I agree. For me, I don't care yoo much for weight or size as long as the lens is optically great. Perhaps that's why I like thr Mamiya RB lenses so much...
What is your best "sleeper lens"?
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I agree. For me, I don't care yoo much for weight or size as long as the lens is optically great. Perhaps that's why I like thr Mamiya RB lenses so much...
I've got a 28mm f/2.8 Rokinon lens in Pentax K-mount that I like to use with Rollei IR400s. Set the aperture at f/8 and pick a shutter speed that works for what the current lighting conditions are at EI 25. Set focus at 10ft (according to the DOF scale, everything from 5 feet to infinity will be sharp), screw on the filter and fire away. Bracket by taking pictures at EI 12 and EI 6. I usually end up liking the EI 25 one best. I've not tried it at f/2.8 yet, probably because I have a Pentax-M 50mm lens that is a stop faster that I'll use for low light with B&W. If the light is low and I'm shooting my usual color slides, I end up using flash to get color balance right, so lens speed is less critical.
I was intrigued by your lens and found on a Pentax Forum that there are only 25 of these lenses in the world. Lucky you.
http://www.pentaxforums.com/lensreviews/Ultra-Achromatic-Takumar-85mm-F4.5.html
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I think Nikon made something like this.
Definitely my Nikon 35mm 2.0 AF D and my Nikon 35mm 2.0 AIS. Both of these lenses yield extremely sharp images, imperceptible distortion and outstanding color rendition. Most online reviews I have read regarding both of these lenses refer to them as less than stellar, but from my personal experience I can say that they are truly amazing.
If I was to drop, damage or lose any of my lenses these two would be on the top of my list to repurchase.
If I was to drop, damage or lose any of my lenses these two would be on the top of my list to repurchase.
Agree. I own the Sigma Super Wide II 24/2.8 in both Sony/Minolta AF-mount and in Minolta SR/MC/MD-mount and it is great. The €50,- I bought it for is a steal and even at €100,- it would still be a good buy. It is my best sleeper lens
Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm F3.5 Macro (OM Mount)
It is a heavy beast, and I've mostly used on my digital bodies. It has a lot of redeeming qualities. The focusing is very easy (twice the throw of my Zuiko 65-200 F4). I bought it to photograph evening (unlit)football games, a task it excels at.
I posted it for sale a few years ago (after getting an AF lens of similar speed and range), but going over all the photos I've taken with it, I couldn't bring myself to part with it.
It may not qualify as a sleeper though. You show up to the side lines with that on a lens support rig and a monopod, and people give you room. My Zuiko 50-200 F2.8-3.5 Four Thirds lens is bigger, but doesn't have the presence the Vivitar & lens support does.
It is a heavy beast, and I've mostly used on my digital bodies. It has a lot of redeeming qualities. The focusing is very easy (twice the throw of my Zuiko 65-200 F4). I bought it to photograph evening (unlit)football games, a task it excels at.
I posted it for sale a few years ago (after getting an AF lens of similar speed and range), but going over all the photos I've taken with it, I couldn't bring myself to part with it.
It may not qualify as a sleeper though. You show up to the side lines with that on a lens support rig and a monopod, and people give you room. My Zuiko 50-200 F2.8-3.5 Four Thirds lens is bigger, but doesn't have the presence the Vivitar & lens support does.
SMC Pentax 55mm 1:2
Did we mention the Nikon Series E 100mm f/2.8 ?
It's a real bargain - very sharp with high contrast for all apertures.
The lens is also extremely compact and lightweight (215g).
I use the 100mm f/2.8 on D200, FM and on a F-301 (N-2000).
Really like it !
http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/emfgfg20/eserieslenses/htmls/100135mm.htm
It's a real bargain - very sharp with high contrast for all apertures.
The lens is also extremely compact and lightweight (215g).
I use the 100mm f/2.8 on D200, FM and on a F-301 (N-2000).
Really like it !
http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/emfgfg20/eserieslenses/htmls/100135mm.htm
I've heard great things on this one too. Tempted to pick one up but I already have an old 105/2.5 Nikkor that is just wonderful...
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I got rid of all my sleeper lenses because they slept too much. Two that I remember most fondly are Nikkors 135/3.5 and 50-135/3.5.
I have the Nikkor 105mm f/2.5 Ais - it's a great lens (even better than the 100mm Series E).
The 100mm Series E is pretty inexpensive and a I like it in addition for traveling or hiking light.
Ektar 207mm f/7.7 Sharpest lens I own
Somewhere I have a microfilm lens. A real sleeper. No one wants microfilms anymore, so it sleeps with the fiches.
