Lenses: Best of Breed/Cross Platform Dream Kit? Post Yours

[Benjamin Marks]

I think we are in a moment when the lens-mount wars that have gone on among camera manufacturers for the last 75 years may be becoming less relevant. Now that there are a slew of mirrorless cameras (Nikon Z, Sony E, Leica L etc.) that can be adapted to use any lens from any manufacturer, maybe we each get to pick a "dream team" kit that reflects the best experiences we have had over the years. For instance, I know that the Nikon 105/2.5 is, in many ways, a legendary portrait lens, but I have taken many more portraits that are significant to me with a Pentax 100/2.8. I have friends who were die-hard Olympus fans in the OM decades, and know those who swear by Konica's AR glass, or specific Minolta lenses. Well thanks to mirrorless and eBay, we can mix and match to our hearts' content.

So if you could put together your own "dream team" to use on one of the new mirrorless camaras what would it look like? Here's one I could defend, based on my own experiences:

15/4.5 C/V Heliar
24/2.8 Nikon AF-D
28/2.8 (toss up between Emarit-R and Nikon AF)
35/2 Summicron-M
50/2 Summicron-R (but could imagine a lot contenders for this spot)
57/1.2 Konica AR
85/1.8 Nikkor AF-D
100/2.8 Pentax
105/2 Nikkor DC
135 Apo Elmarit
180 Apo Telyt-R

The one above that I am unsure of is the 35/2 Summicron-M, which although it has performed well for me on film, shows some light falloff on the Nikon Z's mirrorless sensor. You might have to go with the SLR designs over the M-designs for these. Similarly I haven't found the fast lens of my dreams yet -- the C/V 50/1.1 is a contender, but I could also imagine a lot of lenses here. I'd argue that the superfast category is something of a specialist application here, as many of the superfast lenses have a lot of CA in use. A 35/1.2 C/V v.1 that is a favorite of mine on the M9 and film Leicas has yet to impress on the Nikon Z. I expect that there will be a lot of this.

It would be interesting to hear what those of you who have deep lens catalogues from other brands (Konica, Olympus, Minolta e.g.) would choose.

 

[Ororaro]

I could not live like that.
The ocd in me would make me perceive such a collection as being junk 😅

Nah… I need a whole line of native lenses, a system.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

My OCD takes me in the opposite direction.

Do a search on "Lenses". Buy them, get adapters...

 

[Coldkennels]

My OCD takes me in the opposite direction.

Do a search on "Lenses". Buy them, get adapters...

I was explaining to my partner the other night about the vast array of lenses you've got now - in part to justify my own (rather paltry) lens shelf.

I'd love to see a "collection shot" of just the 50mm lenses you've accumulated across all the mounts...

 

[dexdog]

hmm, let me see...Contax RF, Nikon S, LTM, M-mount, Exacta, Praktiflex M40, M42, Sony E-mount, Canon FD. I think that is all of them. Still not as many as Sonnar B, though 😉. I am too afraid to count lenses...

 

[sojournerphoto]

In spite of my comments on this being ‘the joy of mirrorless’, many of the lenses we love were designed for film and will show, to varying degrees, field curvature, soft/smeared edges, focus shift and a plain old lack of high frequency mtf of high res sensors with cover glass. Probably, the objectively best lenses are still found within the system - L mount or Fuji GF system spring to mind.

However, I love adapted lenses and seeing what I get. That I don’t really enjoy the manual focus experience of most af lenses is a significant part of this.

I’m also a bit of a sucker for 50mm. Probably the sharpest pair of 50s I have are the Zeiss ZF2 Milvus 50/1.4 and Sigma L mount Art. But I’ve got quite a lot of other 50s in slr and m mount. Bought a ZF2 50/2 macro planar this weekend - here’s hoping it’s ok when it arrives!


From the OP list I have been very pleasantly surprised by how well the VM 15/4 behaves on full frame digital. Mine isn’t rd coupled so may be an LTM v1 with a locked on adapter. It doesn’t cover 44x33 though.

Likewise the Zeiss 21/2.8, with a bit of stopping down for reasonable corners on 36x24.

A big surprise for me has been the TTArtisan 35/2 apo m. It’s really too long for an M mount. So far it seems good on digital.

I ought to do a series really - adventures with the wrong lens…

 

[p.giannakis]

Three spring to mind

Zuiko 21f/2
Carl Zeiss Jena Pancolar 55f/1.4
Quartz-Takumar 85mm f3.5

All very rare lenses to come by.

 

[wlewisiii]

My OCD takes me in the opposite direction.

Do a search on "Lenses". Buy them, get adapters...

