Lens condition, does it really matter ... the 'lens from hell!'

[ReneSpudvilas]

Of all the 500 or so photos, at tracksupermarket.com , my web shop, half or so were taken with a Nikon 60mm micro 2.8 af that I bought at Naniwa Camera in Kyoto for $12. It had JUNK written on the price tag, and a slightly stiff af, and mould on the lens.... Best $12 I ever spent..... that lens and my d700 have been very good to me.

 

[ReneSpudvilas]

PS.... I did not mean to say the photos are particularly good! ha ha.... just that a lot of use / and fun can be had from junky lenses...

 

[Gary E]

Damaged front elements from cleaning marks to scratches are overrated. I think we malign them because of the prices we've paid for our precious glass; especially if they're Leica; we hold them to such high esteem that even a little blemish must in theory make them less than the best.

Don't get me wrong though, I don't go around rough cleaning my lenses...

 

[Carterofmars]

Very nice work. A Craftsman.

You should do a folio of fences. Really.

Lenswork

You should submit a study of fences. Fences can metaphorically mean so many different things. The editor of lens work seems to be a deep guy, if his podcast is any indication. He would prob print these.

 

[Tom A]

Clean and mint lenses are highly over-rated - only time when they are handy is when you sell them!
I have a couple of "junkers' - a 35f2.5 Nikkor that looks as if it was used as a training patch for a very small figure skater, a Summar 50f2 with has a bit of an unearthly glow to it - an assortment of other lenses with less than stellar fronts and interiors. Only time they are bound to give you trouble is in strong sun as they can give a veiling flare and it also tends to drop contrast a bit.
The deal-breaker is wide-angles with severe scratches on the rear element as they can really show up. Once had a Hologon 15f8 in M-mount that I managed to knock a chip out of the rear. It showed! I learned how to compose with the chipped section in a bright portion of the image. Took some doing to learn how to twist the camera for that!!!
The much mailgned "speck" inside the lens is no problem - so your 50f1.5 Summarit has a small black spot in it - it is now a 50f1.500001 Summarit!
Trick is to keep out of direct sun and avoid heavily chromed objects in the image - and enjoy the savings!

 

[ChrisLivsey]

I can't name the source, I read far too much, but it has been said that you should only buy the lenses in poor condition as they have been well used and must be "good" ones it's the mint examples you need to avoid, there must be something "wrong" about them.
Personally it's my lens hoods that look like they've been to hell and back but that's because they've been doing one of their jobs,protection.

 

[David 11084]

Hello, much good stuff here! I currently use a DSLR with decent 50mm lens and a 80 year old Leica 1A with Elmar. There isn't the sharpness with the Elmar, but there is something. My wife said 'atmosphere' which is a pretty good summation. Too much is made of perfection in focusing and composition-arguably it is all too easy as well with modern electronics. I prefer the Elmar and the thought that goes into a half dozen good images from one roll. When I started using it I worried about the coated and uncoated debate; having used it I no longer care. I just enjoy the images and the challenge.
David