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March, 2025

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The Official Vintage Glass Thread

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S.C
Posts: 3070 - Karma: 2,340
Alright, figured that enough people have posted threads about vintage glass that we should just put our knowledge into one go to place.

Vintage lenses are great deals for spectacular glass if you are unaware

I just bought the pentax-m S-M-C takumar 50mm 1.4 I've read that this is better than the k mount version or the super takumar version. the SMC is the same as the S-M-C but with a rubber focus ring. the M42 mount version is radioactive though, and may have to have UV treatment to remove the yellowing.

Anyone know about the Zenitar 16mm 2.8? Kinda want!
14 years ago
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vandersteeze
Posts: 2650 - Karma: 1,511
I bought my bronica about a month ago, but due to a shipping nightmare I just got it now (accidentally shipped it to my old apt seattle instead of my house in CA)
13 years ago
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TijmenDal
Posts: 4849 - Karma: 1,296
Can you use 120 film with a 220 back?

I just shot a roll of 220 with my Yashica 645, which was held by a 120 spool (if that's what you want to call it). I haven't developed yet, but I think it's just fine, except for that you're wasting half your film. After I shot 15 exposures, my winder just wound it all up.
Sure I wasted half my film, but it was free and about 5 years over date. I wonder if it would work the other way around as well..
13 years ago
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vandersteeze
Posts: 2650 - Karma: 1,511
Ive heard stories that 120 will work in 220 backs, but its not a very good long term solution. You also don't know when the film is out of exposures because there is no #12 on the exposure count thing
13 years ago
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zahava
Posts: 7791 - Karma: 12,039
I know my pentax 6x7 can take both 120 and 220, you just slide button behind the film back that adjusts the counter and pressure plate.
13 years ago
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TijmenDal
Posts: 4849 - Karma: 1,296
Picked up an Oly 24mm... Finally! I'll let you guys know how friggin awesome it is...
13 years ago
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tomahawk
Posts: 2006 - Karma: 53
MD ROKKOR-X 50mm 1.4 | Kodak Gold 100 +1 | Drugstore dev/scan



Doesn't get more bro than this kid, shot the rest of an expired roll before shooting his sister's senior portraits.
13 years ago
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tomahawk
Posts: 2006 - Karma: 53
better quality.

http://ttranphotoblog.blogspot.com/2012/08/griffin-kodak-gold-100-1-costco-devscan.html
13 years ago
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Splice.
Posts: 1381 - Karma: -192
May I ask since I'm just getting into the DSLR World, what is "Vintage Glass"

Excuse my n00biness.
13 years ago
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24730 - Karma: 30,007
Old manual focus lenses from the 80's and prior.


13 years ago
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Splice.
Posts: 1381 - Karma: -192
Sick
13 years ago
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MLeone
Posts: 725 - Karma: 72
Lol this would be a great meme.


New to the DSLR World


Has an office and Company
13 years ago
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24730 - Karma: 30,007
Local Goodwill has a Chinon CM-5 with a 50mm f1.9, and a 135mm f2.8 For 20 bucks... I'm interested immediately, if anything for the 135mm - which is a focal length I do not have for a prime yet.

Yea or Nay?

Anyone know about Chinon - EOS adapters or what mount they even use? I really know absolutely nothing about the brand whatsoever.
13 years ago
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alexat955
Posts: 2732 - Karma: 112
K mount. they are probably nothing special but why not for $20?
13 years ago
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24730 - Karma: 30,007
Dude. Sick. I already have K mount adapter...

What a score for 20$. I had no Idea that Chinon used K mount.
13 years ago
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alexat955
Posts: 2732 - Karma: 112
neither did i haha. thats what google told me
13 years ago
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jeb_b_vt
Posts: 1047 - Karma: 1,294
SMC Takuma 50mm f/1.4?? Pretty cheap on eBay. http://www.ebay.com/itm/SMC-Takumar-50mm-f-1-4-Lens-/330792699671?pt=Camera_Lenses&hash=item4d04c80717
13 years ago
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Laurent.
Posts: 10056 - Karma: 25,311
No see trough shot, that always gives me a slight suspicion that the glass is damaged.
13 years ago
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jeb_b_vt
Posts: 1047 - Karma: 1,294
Yea thats what i was thinking.
13 years ago
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Laurent.
Posts: 10056 - Karma: 25,311
You can ask him to take a shot like that, if he says no, he has something to hide and I wouldn't do it.
13 years ago
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EC-Skier
Posts: 3899 - Karma: 668
Just wondering if anyone has any recommendations for a nice vintage macro, preferably fast (2.8 or faster is what im looking for)
13 years ago
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TijmenDal
Posts: 4849 - Karma: 1,296
Mamiya Sekor/Tomioka 60mm Macro f/2.8 0 - M42 lens. Easily adaptable to Canon.