THIS 😀 But probably with a greater emphasis on the Tessar 😉

 

[sojournerphoto]

In spite of my comments on this being ‘the joy of mirrorless’, many of the lenses we love were designed for film and will show, to varying degrees, field curvature, soft/smeared edges, focus shift and a plain old lack of high frequency mtf of high res sensors with cover glass. Probably, the objectively best lenses are still found within the system - L mount or Fuji GF system spring to mind.

However, I love adapted lenses and seeing what I get. That I don’t really enjoy the manual focus experience of most af lenses is a significant part of this.

I’m also a bit of a sucker for 50mm. Probably the sharpest pair of 50s I have are the Zeiss ZF2 Milvus 50/1.4 and Sigma L mount Art. But I’ve got quite a lot of other 50s in slr and m mount. Bought a ZF2 50/2 macro planar this weekend - here’s hoping it’s ok when it arrives!


From the OP list I have been very pleasantly surprised by how well the VM 15/4 behaves on full frame digital. Mine isn’t rd coupled so may be an LTM v1 with a locked on adapter. It doesn’t cover 44x33 though.

Likewise the Zeiss 21/2.8, with a bit of stopping down for reasonable corners on 36x24.

A big surprise for me has been the TTArtisan 35/2 apo m. It’s really too long for an M mount. So far it seems good on digital.

I ought to do a series really - adventures with the wrong lens…

Should have been clear - the 21/2.8 is a Distagon and not a Biogon. I suspect either the 2.8 or 4.5 Biogons would be pretty horrible.

 

[Benjamin Marks]

My OCD takes me in the opposite direction.

Do a search on "Lenses". Buy them, get adapters...

Yeah... that's kind of how I went. ;p

 

[Dogman]

I only have Fuji X-Pro "mirrorless" cameras so I'm a bit limited. I do use some M-mount Voigtlanders and a few Chinese FX-mount lenses along with my AF Fujinons. But I'm overwhelmed and overloaded with lenses for my Nikon DSLRs--many of the same focal length and design over several generations of pre-AI that are AI'd, factory AI, AI-S, AF, AF-D, AFS-D and AFS-G lenses. And then there are the Zeiss ZF.2 for Nikon mount. I have a couple of adapters I've used for the Nikkor F-mount lenses on the X-Pros but the lenses dwarf the cameras. I just prefer using the Nikkors on the Nikons. Maybe someday I'll get a Nikon Z ....

I guess I already have my dream kit.

 

[Tim Murphy]

Dear Board,

I have M4/3rds mirror less cameras. I shoot mostly birds and wildlife with digital and even with film.

With that thought in mind I'll submit the Canon FD 200mm f2.8 as a worthy lens for M4/3rd's shooters. It's nice to have a 400mm f2.8 equivalent lens to play around with. Even better is that it only weighs 1 1/2 pounds, or 700 grams. Better still is I got with Goodwill camera auction that included a working Canon A-1 with no shutter squeak for less than $ 100.00. That's a savings of more than the cost of a decent used car over the prices commanded by current 400mm f2.8 auto focus lenses,even on the used market. 😉

I know the performance is not an exact match for the latest Nikon or Canon 400mm f2.8 lenses on a FF DSLR, but for the do-re-mi expended vs. the performance I've gotten it's an outstanding value for the money. Even when you consider MF and and aperture priority or fully manual exposure only it still is fun to use and provides nice results as far I am concerned.

I've also enjoyed shooting other Canon FD lenses, as well as lenses from Minolta, Nikon, and Pentax on my Olympus M4/3 cameras. It's fun using old things to take pictures for me.

Regards,

Tim Murphy

Harrisburg PA 🙂

 

[laurentb]

Dear Board,

I have M4/3rds mirror less cameras. I shoot mostly birds and wildlife with digital and even with film.

With that thought in mind I'll submit the Canon FD 200mm f2.8 as a worthy lens for M4/3rd's shooters. It's nice to have a 400mm f2.8 equivalent lens to play around with. Even better is that it only weighs 1 1/2 pounds, or 700 grams. Better still is I got with Goodwill camera auction that included a working Canon A-1 with no shutter squeak for less than $ 100.00. That's a savings of more than the cost of a decent used car over the prices commanded by current 400mm f2.8 auto focus lenses,even on the used market. 😉

I know the performance is not an exact match for the latest Nikon or Canon 400mm f2.8 lenses on a FF DSLR, but for the do-re-mi expended vs. the performance I've gotten it's an outstanding value for the money. Even when you consider MF and and aperture priority or fully manual exposure only it still is fun to use and provides nice results as far I am concerned.

I've also enjoyed shooting other Canon FD lenses, as well as lenses from Minolta, Nikon, and Pentax on my Olympus M4/3 cameras. It's fun using old things to take pictures for me.

