ricoh manufactured lens and cameras for Sears many years ago. I just picked up a 135/2.8 also that should be delivered in the next few days. Paid a tad more ($30 with shipping), but it appears to be in mint condition with case, both caps, etc...

Besides Sears, I've seen some by JC Penney also. :-)

MelonMusketeer

Nikon D7000

Nikon MF 50mm f/1.4

06/30/2008 09:52:45 AM · #8

About half or more of my portfolio was shot with older glass. I seem to have a big desire to shoot with older manual lenses, so have collected quite a few over the last couple of years. I think that the number is around 40 or more now. I have several off brand lenses including, Sigma 400 5.6, Vivitar 35, 400, and 50, a Meade 1,000 reflector, a Celestron 500 reflector, a Bushnell 135 2.8 (excellent both glass and worksmanship,) and several odds and ends.
My most recent adventure in "old lenses land" was expensive, but you can't put a price on pleasure. I found an ad in the paper, and it was an older gentleman selling some Nikkors. There was a Nikkor 105 f2.5, a 105 Micro Nikkor f2.8, a Nikkor 24 f2.8, a 28-50 f3.5 Zoom Nikkor, and a 50-135 f3.5 Zoom Nikkor plus a FM film body, all in near new condition for $ 400 US. The only one in the bunch that I don't think that I will use much is the 50-135 as it has some CA issues at 135. The 105Micro is the reason that I bought the whole deal. I have used it some, and it is just superb for little things.
My 3 best $ deals have been a Nikkor 50 f1.8 with Nikon FE body for $5, a Nikkor 135 f2.8 for $10, and a Nikkor 28, f3.5 with 11mm extension ring for $4.50.
I plan to begin selling off the ones that I don't use soon.

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

06/30/2008 10:10:23 AM · #9

Originally posted by MelonMusketeer:

Dang! You've certainly been down this road a ways... :-D Funny you mention the Bushnell as I just recently noticed one of those on eBay and skipped past it. :-/ One lens I picked up and have messed around some with is the Chinon 135/2.8. In testing it worked fine with normal shooting situations, but add some strong backlighting and yeehaw, light up the CA!!! I'm still playing around yet before I decide whether to chase some "quality" glass.

The whole M42 thing has a pretty strong following out there. Info is readily available for those with an interest. I found answers to my questions (Minolta/Sony A-mount cameras) at Dyxum.com.

Ken

Canon EOS-7D

06/30/2008 10:11:52 AM · #10

Originally posted by yospiff:

Sears lens? Sears sold SLR lenses of their own? I'm curious...

A couple years ago I saw a telephoto lens at the local Goodwill. I believe it was made for Montgomery Wards.

MelonMusketeer

Nikon D7000

Nikon MF 50mm f/1.4

06/30/2008 12:14:57 PM · #11

I think that they sold Pentax K mount cameras at Wards. There are some Bell & Howell/ Canon F mount lenses around too.
I have found that a good test for CA is to set the camera up as solid as possible, and shoot a piece of white lattice with a dark background. Any CA at all will show up around the edges of the white, like a rainbow over the dark BG. A white bird in a dark BG makes a good CA test too. CA was the biggest problem with a lot of the older lenses. Workmanship and materials were just awesome on many of the 70's and early 80's models though, and there are some real gems out there that can be gotten for almost nothing.

vxpra

Pentax K100D

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

06/30/2008 01:20:54 PM · #12

Originally posted by mad_brewer:

Originally posted by yospiff:
Sears lens? Sears sold SLR lenses of their own? I'm curious...

A couple years ago I saw a telephoto lens at the local Goodwill. I believe it was made for Montgomery Wards.

A number of the larger camera companies made lenses marketed under other names- Canon had a line sold through Montgomery Wards or JC Penny, same with Pentax (either JCPenny or Montgomery Wards), Ricoh made lenses for both Sears,Wards and I think Aldens.

The camera store that I worked in had a guide to the true manufacturers of these lenses. We used to see tons of the Sears lenses- there were even a few that the same lens was made by multiple companies I have a Sumicon (the only one I have ever seen) K Mount 28mm that when I looked it up in the guide it was made by Canon. I don't recall ever seeing anything made by Nikon.

Olympus 7-14mm f/4.0 Zuiko Digital Zoom

06/30/2008 06:07:47 PM · #13

One last time. :-)

one2one

Olympus E-5

06/30/2008 06:13:18 PM · #14

This thread made me think of my dormant Zuiko 50mm f1.4 for my OM cameras. I found it today, after reading this, and cleaned it up for a few test shots. Very soft and the bokeh is fantastic. Can't wait to use it as a portrait lens. Thanks! eheh

BAMartin

Apple iPhone 5

06/30/2008 06:20:55 PM · #15

I think maybe I need to look for such a special find. how fun! Where did you purchase these lens? I am thinking maybe a pawn shop or ebay.

Konica Minolta MF 85mm f/1.7

06/30/2008 08:25:36 PM · #16

Originally posted by Jac:

That's great! You'll have to post some shots when you get a chance. :-)

briantammy

Olympus PEN E-P3

06/30/2008 08:48:22 PM · #17

i've been using the old minolta lenses. actually all but one challenge shot was shot with these. the biggest problem i've been facing is the difficulty in focusing. i just recently changed my focusing screen to a split screen and that helps alot but i have to focus wide open then adjust the aperature afterwards. it really slows down things making it difficult shooting moving objects or dealing with changing lighting conditions.

Konica Minolta MF 85mm f/1.7

06/30/2008 09:14:05 PM · #18

Originally posted by briantammy:

I'm considering a viewfinder magnifier attachment. Here's an article that may be helpful ==> Eyepiece magnifiers...

briantammy

Olympus PEN E-P3

06/30/2008 09:41:35 PM · #19

Originally posted by glad2badad:

Originally posted by briantammy:
i've been using the old minolta lenses. actually all but one challenge shot was shot with these. the biggest problem i've been facing is the difficulty in focusing. i just recently changed my focusing screen to a split screen and that helps alot but i have to focus wide open then adjust the aperature afterwards. it really slows down things making it difficult shooting moving objects or dealing with changing lighting conditions.

I'm considering a viewfinder magnifier attachment. Here's an article that may be helpful ==> Eyepiece magnifiers...

i've seen those. I may try one.