Great, great lens. It's going to set you back around 350$ though.

The thing is: macro lenses that offer 1:1 macro are expensive. Even vintage ones. You can look at lenses like the SMC Tak 50mm f/4 macro. That goes for like 150$ or so (I think), but I'm pretty sure it doesn't offer 1:1 macro.
Then there is a lens like the Canon 50mm f/2.5 Macro (EF lens), but it only offers 1:2 macro, which isn't all that special.

Here's some examples with my Mamiya (take into consideration the NS rape)

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All in all, the Mamiya is one of the cheaper, faster, AMAZING IQ macro lenses. Another around the 300-400$ mark is the Tamron 90mm macro, which is an ok lens, but not nearly as good as the Mamiya imo.
13 years ago
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TijmenDal
Posts: 4849 - Karma: 1,296
Btw: above pictures aren't near as macro as you can get. Above pictures are NOT 1:1.
13 years ago
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EC-Skier
Posts: 3899 - Karma: 668
sweet thanks man.
13 years ago
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jeb_b_vt
Posts: 1047 - Karma: 1,294
Just picked up a samyang 70-210 and a pentax 50mm f/1.4 from my grandparents! Anyone know what lens converter they use? K-mount?
13 years ago
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jeb_b_vt
Posts: 1047 - Karma: 1,294
covert to t2i
13 years ago
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TijmenDal
Posts: 4849 - Karma: 1,296
Shows pics of the lenses and we might be able to help
13 years ago
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pjbackwoods
Posts: 1396 - Karma: 421
Hey guys! i only have a 18-55mm kit lense for my t2i right now and i found a craigslist ad of some old lenses with canon adapters. i dont know much about vintage glass or lenses in genral so i need your help! i film/photograph skiing biking. the first lense - vivitar 28-70 Macro zoom for $100. Second lense - yashica NEX 50mm f 1.7 ml with filter and an original 2x tele converter - $70 so do i buy them or keep looking? thanks ns
13 years ago
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plorr
Posts: 3131 - Karma: 515
I would take a look at them. Pretty much every vintage 50mm is at least decent. Vintage zooms on the other hand generally suck.
13 years ago
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Mag
Posts: 8155 - Karma: 14,798
what about lenses like Yashica Auto Yashinon-DS 50mm 1:1.4 Lens M42 mount
I figured considering how cheap they were they can't be that great, but just wanted to check.
13 years ago
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TijmenDal
Posts: 4849 - Karma: 1,296
Keep looking. Prices are way too high.
13 years ago
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TijmenDal
Posts: 4849 - Karma: 1,296
The Yashinon should be ok. Most Yashica lenses are.

The Rokkor won't be adaptable to Canon, mirrorless only.
13 years ago
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Mar-O
Posts: 960 - Karma: 827
I am new to vintage lenses so I know nothing about them but I found three at home that I want to get adapted to my 7d. I was just looking to know if any of you guys can tell me if these lenses are wort getting an adapter for and if you know of a good adapter to use that would be great.

Click for larger image
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For macro
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All three:
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I also have a Nikkor 200mm f/1.4 but the focus ring is not smood at all..

13 years ago
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plorr
Posts: 3131 - Karma: 515
The nikon is probably the only one worth getting an adaptor for. Minolta MD is not adaptable to ef. What mount is the vivitar though?
13 years ago
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Mar-O
Posts: 960 - Karma: 827
Okay thanks, looks like I will try out the nikon then. The Vivitar is M/MD.
13 years ago
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Laurent.
Posts: 10056 - Karma: 25,311
Ah yes the famous 'nifty fifity', one of my favorite lenses.
It's always one my ancient Nikon F.