Right now, I think that the finest lens I own is stuck to the front of my Sigma DP3M. It is the Sigma 50/2.8 Macro. Of course my Sigma 50/2.8 Macro K-mount edition is also quite spectacular but I think the two may be a bit different, but perhaps not. It is a very nice lens in either configuration.
MattKing
Moderator
The Nikkor 25-50mm f/4 is a lens, that astonishingly is little noticed nowadays.
I love to use it for landscape photography, so the slow speed is not a problem.
http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/nikon/nikkoresources/zoomsMF/2550mm.htm
Bjorn Rorslett :
the 25-50 f/4 Nikkor is a true optical gem. it has a degree of colour vividness that only is matched or surpassed by the recent and hugely expensive AFS Nikkor 17-35/2.8 and AFS 28-70/2.8. there is very little colour fringing in this lens and it has remarkably good image rendition when stopped well down, a feat that very few modern zooms can match.
I love to use it for landscape photography, so the slow speed is not a problem.
http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/nikon/nikkoresources/zoomsMF/2550mm.htm
Bjorn Rorslett :
the 25-50 f/4 Nikkor is a true optical gem. it has a degree of colour vividness that only is matched or surpassed by the recent and hugely expensive AFS Nikkor 17-35/2.8 and AFS 28-70/2.8. there is very little colour fringing in this lens and it has remarkably good image rendition when stopped well down, a feat that very few modern zooms can match.
I passed on a used one of those in the used section of a camera store in Providence. It was $75 IIRC, It seemed like an odd focal range to me so I didn't think much of it. It was Hunts Camera in Prov. if anyone wants to try and grab it. But it was a while ago so I'm sure it's gone.
This one was placed at a very cheap price … :confused:
I got mine (`mint´condition) for about 230 Euro (265 US Dollar).
Maybe you saw the Nikkor 28-45mm f/4.5 Ai ?
This one can be found for 75 US Dollar (more ore less).
I don't try this lens so far.
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The old Canon 100-300mm L zoom lens was a bonafide sleeper. Quickly discontinued, it was available used for a really low price at one time. Not sure about today. Probably not.
Another vote for the 17/3.5 SP. Rented one of the early built-in filter versions back in 1991 for a trip up to the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival.
If we're talking camera manufacturer lenses, then the Series E 70-210/4 (and the AF Nikkor version) are quite good. The E version sometimes can be had for almost nothing, unlike the AF version, which tends to be somewhat expensive in comparison. Other Nikon lenses I've been pleasantly surprised by: the 28/3.5 Nikkor-H, 135/3.5 Nikkor-Q, 200/4 Nikkor-Q, the 20/3.5 Nikkor-UD, the 50/1.4 Nikkor-S (which, as long as you don't use f/1.4, shoots very well - did a test shot recently at Kenmore Camera on an off-topic Nikon full-frame camera with my copy - tack sharp at f/5.6), and, of course, the 50/2 Nikkor-H. Pentax-wise, I was very happy with my old 55/1.8 Super-Multi-Coated Tak. Not as much with the earlier Super-Tak, but, that was still a decent lens, hung off my beater H3v that I had as a kid.
-J
If we're talking camera manufacturer lenses, then the Series E 70-210/4 (and the AF Nikkor version) are quite good. The E version sometimes can be had for almost nothing, unlike the AF version, which tends to be somewhat expensive in comparison. Other Nikon lenses I've been pleasantly surprised by: the 28/3.5 Nikkor-H, 135/3.5 Nikkor-Q, 200/4 Nikkor-Q, the 20/3.5 Nikkor-UD, the 50/1.4 Nikkor-S (which, as long as you don't use f/1.4, shoots very well - did a test shot recently at Kenmore Camera on an off-topic Nikon full-frame camera with my copy - tack sharp at f/5.6), and, of course, the 50/2 Nikkor-H. Pentax-wise, I was very happy with my old 55/1.8 Super-Multi-Coated Tak. Not as much with the earlier Super-Tak, but, that was still a decent lens, hung off my beater H3v that I had as a kid.
-J
Yup! I looked it up on MIR and it was the 28-45.
Over Christmas I was reminded what nice lenses Yashica's single-coated DSB are. I finished a black and white film on the FR walking round a local lake. They offer a sharp but subtle rendition that would carry a big price tag if it came on a cult brand. Test charts may not show anything remarkable, but when did they show anything useful about character?
Nikkor 135/3.5 "blue coat" and 50/1.8D.
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