Underdog lenses

John Bragg

John Bragg

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Post your images taken on the unloved lenses that get a bad rep. My favorite is the Af Nikkor 35-70 f3.3-4.5 which as a 90s kit lens was sold as a "standard" zoom. I find it to have a certain charm when used in point and shoot mode. It is light and discrete and capable in good light of making some great photos and focusses real close. A certain Mr Rockwell may not agree, but I'm ok with that.

These photos taken with Nikon F100 and HP5+ @ ei200 developed in Ilfosol 3

Mevagissey anglers by E.J. Bragg, on Flickr

Graveyard Geometry by E.J. Bragg, on Flickr
 
Underdog lenses? The Elmar 35mm LTM. A tiny lens with beautiful character
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Flickr
 
p.giannakis said:
There was a time the Zuiko 35f2 had bad reputation but look at the prices now!
…
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Aside from the 50mm, it’s harder to find OM lenses wider than f/2.8 and, when they’re found, they’re expensive After looking for several years I recently found a 35/2. For the 100mm, I was impatient and bought a 2.8 although the 100/2 is said to be magical.

The Nikon 24-120 AF-D has often been criticized, but it’s worked well for me, especially shooting motorsports.

E0F0BBFD-99EB-49FD-9DA1-D1CD366A0F4B.jpg
 
Another lens with very bad reputation a couple of decades ago was the Helios 58f2. No one wanted this lens (or the Zenit that it came with). Very ineffective coatings and swirly bokeh which was a bad thing back then (I still don't like it). I did manage to get some good pics with it before I upgraded to the Takumars.

Zenit 12xp - Helios 58f2
Ilford HP5

Pic.jpg
 
p.giannakis said:
Another lens with very bad reputation a couple of decades ago was the Helios 58f2. No one wanted this lens (or the Zenit that it came with). Very ineffective coatings and swirly bokeh which was a bad thing back then (I still don't like it). I did manage to get some good pics with it before I upgraded to the Takumars.

Zenit 12xp - Helios 58f2
Ilford HP5
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Another great shot Pan. I think a decent lens hood is a must for all lenses and even more so when coatings are less stellar. The first thing i put on any lens is a cheap (Chinese) metal hood. ​​​
 
I pulled out a couple of things I have had but haven't used yet -- Helios 44M (the 58/2; must have been on a Zenit since that's what the lens cap says) and an Exa 1b (the screw mount version from the late 70s). Looking forward to the results.

And why was the Zuiko 35/2 so denigrated, anyway?
 
I'd like to be able to comment on the Zuiko 35 f2 but unfortunately it was stolen on my third day in Portugal. After shooting half a roll in Lisbon, my GF and I headed for the Algarve. Stopped at a truck stop restaurant to eat and car was broken into. They grabbed the small bag left behind the seat and took off. Likely on motorcycles. Fortunately they did not pop the hatchback as our two backpacks were there.

When we reported the theft at a National Guard base, they were deeply offended that I insisted on taking both backpacks into the office. I told them I was offended by their thieving country.

I bought the lens despite some bad reviews. My thought at the time that there were likely bad samples but that I'd take my chances. I believe it is a very good lens.
 
Hibbs said:
I'd like to be able to comment on the Zuiko 35 f2 but unfortunately it was stolen on my third day in Portugal. After shooting half a roll in Lisbon, my GF and I headed for the Algarve. Stopped at a truck stop restaurant to eat and car was broken into. They grabbed the small bag left behind the seat and took off. Likely on motorcycles. Fortunately they did not pop the hatchback as our two backpacks were there.

When we reported the theft at a National Guard base, they were deeply offended that I insisted on taking both backpacks into the office. I told them I was offended by their thieving country.

I bought the lens despite some bad reviews. My thought at the time that there were likely bad samples but that I'd take my chances. I believe it is a very good lens.
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Holy Sh*t. Sorry to hear that. It is a good lens for distances 2m-5m, it has it's own way of drawing a picture. I like it for street work. Not great at infinity unless stopped down to f/8. Zuiko-wise, the 28f/2.8 is a better lens (sharpness, contrast) but then it is not a 35mm. No experience with the 35f/2.8.

Here is one more

Scan11406sm.jpg
 
Hibbs said:
... When we reported the theft at a National Guard base, they were deeply offended that I insisted on taking both backpacks into the office. I told them I was offended by their thieving country. ...
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I lived in Portugal for the better part of three years. Yes, I had a camera stolen once during that time, but that does not make Portugal a "thieving country." It was because of such attitudes among tourists that I avoided them when I lived abroad (Brazil and Portugal).

You might not have noticed that there is a fair amount of theft in the US and Canada, not to mention most other nations, as well.

When I lived in Portugal, where there is amazingly little violent crime, I had serious qualms about returning to the US because of the high rates of violent crime there/here.

- Murray
 
Pál_K said:
The Nikon 24-120 AF-D has often been criticized, but it’s worked well for me, especially shooting motorsports.
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That 24-120 has a very useful range. The AF-D version I had a long time ago, really needed to be stepped down to f11 to get optimal sharpness at longer focal lengths, and had quite strong pincushion at 35mm, but it's oh so convenient when on the go. I've since mover to the f3.5-f5.6 VR version, and while that one also doesn't have a stellar reputation, it lives on the D750 almost all the time..
 
Joao said:
DOMIPLAN 50mm 2.8
Any opinions??

Joao
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It was my first SLR lens (in the Porst version on a Porst FX3). I own the Domiplan version too and I like how it´s sharpness drops in the edges when shooting wide open.
The attached picture was shot in reverse position (1979, HP5). It is one of my early photos that showed me, that there could be something for me in photography. So, maybe it´s only the sentimental value;-)
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I used three samples of the Domiplan 2,8/50. One was terrible (probable inner damage by amateur repairman). The other two were acceptable.

Domiplan 2,8/50

Departure by João Avelar, on Flickr

There is a 1:3,5 /30 Domiplan version in the Penti II (photo flipped horizontally)

Old boat 02 by João Avelar, on Flickr

Regards
Joao
 
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