Excellent sharpness, On a D3, the 50mm f/2 is always sharp edge-to-edge. The images are sharp at f/2. however there's veiling from spherical aberration which lowers contrast. This is greatly improved by f/2.8, and contrast is perfect at f/4 and smaller.

There is some minor Minor barrel distortion (bulging). If it bothers you, it cleans right up from film scans or FX digital with a value of +1.4 in PhotoShop's Lens Distortion Correction Filter.

And the focussing is so smooth. The focus ring flicks with one finger, without play, slop, grittiness or any need for damping. Lenses like these make modern lenses, even off-brands like the Zeiss-branded Cosina-made lenses, feel like poop by comparison.
13 years ago
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Drew_ski.
Posts: 1310 - Karma: 1,858
Im looking for a good old 50mm or 35 f1.8 or faster. Anyone know where i can find some cheap ones i only have about $75 to spend. And it will be going on a nikon d3100.
13 years ago
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Laurent.
Posts: 10056 - Karma: 25,311
You can get a NIKKOR 50mm 1:1.8 S for around $75 on Ebay easily.
Saves the hassle of getting an adapter.

Click for larger image

And with a bit of luck you can find a nice NIKKOR-S Auto 1:1.4 f=50mm for that price as well.
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13 years ago
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JibbaTheHutt
Posts: 2132 - Karma: 1,597
bump. my dad just gave me his old nikon 50mm f1.8e so i bought an adapter for my 600d, stoked on a new lens for £10. he also has a vivitar 80-200mm f4.5, anybody know if this will be adaptable onto a ef mount?
13 years ago
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bo0b
Posts: 2964 - Karma: 996
Could someone recommend me a cheaper vintage fisheye? I was looking at the Zenitar 16mm, but some people were complaining about softness among other things. Something in that price range would be nice though
13 years ago
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Bloc_chain
Posts: 26051 - Karma: 4,431
Not really gonna find one, all the decent vintage fisheyes are generally pretty expensive since they were very specialty lenses and there for were not produced in huge quantities. Be glad you aren't trying to get a fish for a hasselblad
13 years ago
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Laurent.
Posts: 10056 - Karma: 25,311
Looking to get an Olympus OM-1 for the collection. No real need for it, new system, I already have plenty for the F-mount and M42 Pentax screw-mount
Anything with the OM's that I need to watch out for?.
Asking here is easier then skimming on annoying fora. ;)



Also someone I know has one for sale, with the 50mm F1.8 and as I believe a Toshiba 135mm (I guess it's a Vivivtar then??) what would be a good price?
13 years ago
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TijmenDal
Posts: 4849 - Karma: 1,296
An OM-1 (non-N?), 50mm f/1.8 and 135mm I'd say about 75€ would be reasonable.
Check Marktplaats too, there's probably some stuff on there too.

13 years ago
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[J_Gasper]
Posts: 2983 - Karma: 1,594
Waiting on an adapter for my Soligor 400mm. So excite to shoot on it. I know it wont be to sharp, but will still be super fun!
13 years ago
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Bloc_chain
Posts: 26051 - Karma: 4,431
anyone want a pentax takumar 200mm f3.5 w/ hard case? I'd sell for 50 shipped, glass is in great shape, same with the body
13 years ago
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1337
Posts: 31074 - Karma: 29,629
pm'd
13 years ago
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EC-Skier
Posts: 3899 - Karma: 668
very interested. Will probably PM you later
13 years ago
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CrotchKiller
Posts: 9037 - Karma: 6,943
just picked up Canon fd
35mm 2.5
55mm 1.2
85mm 1.8
135mm 2.5
13 years ago
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zahava
Posts: 7791 - Karma: 12,039
Are you filming on a t2i or a m4/3's like a gh2?
13 years ago
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CrotchKiller
Posts: 9037 - Karma: 6,943
transferring over to gh3

still figuring out what to do with my 11-16

may sell the canon and pick up a nikon with an adapter

unless i can find a vintage UWA?

just started learning about vintage glass a few weeks ago, still a newb
13 years ago
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jeb_b_vt
Posts: 1047 - Karma: 1,294
Finally got my m42-EOS converter, Pentax Super Takumar 50mm f/1.4 is dope on my t2i. Same with the 70-210
13 years ago
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