ornate_wrasse
Moderator
Agree with you on the VC 28mm 1.9 lens. It didn't hurt that I bought it for only $300.
Ellen
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
How about the Industar 26 ... I bought one about six years ago for $45.00 and it came with a Fed 2 attached to it. 
David Murphy
Veteran
benlees
Well-known
Yeah, that Sigma 24mm Super wide is a gem. KEH had one awhile back in K mount for $120. I thought it was overpriced! Still should have bought it; haven't seen one since.
benlees
Well-known
I guess I should mention the Vivitar 28mm 2.8 (not the series one) I have in K mount. Love that lens! The helical is cranky and its bokeh would make a "Leica glow" aficionado puke but it produces pictures well enough. Not actually sure where it came from.
f16sunshine
Moderator
$116.00 for my Zenitar 16mm fisheye. I don't love it, but it cured me from buying a $500+ one. Here is it on my Spotmatic:
I don't love it either. Mostly because I don't much love fish lenses much. For a "C-note" The zenith 16mm is hard to argue with.
I've used mine when the moment for fishy-ness calls mostly on a 5Dii
Classique
Well-known
RFF is not good for my bank account!
After seeing this thread, I snapped up Quantaray Tech-10 24mm f2.8 for $37 including shipping for my D700 =D If it performs as good as everyone say, I think I can let go of my Sigma 12-24 that I've seldom used.
For fast DSLR zoom with amazing quality and cheap price, look into Tokina AT-X Pro 28-70mm 2.6-2.8 (Get the best version). Comes in variety of mounts including nikon, pentax and price ranges from 150-400. One lens I will never go
After seeing this thread, I snapped up Quantaray Tech-10 24mm f2.8 for $37 including shipping for my D700 =D If it performs as good as everyone say, I think I can let go of my Sigma 12-24 that I've seldom used.
For fast DSLR zoom with amazing quality and cheap price, look into Tokina AT-X Pro 28-70mm 2.6-2.8 (Get the best version). Comes in variety of mounts including nikon, pentax and price ranges from 150-400. One lens I will never go
nikon_sam
Shooter of Film...
I was a bit shy on mentioning this lens at first but since someone else has I'll chime in too...I paid less than $100 and it came with the Spotmatic body too...Probably one of the sharpest lens I own...
I've looked at this one...I can't yet justify owning this one other than I just want it because it's a Yashinon...(I have too many 50mm's)
I was given this lens about a year ago...It's the all metal version with 58mm front thread mount...it is one beautiful lens...just a bit dark (3.5)
seakayaker1
Well-known
I have found that all three of the Voigtlander LTM lens, 28/1.9 Ultron; 50/1.5 Nokton; and 75/2.5 Color-Heliar delivers a big bank for the buck. I believe the 28/1.9 and 75/2.5 are not available new anymore but the 50/1.5 can still be found at Cameraquest.
I still have the 28/1.9 and 50/1.5 but sold off the 75/2.5 a while back and have missed it.
28/1.9 Ultron
****
50/1.5 Nokton
***
75/2.5 Color-Heliar
I still have the 28/1.9 and 50/1.5 but sold off the 75/2.5 a while back and have missed it.
28/1.9 Ultron
****
50/1.5 Nokton
***
75/2.5 Color-Heliar
vrgard
Well-known
I don't really have anything new to add to the list but was happy to see so many of my favorite "value" lenses already on the list (Pentax 50/1.4, VC 28/1.9 & 75/2.5, and "Sweeneyfied" Jupiter 50/1.5).
Previously I would have mentioned the Rokker 40/2.0 lens but I'm not sure it still qualifies as a value lens unless one compares it to new Leica lens pricing.
-Randy
Previously I would have mentioned the Rokker 40/2.0 lens but I'm not sure it still qualifies as a value lens unless one compares it to new Leica lens pricing.
-Randy
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
I reckon calling 28mm Ultrons and 50mm f1.f Noktons 'budget glass' is stretching it a little!
vrgard
Well-known
Without meaning to argue with you Keith, I picked up my VC 28/1.9 used from a fellow RFF member about 5-6 years ago for only $275 including the matching finder. Maybe not dirt cheap budget-level but certainly very good value by comparison to Leica's current (obscenely overpriced) options.
