Your underrated lenses

[David Murphy]

The CZJ wide angle lenses are all great performers, remarkable given how early they appeared on the scene.
I've recently acquired an Enna 4/24 and need to properly test it. It is a very compact design when compared to the CZJ 4/25 or the ISCO 4/24, so I'll be pretty impressed if it can outperform those lenses.

I own the Enna 24mm F4 Lithagon in Praktina mount. It's a beautifully made lens, somewhat uncommon these days. It makes sharp images with sort of a pleasant vignette common on early very-wides - reminescent of the first version of the 21mm Super-Angulon.

In fact I'm starting to conclude that many of these early post-war German SLR lenses are underrated!

 

[p.giannakis]

There are quite a few vintage lenses that started again enjoying popularity due to being adapted to digital cameras. To me it seems that although people started appreciating Rokkors again, they are still not in the forefront of people's mind when looking out for lenses.

There are some that i liked when i first used them but when i used other company's equivalents, realised they were not that great. Rokkor MD 28f/2.8 is a good example - I used the alpha mount version too: good lens but not a match for the AiS28f/2.8 or the EF28f/2.8 or even the zuiko 28f/2.8.

I do enjoy their 50-58mm lenses though. Only exception is the old Auto-Rokkor PF 55f/2 which I have mixed feelings about. The MC-II 58f/1.4 is underrated although a difficult lens to handle.





The 50f/1.4 was underrated but people figure it out now. Still less expensive to buy than an equivalent Nikkor or a Canon FD.



One of the most underrated Rokkor has to be the plain MD 50/1.7 - even the cheaper 50f/2 enjoys more fame online. The 50f/1.7 is cheap, excellent performer, plentiful and has not been infected by the horrible "Hypus Internetus" disease.

 

[Zuiko-logist]

There are quite a few vintage lenses that started again enjoying popularity due to being adapted to digital cameras. To me it seems that although people started appreciating Rokkors again, they are still not in the forefront of people's mind when looking out for lenses.

There are some that i liked when i first used them but when i used other company's equivalents, realised they were not that great. Rokkor MD 28f/2.8 is a good example - I used the alpha mount version too: good lens but not a match for the AiS28f/2.8 or the EF28f/2.8 or even the zuiko 28f/2.8.

I do enjoy their 50-58mm lenses though. Only exception is the old Auto-Rokkor PF 55f/2 which I have mixed feelings about. The MC-II 58f/1.4 is underrated although a difficult lens to handle.

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The 50f/1.4 was underrated but people figure it out now. Still less expensive to buy than an equivalent Nikkor or a Canon FD.

View attachment 4876095

One of the most underrated Rokkor has to be the plain MD 50/1.7 - even the cheaper 50f/2 enjoys more fame online. The 50f/1.7 is cheap, excellent performer, plentiful and has not been infected by the horrible "Hypus Internetus" disease.

View attachment 4876092

The 35/2.8 Rokkor also seems underrated - my copy was at least better than the 28/2.8.

 

[caila77]

Konica Hexanon 28mm/F3.5 - very cheap, but very good (at least my copy).​

one of my favourite underrated 28mm...
other underrated lenses:

hexanon 50mm f1,7 and f1,4

 

[caila77]

Zuiko 10mm f2,8.... well known...... quite cheap, I payd mine 40 euros...

 

[Out to Lunch]

A nice and smallish 50mm: the Collapsible Heliar 2/50.

 

[p.giannakis]

Zuiko 10mm f2,8.... well known...... quite cheap, I payd mine 40 euros...

View attachment 4876097

I think you've been exceptionally lucky to find it at this price.

 

[santino]

Zuiko 10mm f2,8.... well known...... quite cheap, I payd mine 40 euros...

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Your lens is a great find. Please tell me what that yellow micro fibre cloth in the background is? Is it by any chance made by Dunlop for car dashboards? Just asking.. I think I have the same 👍

 

[valdas]

one of my favourite underrated 28mm...
other underrated lenses:

hexanon 50mm f1,7 and f1,4

Agree, 50/1.7 is one of my favorite, it gives beautiful OOF (bokeh). I never had a chance to try 1.4 though.

 

[Leon C]

The MC-II 58f/1.4 is underrated although a difficult lens to handle.

I was looking at an MC-I one earlier attached to an SRT101 and a couple of other lenses I don't need! In a kit, whilst tempting I'm trying to be good! But the price is the draw....£50 for everything!!! 😉

 

[Nitroplait]

For a relatively short period between 1975-79 Nikon made a 6 element 35mm f2.8 that was better than the both the 7 element predecessor and 5 element successor, both of which are not so highly regarded.
This particular 35mm lens placed in-between may be a little difficult to identify and therefore mostly sell at the same (low) price as its successor.

It is absolutely worth picking up if you spot it.
Serial no. should be in the range 773111-870063.

It features two very thick elements which were said to be too expensive to produce for what was basically meant as an entry level lens.