What's the best cheap lens you've bought?

Horatio · Mar 17, 2021

darkosaric said:
For Nikkors - key is not to look in ebay in lenses, but look in analog cameras section. Lens with some F55 or something is often cheaper than the same lens itself.

True. I recently got a Nikon 28-70 AF and a working N70 for $35. Before that a 50mm f1.8 E-series lens for $29.

Dennis S · Mar 17, 2021

Quite a few yrs ago I picked up a Canon FL 55 f1.2 lens for $ 20 but I had to get a CLA on it for $ 80 but it was worth it.

jwd722 · Mar 17, 2021

A little over a year ago I purchased a 200mm f4 Nikkor Q-C non ai (which I ai'd) on ebay for $6.00 plus shipping. Paint finish looks like one would expect for the price but the glass is pristine and it's amazingly sharp to boot!

Sirius Glass · Mar 17, 2021

When the Tamron f/3.8 AF 28mm to 300mm lens came out, my girlfriend won it for me. So no cost except that I had to buy Nikon N75 so I could use it.

Kino · Mar 17, 2021

I bought a used but great condition Tamron AF LD 200 to 400mm 5.6 Nikon mount lens for $5 at a going out of business camera store sale. In fact, I bought several lenses off that $5 table, all good ones but this was the best one.

Bronson Dugnutt · Mar 18, 2021

$30 Chrome El-Nikkor 80mm f5.6

Prints medium format negatives, digitizes 35mm film, and has great UV transmission if you want to shoot under blacklight.

Huss · Mar 18, 2021

When you say 'best' lens that rules out all lenses apart from those made by Leica.

The best cheap lens I have bought was the Summicron 40mm f2. About $300. An outstanding lens.

Donald Qualls · Mar 18, 2021

Huss said:
When you say 'best' lens that rules out all lenses apart from those made by Leica.

Prejudice much?

Huss · Mar 18, 2021

Donald Qualls said:
Prejudice much?

Please don't disturb me when I'm trying to stir the pot!

I'd say either the Nikon/Cosina 35-70 that I bought for $1 at a flea market, or any of the Pentax 50mm F2s that I paid about $20 for.
I really can't tell any difference between results from the Pentax lens and my Summicrons.... perhaps I should look much closer?

removed account4 · Mar 18, 2021

For a 35mm camera ? Probs a Pentax 50f2 new in box for like $15
But I had a Kodachrome recommar35mm back for my speed graphic so I could shoot 35mm film with fun optics ( and use a fpmshutter.. the recommar had ground glass! ) . Set lens I had was harvested off of a crappy folder >>> free ... !

Nicholas Lindan · Mar 18, 2021

Hmmm...

The Nikon 28-80mm f/3.3-5.6 AF-G than came with my $35 Nikon N75. Better than it has any right to be. (Ditto the camera.) https://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/28-80mm-g.htm

Spiratone 100mm f4.0 Portragon soft focus with one single plano-convex element. I think I paid $20 plus a T-Mount adapter. The lens works really well on a 2x telextender. Without the extender the corners and edges are just too blurry for my taste. You can get quite arty-farty with it http://www.nolindan.com/UsenetStuff/portragon.html

Huss · Mar 18, 2021

Nicholas Lindan said:
Hmmm...

The Nikon 28-80mm f/3.3-5.6 AF-G than came with my $35 Nikon N75. Better than it has any right to be. (Ditto the camera.) https://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/28-80mm-g.htm

Spiratone 100mm f4.0 Portragon soft focus with one single plano-convex element. I think I paid $20 plus a T-Mount adapter. The lens works really well on a 2x telextender. Without the extender the corners and edges are just too blurry for my taste. You can get quite arty-farty with it http://www.nolindan.com/UsenetStuff/portragon.html

Yup I took this with my plastic 28-80G on my Nikon N75. $25 for both.

NB23 · Mar 18, 2021

Brand new Minolta 50mm f1.7 MD with box.

