Lens(es) I really like yet dont use enough/often..

[Krosya]

I have a couple of lenses that I really like when I use them, yet for some reason I just dont use enough or often. Do you do that too? If so -what's yours?

Mine are:
CV15/4.5 M - just dont go this wide alot - usually use 21mm/2.8 ZM
Nikkor LTM 5cm 1.4- seem to always go for Hex 50/2 or 50/1.2 instead.
Hexanon 35/2 M - awsome lens, but I usually grab CV 35/1.2 when I need 35mm or even CV 40/1.4, as it's faster.
Hexanon 90/2.8 - again - awsome lens, but ever since I got Jupiter -9 85/2 - I use it more often as it draws just beautiful - sharp and superb bokeh.
Post yours.😉

 

[ItsReallyDarren]

Nikkor 105/2.5 - As much as I like how the Nikkor draws I haven't used it as much since I picked up a Hexanon 90/2.8. The lighter weight and quick focus of the Hexanon makes me reach for it over the Nikkor when I want a telephoto lens.

 

[Keith]

Early 90mm Summicron with the built in collapsable hood and tripod mount! Awsome lens but large and heavy enough to make any rangefinder feel like a liability.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Thambar 90/2.2. There's not much it's ideal for, and I generally like the results only at middling apertures (f/6.3 to f/9). But with the right subject it's pure magic.

Cheers,

R.

 

[J. Borger]

35mm Summicron IV. Great lens but i simply do not like the 35mm focal length.
I prefer 50mm on both my M8 and M6!

 

[pvdhaar]

The lens that I really like, but only rarely use, is the CV 35/2.5 Color Skopar classic. It's sharp, contrasty and very light and portable. But... on the Bessa-T, I need external VFs, and the one I have to go with the 35 is so big and heavy that it makes the camera topple backwards when it's hanging on the neck strap. That makes it so inconvenient to carry, that I never do.

It's not even a fault of the lens, it's the @#$! location of the strap eyelets on the Bessa.

 

[ChrisN]

Early 90mm Summicron with the built in collapsable hood and tripod mount! Awsome lens but large and heavy enough to make any rangefinder feel like a liability.

I had one of those - lovely character but so big and heavy that using it was a special operation. I sold it on to Brian Sweeney.

My special lens not used much is the Canon 50/1.2. Again a special character to this lens, but it makes the camera quite heavy. In fact I've just put mine up in the RFF classifieds.

 

[fixbones]

Nikon 100mm f2.8 series E - Great lens. Sharp and small.
I very very rarely shoot more than 50mm. Can't remember the last time used this lens...perhaps close to 2 years ago. Can't get myself to sell it.......

 

[Niko]

Mamiya 7 150mm, amazing for environmental portraits and landscape. Maybe it´s just too large and is therefore too often left home...

 

[Keith]

I had one of those - lovely character but so big and heavy that using it was a special operation. I sold it on to Brian Sweeney.

My special lens not used much is the Canon 50/1.2. Again a special character to this lens, but it makes the camera quite heavy. In fact I've just put mine up in the RFF classifieds.

The Summicron was quite nice on the M5 ... but I sold that to FrankS! 😀

Well ... swapped it for my RF645 actually.

 

[D.O'K.]

The 55mm for my Mamiya TLR. An excellent wideangle for the 6x6 format and my copy also renders a delightful look: but I dislike the bulky lumbering ergonomics of the camera so much I barely use it.

Regards,
D.

 

[jsrockit]

50mm f/2 Summar

 

[dexdog]

The Nokton 50/1.5. I really like the performance of this lens, but rarely use it because I don't care for the focal length in general- I much prefer 35mm focal length for a "normal". I keep it because I have found out the hard way that I should never sell a lens 😀

 

[back alley]

my zm 50 sonnar...love that lens but seem to choose others first.

 

[Sparrow]

Nokton 50 f1:1.5 ... takes beautiful, beautiful photos, fast, easy to focus, not too heavy and often neglected

 

[Roger Hicks]

Stewart's post reminds about lenses we think we out to like more. Like any Tessar I've ever owned except my 150/6,3, which was the only one where I could ever see why anyone ever raved about Tessars. Or all Sonnars I've had except the current C-Sonnar 1,5/50 and possibly the 85/2 Jupiter. It's all too easy to be intimidated by a reputation.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Disaster_Area]

For me it's my CV 15mm and my Summitar. Ever since I got the CV 25mm my 15mm sees a lot less use, the 25mm is just more versitile... it's wide enough for most architecture shots and you can get right up in peoples faces with it, unlike the 15mm which get some nasty distortion too close, especially if there's a person on the sides of the frames, gives them a sort of conehead look 🙂 Still a great lens but I have to intend to use it, it's no longer a walk around lens for me.

The Summitar is also a beautiful lens, but between my Nokton and my Jupiter 8 it sees little use as well. The Jupiter 8 gives me the vintage look while being a hell of a lot lighter and the Nokton gives me speed, so I usually end up grabbing one of them. Again, with the right subject the Summitar is amazing, but it's become a special use lens and not day to day for me.

 

[Sparrow]

but I get stuff when I do take it out

 

[Phil_F_NM]

35mm Summaron and a Nikkor 10.5cm f/2.5 LTM.
Love them both but use them the least, probably for no real good reason.

 

[dof]

The 75mm Summilux is highest on my list. I love (love!) the looks that this lens produces. I mention it in plural as its character does change as the aperture gets smaller. However the rendering, longer focus throw, and focal length combined make it a special purpose optic in my book.