Tag: ★★★★★
Konica Hexanon AR 40mm f1.8
The Konica Hexanon AR 40mm f1.8 is a tiny, wide-normal lens for the Konica system, released in 1978. It fits right between wide-angle 35 mm and 50mm lenses. Konica wanted a small size, fast speed, and wider-angle normal lens, and in my eyes, they succeeded. Generally, photographers praise it, but does it live up to…
Canon FD 35mm f2 S.S.C. Review
Canon FD 35mm f2 S.S.C. is a highly rated medium-wide-angle lens for the Canon FD system. It was initially released in 1971 and still offers excellent performance today. Canon made six slightly different versions, some more sought after than others. Details about Canon FD 35mm f2 Canon FD 35mm f2 lens is a collection of…
Schneider Kreuznach Rollei SL Xenon 50mm f1.8 Lens Review
Schneider Kreuznach Rollei SL Xenon 50mm f1.8 is a reasonably uncommon lens for the Rolleiflex SL35 camera utilising the QBM mount, and it also probably has the longest name. In 1973 this Xenon lens replaced the Carl Zeiss Planar 50mm f1.8 as a standard kit lens for the SL35 but was only manufactured between 1972…
Mamiya Sekor 55mm f1.4 Lens Review
Mamiya Sekor 55mm f1.4 is a high-quality standard lens, released in 1966, along with the Mamiya 500TL camera and is recommended by vintage lens lovers as one of the best. This lens was one of the first vintage lenses in my collection and kick-started my journey of discovery. Everything would be fine if we just…
Carl Zeiss Contarex Planar 50mm f2 Review
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…
Konica Hexanon AR 57mm f1.2 Lens Review
Let me tell you – I am incredibly thrilled to have this Konica Hexanon AR 57mm f1.2. More so, because I bought it by chance – saw a good deal on eBay and took it, hoping it would turn out to be a good one. I was not wrong! This lens turned out to be…
Konica Hexanon 50mm f1.7 AR Lens Review
Konica Hexanon 50mm f1.7 is the entry-level standard lens in the Hexanon lineup, along with a faster 50mm f1.4 and the iconic 57mm f1.2. All three lenses are great but have slightly different characteristics. Konica AR Lens guide describes it eloquently as “Budget priced standard lens. Lightweight and compact. Focuses down to 18 inches“. Although…
Canon FD 55mm f1.2 S.S.C. Lens Review
Canon FD 55mm f1.2 S.S.C. is a great performer! I bought this lens along with a few other FD lenses and a Canon A-1 camera. I did not specifically seek it, nor was even aware that such a lens existed before I had it. ‘Best manual lenses’ lists or reviews rarely mention it, so I did…
Mamiya Sekor 58mm f1.7 Lens Review
Mamiya Sekor 58mm f1.7 is another vintage lens from the 1960s – having a somewhat rare focal length and aperture combination, producing soft bokeh and strong object separation. History and versions Mamiya Sekor 58mm f1.7 F.C. – Exakta mount Mamiya Sekor 58mm f1.7 F.C., released in 1961, alongside the Mamiya’s first production SLR camera –…
Voigtländer Septon 50mm f2 Lens Review
Voigtländer Septon 50mm f2 was top of the line lens for the Bessamatic cameras – introduced in 1959 and made until 1967. This lens competed with the best lenses from other German manufacturers like Carl Zeiss and the wave of Japanese imports coming into the market. It was exceptionally well made, utilised the best materials…
Carl Zeiss Ultron 50mm f1.8 Lens Review
Carl Zeiss Ultron 50mm f1.8 is a lens for short-lived Zeiss Ikon Icarex line of cameras. Famous on the internet – it generally has good reviews and recommendations, so I wanted to try it for myself. It turned out to be one of my favourite vintage lenses. I use it a lot, taking it on…
Carl Zeiss Sonnar 85mm f2.8 QBM Lens Review
Carl Zeiss Sonnar 85mm f2.8 is a beautiful Carl Zeiss lens made in West Germany. It’s a sharp lens with a a rare Ernostar-Sonnar type optical design – it only has four elements in 4 groups. Usually, similar Sonnar designs have 5 elements in 4 groups, but not this one. Compared to some of today’s…