-Randy
-Randy
Harry Lime
Practitioner
I reckon calling 28mm Ultrons and 50mm f1.f Noktons 'budget glass' is stretching it a little!
These days Leica makes lens caps that cost more...
charjohncarter
Veteran
I don't love it either. Mostly because I don't much love fish lenses much. For a "C-note" The zenith 16mm is hard to argue with.
I've used mine when the moment for fishy-ness calls mostly on a 5Dii
I know, I still bring it out every so often.
And above mentioned a 35mm Pentax lens for $60, I still have my $60 28mm that I bought in 1970. I still like that one.
Harry Lime
Practitioner
Nikkor-H.C 2/50 (SLR)
You can get these for a handful of dirt and a used bus ticket, but it is a very, very good lens. Very sharp with excellent contrast. Beautiful fingerprint, nice bokeh, even though it only has five blades. Nice and compact and very low weight.
One of my favorites. I have three of the original chrome ones with the black curled focus ring.
Nikkor-S.C 14/50 (SLR)
Another lens that is practically given away. They are quite soft at f1.4, but once they are stopped down it's quite sharp. But the main reason for buying this lens is the fingerprint in black and white. It's just really lush and smooth in sunlight.
You can get these for a handful of dirt and a used bus ticket, but it is a very, very good lens. Very sharp with excellent contrast. Beautiful fingerprint, nice bokeh, even though it only has five blades. Nice and compact and very low weight.
One of my favorites. I have three of the original chrome ones with the black curled focus ring.
Nikkor-S.C 14/50 (SLR)
Another lens that is practically given away. They are quite soft at f1.4, but once they are stopped down it's quite sharp. But the main reason for buying this lens is the fingerprint in black and white. It's just really lush and smooth in sunlight.
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
These days Leica makes lens caps that cost more...
Using Leica as a yardstick is a little dangerous IMO ... we need to stay connected to reality here!
Brian Legge
Veteran
Harry, the 2/50 seems to be going for $200+ and the 1.4 for even more. I think there are a lot of excellent LTM lenses in that range.
Now a good J8, those are absolutely solid and can be had very cheaply. If you get lucky.
Jupiter 8:
Industar 26:
I prefer the Industar 50 over the 26 but looking over what I've shot, I don't really have any great photos with it yet.
Now a good J8, those are absolutely solid and can be had very cheaply. If you get lucky.
Jupiter 8:
Industar 26:
I prefer the Industar 50 over the 26 but looking over what I've shot, I don't really have any great photos with it yet.
vrgard
Well-known
Using Leica as a yardstick is a little dangerous IMO ... we need to stay connected to reality here!
You're absolutely right Keith!
-Randy
Harry Lime
Practitioner
Using Leica as a yardstick is a little dangerous IMO ... we need to stay connected to reality here!
You're right. Got a title unhinged there...
I have a nice Jupiter (Kiev) 2.8/35 buried somewhere. It's a knock off of the pre-war Zeiss 2.8/35. The rear element protrudes so far out the back that it must almost touch the curtain.
But I have always been very impressed by how sharp that lens is. Build quality isn't all that bad for a Soviet lens.
I think I paid about $50 bucks for it.
Attachments
seakayaker1
Well-known
I reckon calling 28mm Ultrons and 50mm f1.f Noktons 'budget glass' is stretching it a little!
. . . . . your right I was stretching it a little, perhaps alot when compared to the many examples of lenses less than $100.00.
I also found the 1951 Ernst Leitz Wetzlar Summitar 5 cm f/2, 1953 Summaron 3.5cm f3.5, 1957 Elmar 9cm f4, and 1960 Hector 135mm f/4.5 to be bargins when I picked them up . . . . .
. . . . . they were not close to the Voigtlander's prices and I would not say they were close to any of the real bargin lenses described above.
I guess bargins are in the eyes of the beholder!
. . . . . then there may be some GAS involved at that moment in time as well.
Summaron 3.5cm f3.5
***
Summitar 5 cm f/2
***
Elmar 9cm f4
***
Hector 135mm f/4.5