Regards,

Tim Murphy

Harrisburg PA 🙂

Hi Tim,

I'm much more of a lurker than writer here, but I keep an eye on the forum. I wonder if you could tell me more about the ease of use of your Canon 200/2.8 on a Micro43?

I've been a film shooter for years, and may want to venture in the digi world for wildlife photography. Since I own nice FD lenses (300/2.8, 200/2.8 and a Novoflex set) I'd like to keep them and use them on a decent camera, but birds photo needs quick focusing, and I'm not sure if this is what M43 delivers for vintage lenses?

Laurent

 

[Tim Murphy]

Hi Tim,

I'm much more of a lurker than writer here, but I keep an eye on the forum. I wonder if you could tell me more about the ease of use of your Canon 200/2.8 on a Micro43?

I've been a film shooter for years, and may want to venture in the digi world for wildlife photography. Since I own nice FD lenses (300/2.8, 200/2.8 and a Novoflex set) I'd like to keep them and use them on a decent camera, but birds photo needs quick focusing, and I'm not sure if this is what M43 delivers for vintage lenses?

Laurent

Dear Laurent,

I can tell you that I do not use the FD 200 f2.8 for birds in flight. I do use it though for walks in local parks and even my backyard where I am shooting perched birds at distances I am familiar with. I can and do pre-focus on a known perching area and just stay put until a bird lands. They usually give me enough time to fine tune the focus if needed. My Olympus cameras offer focus peaking through their menus, and I use that both in the viewfinder and on the rear screen. If you can set up in a blind or hide and pre-focus on likely bird locations, you should be able to get some quality images with M4/3's cameras using vintage lenses.

I try to stick with shooting on days with decent light so that I can use at least f5.6 to f8 for the increased depth of field. I also have a Super Takumar 300mm f4 that I use. The minimum focus distance on that lens is 21 feet so I usually set the focus at 30 ft, and I have gotten images acceptable to me shooting wide open,

None of these lenses match the auto focus speed and ease of my Olympus 100-400mm, but I kind of enjoy shooting birds and even small mammals with M4/3. I pretend I'm using a film camera from 40 years ago and can see how I have done immediately without having to wait for the film to be developed. Aperture priority exposure with my Olympus cameras is generally quite good.

I'd suggest you buy an adapter and try your lenses. You may not enjoy the process like I do.

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂

 

[laurentb]

Dear Laurent,

I can tell you that I do not use the FD 200 f2.8 for birds in flight. I do use it though for walks in local parks and even my backyard where I am shooting perched birds at distances I am familiar with. I can and do pre-focus on a known perching area and just stay put until a bird lands. They usually give me enough time to fine tune the focus if needed. My Olympus cameras offer focus peaking through their menus, and I use that both in the viewfinder and on the rear screen. If you can set up in a blind or hide and pre-focus on likely bird locations, you should be able to get some quality images with M4/3's cameras using vintage lenses.

I try to stick with shooting on days with decent light so that I can use at least f5.6 to f8 for the increased depth of field. I also have a Super Takumar 300mm f4 that I use. The minimum focus distance on that lens is 21 feet so I usually set the focus at 30 ft, and I have gotten images acceptable to me shooting wide open,

None of these lenses match the auto focus speed and ease of my Olympus 100-400mm, but I kind of enjoy shooting birds and even small mammals with M4/3. I pretend I'm using a film camera from 40 years ago and can see how I have done immediately without having to wait for the film to be developed. Aperture priority exposure with my Olympus cameras is generally quite good.

I'd suggest you buy an adapter and try your lenses. You may not enjoy the process like I do.

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂

Thanks Tim!

At the moment I have no digital camera, hence my questioning. I owned a GXR some time ago and, although I loved the rendering, the focus peaking was an issue to me.

I'd be happy with a digital camera 'mirrorfull' in FD mount, and am also considering a Nikon D2 in one variant or another, as I could use my Novoflex on it.

I'll have to think about all of this

 

[boojum]

Interesting tack. I have three digital mirrorless, a Pentax Q-S1, Sony A7M III and a HB X2D. While the Q-S1 can be adapted I do not often do this. And while the A7 adapts easily I opt for the X2D for the swell sensor and IQ + color. I have some out of th norm lenses whoch work well on this body, As it has the finest sensor and image of all my cameras these lenses look their best with it.

Skyllaney Bertele 5cm f/2.0
Cooke Amotal 2" f/2.0
CZJ 5m f/1.5
CV 35mm f/1.7
KMZ Jupiter 8 50mm f/2.0
Canon 50mm f/1.8 LTM

The Sonnars all cover the entire 33 x 44 sensor. The others are used in the in-camera crop mode 24 x 36 standard 35mm film format. I can't stop using these fine lenses just because they were not made for the body. Here's one of the Bertele on the X2D: Yeah, if it's red, take a picture of it. As a testament to the lens, if you go to the Flickr image and double click it to enlarge it to the max you can pick out stars in the sky. As the focus was on the boat, resolving the stars is pretty good. Thanks, Chris!

