Lens Legend - Vintage lenses, reviews, and in-depth articles

October 18, 2021October 18, 2021

Carl Zeiss Contarex Planar 50mm f2 Review

Palanga bridge, Lithuania. Shot with Carl Zeiss Contarex 50mm f2

Carl Zeiss Contarex Planar 50mm f2 is an engineering marvel, just like the other Contarex lenses. Carl Zeiss introduced it in 1957 as the first lens for the Contarex system, and even today, its mechanical beauty, precision and usability are unmatched by anything else – even Carl Zeiss itself. This lens is in the middle …

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September 19, 2021September 19, 2021

Konica Hexanon AR 35mm f2 Short Review

Konica Hexanon AR 35mm f2 - Front view

Konica Hexanon AR 35mm f2 is a premium lens from the Konica AR lineup. A whole stop faster than …

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February 8, 2021September 19, 2021

Konica Hexanon AR 57mm f1.2 Lens Review

Konica Hexanon AR 57mm f1.2

Let me tell you – I am incredibly thrilled to have this Konica Hexanon AR 57mm f1.2. More so, …

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February 2, 2021October 26, 2021

Radioactive Lenses and Everything About Them

Radioactive Lenses

There’s a lot of misinformation about radioactive lenses – from scare stories about growing an extra arm and getting …

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December 31, 2020December 31, 2020

Konica Hexanon 50mm f1.7 AR Lens Review

Konica Hexanon AR 50mm f1.7

Konica Hexanon 50mm f1.7 is the entry-level standard lens in the Hexanon lineup, along with a faster 50mm f1.4 …

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August 23, 2020March 23, 2022

Canon FD 55mm f1.2 S.S.C. Lens Review

Canon FD 55mm f1.2 S.S.C.

Canon FD 55mm f1.2 S.S.C. is a great performer! I bought this lens along with a few other FD …

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June 15, 2020July 24, 2020

Mamiya Sekor 50mm f2 M42 Lens Review

Mamiya Sekor 50mm f2 M42 Lens

Mamiya Sekor 50mm f2 is one of the four standard prime lenses for Mamiya TL and DTL cameras, released …

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May 19, 2020February 2, 2021

Mamiya Sekor 58mm f1.7 Lens Review

Mamiya 58mm f1.7 M42 Lens

Mamiya Sekor 58mm f1.7 is another vintage lens from the 1960s – having a somewhat rare focal length and …

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May 10, 2020June 17, 2020

Voigtländer Septon 50mm f2 Lens Review

Voigtländer Septon 50mm f2 Lens

Voigtländer Septon 50mm f2 was top of the line lens for the Bessamatic cameras – introduced in 1959 and …

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April 3, 2020June 17, 2020

E. Ludwig Meritar 50mm f2.9 Review

E. Ludwig Meritar 50mm f2.9

E. Ludwig Meritar 50mm f2.9 was the entry-level option for the Ihagee Exakta line of cameras and cost only …

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