5$

nzhang · Mar 18, 2021

Pentax k 55mm f2 lens, the same lens as 55mm f1.8, but made for Pentax k1000 as a cheaper version. Used one sold for around $20, but as sharp as best lenses, such as Leica and Zeiss ones, workmanship also matches the best ones in the market. Russian industar 61L, cost between $10-$20, a very nice lens also.

John Bragg · Mar 18, 2021

I have had a run of good luck lately. A Tamron 80-210 F3.8 Brand new in box for £25 ! Also a Tamron 35-70 f3.5 in good condition for £6. Also a Vivitar 70-150 f3.8 in as new condition for £12.

Tim Gray · Mar 18, 2021

Got an 80mm APO Rodagon-N here about 10 years ago for $50. If I recall I sent $75 since it was such a good deal.

Pioneer · Mar 18, 2021

For me my SMC Pentax M 50mm f2 is the best lens that I have ever paid so little for. These lenses are normally inexpensive but this one was given to me when I purchased a 200mm Pentax lens at a flea market. I already owned one that came on my K1000 that I bought at a pawn shop so I almost turned it down. But that lens appeared to be absolutely new so I accepted it. I am still using it today and I have never regretted it.

RalphLambrecht · Mar 18, 2021

Horatio said:
For me, it's the Nikkor 35-105 AI zoom, $25 shipped. Really sharp and minimal distortion. Second in line would be a Canon 50mm f1.8 in LTM mount, which I got cheap ($40) because of fungus.

an E-series Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 And because it was so good I,went out and bought another one.

gordrob · Mar 19, 2021

The best buys I have had are a Pentax Spotmatic with a 50mm f1.4 lens in pristine condition for $20 and a Kodak Aero Ektar 7 inch f2.5 in great condition for $50. Happy with both of them

MartinCrabtree · Mar 19, 2021

Nikon 50 F1.8 Series E. Think it cost me $6 US for shipping. Takes surprising images digital and film. Has kind of a cheap feel due to plastic components but I can live with that.

Greg Kriss · Mar 19, 2021

300mm f/4.5 AIS converted Nikkor-H mint, Nikon NIKONOS V with 35mm f/2.5 Nikkor W NIB, and an 85mm f/1.8 AIS converted Nikkor in exc+++. Asking price was I think $30 for all but gave the seller a $100 bill.

wjlapier · Mar 19, 2021

The lens was attached to the camera. Olympus 35mm f/3.5 for 50 cents.

Seriously...

The best cheap lens I have is the Canon 40mm f/2.8 for EOS. Pretty sharp lens.

Huss · Mar 19, 2021

MartinCrabtree said:
Nikon 50 F1.8 Series E. Think it cost me $6 US for shipping. Takes surprising images digital and film. Has kind of a cheap feel due to plastic components but I can live with that.

I think the 50 E is a very nice lens. I paid $50 for the 2nd version - which they restyled/gave it a much nicer build and finish - and I am very happy with it.
Love it on my N2000.

Horatio · Mar 19, 2021

Huss said:
I think the 50 E is a very nice lens. I paid $50 for the 2nd version - which they restyled/gave it a much nicer build and finish - and I am very happy with it.
Love it on my N2000.

I picked up one of these recently for $30. It’s mounted to my N2000. Small world!

eurekaiv · Mar 20, 2021

I have a cabinet full of lenses I mostly paid no more than $20-30 for. I don’t have a single Olympus lens that was more than that including a 50/1.4, 24/2.8, 100/2.8, 35/2.8 and many more. All thrift or estate finds. I haven’t found any Oly stuff in probably 4 or 5 years though—the film camera gravy train has really dried up in that time. More recently, I bought an early 35mm/2.8 Nikkor with the screw on aperture ring on ebay. Listed as-is for $35 ood. Glass was flawless but the aperture wasn’t moving. Fixed it in about 20 minutes and I’m really loving that one. I’ve used it a ton in the last few weeks.

What's the best cheap lens you've bought?

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