Cheap lenses that wowed you...

The Yashinons and Yashica ML's for sure.
There is something about those DX coated Yashinon lenses that make them perfect for B+W photography.

The Zuiko 50mm f1.8 and 100mm f2.8. Brilliant lenses. I would put those against summicrons any day.
 
goamules said:
The Pen-F 38/1.8. It beat the Canon LTM 35/2 in my tests.
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You're right, forgot about the Pen F lenses. I have gotten a bunch of bargains, all of them great performers and tiny - 40/1.4, 25/4, 20/3.5 (which focuses to 0.2m!) and the 100/3.5. All stellar.
 
Yes, I do like my Canon 50/1.4 LTM -- its on my M2 right now.

*Any* OM lens you're lucky enough to find for cheap will be a "great value".

I also used to love the lens on my old Minolta Hi-Matic E before it stopped working reliably. Absolutely blown away by the results from that "lowly" little camera.

I have and like many of the others metioned here (Industars, Jupiters, Tamron). I guess I'm a happy cheapskate
 
Wakingmist said:
I've been impressed with the Canon 50mm f/1.4 LTM. Cost between $200 - $450 depending on the condition. Great piece of glass.
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Agreed, the 50/1.4 LTM is one of my favourite lenses and I bought my copy for just over $300.

I'd add all of my OM lenses as well (50/1.8 MIJ, 50/1.4 "silver nose", 35/2.8, 28/2.8). All cost under $75 and provide excellent results!
 
For Film/Adapted to Fuji X...

Nikon 24mm f/2.8 Ais (Paid under $70 because it needed a Mount Claw repair)
... I'd say -1% distortion, and really great sharpness.

Old Soligar 105mm f/2.8 T mount. 15 blade Iris.. (RFF Xmas Gift thread)
made by Tokina, which also offered it under their own label, Great Bokeh, good sharpness, good colors.

Jupiter 9 -Kiev RF- I bought it for $60, and spent $75 on a total overhaul. Sharp, and Zeiss like in the Bokeh... wonderful colors.
(85mm f/2 1953, 3rd version, low number. so, may have some Zeiss Glass in it. 2nd version had both Zeiss and FSU glass)
 
A lot of great bargains around 😀

One lens that should be on any such list is the Sigma Ultrawide II 24/2.8 - I own one in Minolta SR (MD) mount and in Sony/Minolta A-mount and both are great. The lens is just as good as any Minolta/Canon/Nikon from the same vintage but cheaper.
 
oftheherd said:
There was a time when everyone would jump on the bandwagon to agree with the novars. I know the Novar on the 6x9 I have is really great, but not interchangeable which I think the OP was sort of alluding to.

For me, any <$400 lens would include most Fujinon lenses, at least based on the six that I have; 28 f/3.5, 35 f/3.5, 50 f/1.4, 135 f/3.5, and the 43-75 zoom. I don't consider the zoom so great, but it isn't bad.

Also the M42 Yashinon lenses, but the Yashikor lenses require an appreciation of the artistry of flare. 😀

My only Contax lens, the 50mm f/1.4 is superb. The real surprise to me was a 28-35 Phoenix zoom I got in Y/C mount. That was the real low-priced gem for me, at about $100. A surprisingly good lens.
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Well, given that he listed the Konica Pearl
I and Leica Minilux, I didn't think we were limiting this to interchangeable lenses only. But if we are, though still not really along those lines, I'll mention the older "silver" Mamiya Sekor TLR lenses, which are really quite good, even if supposedly improved upon by later versions.

I'll also emphatically second the Micro-Nikkor 55/3.5, and endorse any of the AR Hexanon lenses. And I would also nominate the MC-Rokkor line of lenses, which have superb overall optical qualities, are beautifully made, and seem to be really inexpensive these days.
 
f16sunshine said:
The Yashinons and Yashica ML's for sure.
There is something about those DX coated Yashinon lenses that make them perfect for B+W photography...
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Yes, and no need for a yellow filter, I think that it is that lovely golden coating.

And the deeply recessed front element makes lens shades largely unnecessary. The Yashica lens shade for the DX lenses is barely larger than a step-up ring.

But my favorite Yashinon M42 lens is the pre-DX Auto Yashinon 50/2 with the semi-automatic diaphragm, introduced around 1960 with the Penta J camera, which is outstanding.


Pentax Spotmatic SPII, Sunny 16, Kodak Portra 160, Auto Yashinon 50/2 by Greyscale3, on Flickr


Yashica Penta J, Auto Yashinon 50/2, Kodak BW400CN, Sunny 16 by Greyscale3, on Flickr
 
Rough, thin Tele-Elmarit 90mm - £90 from a dealer! - works superbly if not as smooth as it could be but still delivers excellent images. Not pretty though.
 
The 40mm f/2.8 lenses on the Olympus 35 RC, EC, and similar can all be had -- with camera for <$100 and super nice.

I like the Rokkor X 45mm f/2 - bought for $25 and use it on a Minolta X700.
 
The Helios 58 f/2 is my favourite M42 lens. Although I sold all my screwmount cameras, I have kept this lens.

The other lens i love is the silvernose Olympus 50 f/1.4. With a lens hood, it gives fantastic results.
 
I have to say my best bargain lens is the Pentax 135MM F/2.5 SMC that I picked up for under $230 shipped. And I kick myself for ever selling the CV 40mm f/1.4 in M mount...
 
People love Olympus OM glass, and for good reason, but the one OM lens that truly and consistently wows me, even compared to my Zeiss and Leica glass, is the humble 50/3.5 macro. Very small size, flare free, distortion free, SHARP, great local and overall contrast, with a smooth transition from in focus to out of focus areas. Plus it does 1:2 macro without extension tubes, making it an extremely versatile walkaround lens. Only drawback is that it is f3.5.

The best thing about it is that it is readily available for <$100, which is not really true for a lot of the best OM Zuikos (e.g. the f2 lenses).
 
Would love an M Mount Holga lens. Tried to make one once following instructions on DIY site but I don't think I ever finished. Would be fun to throw one on an M9 and play.

I got a Pentax 50/1.4 for free at some point. That lens rocks it. Pretty much the only reason I keep my MX body around but seldom use it since getting into rangefinders. My old K1000 came with a 50/2 that I dragged all over Mexico and took great shots then the camera and lens got stolen. I think the camera with the 50/2 cost me $125 in the early 90s.

Also the CV 28/3.5 bought new was a great value. Still have it.

Godfrey said:
The bargain 'toy' lens I acquired is a Holga 25mm f8 in mFT mount. It came with my used E-PL1 body ($90 total price). You can get this lens in various mounts for $16 new. It's a remarkably good performer, both as is and if you remove the rear diffusion plate, and produces a lovely soft look with good sharpness in it.

G
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I didn't and don't consider it cheap, but I got my Canon 50/1.5 for less than $400 and am consistently impressed by it.

As far as fixed lenses, I spent far less on my Olympus 35SP (it was missing the button for the spot meter) and the 42/1.7 lens is spectacular. But by far the best price/performance ratio has to be the uncoated 75/3.8 Zeiss Tessar on my $30 Rolleiflex Old Standard.
 
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