B0001309 by West Phalia, on Flickr​

 

[Richard G]

I lack the dedication to even start on this sort of thing. My next step will be a major one, selling nearly all my lenses and keeping one film Leica, the M2, a gift. And maybe just the X100 or whatever the equivalent is at the time.

 

[phojsu]

In early 2009, I decided to scratch an itch I first felt around 1975 but just hadn't done anything to alleviate, that to understand the mystique of Olympus OM, the Cult of Yoshihisa Maitani.

To that end I acquired an OM-2 and an OM-4, after a few rolls, the OM-4 prevailed and the OM-2 was traded towards a second OM-4, both of which are fitted with Power Winders to make them easier to hold.

But the glass, that is what really piqued my interest. How could SLR lenses so much smaller than essentially the same offerings from Canon & Nikon, be about the same size as what wore the name Leica & Leitz?

One thing led to another, in this pre mirrorless camera era, the Oly OM lenses were considerably less in demand than recently. Thus I was able to assemble a dream kit of OM glass: a 21mm f/2.0, a 28mm 2.0, a 40mm f/2.0, a 50mm f/1.4 (serial # above 1.1 million), a 55mm f/1.2, a 85mm f/2.0 and a 180mm f/2.8.

For a few years I was busy in my B & W darkroom and primarily scanning negs. Time constraints led me to acquire Olympus OM to Canon EF adapters and now these lenses are only used on Canon 5D3 bodies, I've not really used a Canon EF lens more than a couple times since 2009. I have embellished the Oly OM lineup with a couple of Canon FDn lenses permanently adapted to the EF mount so as to use them on the 5D3 bodies, namely the fine 135mm f/2.0 and the interesting 400mm f/4.5.

Along the way, a Canon FL 55mm f/1.2 also came to me and has likewise been permanently adapted to the EF mount. It's big & heavy relative to the OM 55mm f/1.2, but it is interesting in it's own right. The OM 55mm f/1.2, for all it's flaws is carried 99% of the time.

I don't always walk out the door with the OM kit, but when I do It most often is the 28mm and 55mm on the cameras with the 21mm and either the diminutive 85mm or the bigger & heavier FDn 135 in a compact shoulder bag or fanny back. Spare batteries have filled space once used for rolls of film.

With the above lenses, I have come to appreciate the Cult of Maitani. Most often the lenses are used wide open which facilitates accurate focussing which has become my standard practice whether using my Leicas or Nikons. I have come to appreciate a limited depth of field can isolate a subject making the image more easily and quickly read, plus there often is the desirable byproduct of strong and interesting Bokeh.

I have a long time association with Nikon, both AF and once again MF, my preferred glass especially on the Df. I've been a dyed in the wool Leica rangefinder practitioner since 1968 and cherish my M6 classic bodies with the very practical Abrahamson Rapid Winders (R i P Tom, you'll always be missed) and my M9-P bodies are my everyday cameras.

For me, what once was old is new again. RFF once had an active participation of Oly OM lenses connesieurs, where has it gone?

One of my favorite pastimes illustrated with the OM 21mm f/2.0, except the last one done with the OM 28mm f/2.0, aperture settings not recorded but likely WFO.

 

[p.giannakis]

For me, what once was old is new again. RFF once had an active participation of Oly OM lenses connesieurs, where has it gone?

I am literally using this whilst reading your post 😁

@London_Euston.

 

[Dogman]

In early 2009, I decided to scratch an itch I first felt around 1975 but just hadn't done anything to alleviate, that to understand the mystique of Olympus OM, the Cult of Yoshihisa Maitani.

To that end I acquired an OM-2 and an OM-4, after a few rolls, the OM-4 prevailed and the OM-2 was traded towards a second OM-4, both of which are fitted with Power Winders to make them easier to hold.

But the glass, that is what really piqued my interest. How could SLR lenses so much smaller than essentially the same offerings from Canon & Nikon, be about the same size as what wore the name Leica & Leitz?

One thing led to another, in this pre mirrorless camera era, the Oly OM lenses were considerably less in demand than recently. Thus I was able to assemble a dream kit of OM glass: a 21mm f/2.0, a 28mm 2.0, a 40mm f/2.0, a 50mm f/1.4 (serial # above 1.1 million), a 55mm f/1.2, a 85mm f/2.0 and a 180mm f/2.8.

For a few years I was busy in my B & W darkroom and primarily scanning negs. Time constraints led me to acquire Olympus OM to Canon EF adapters and now these lenses are only used on Canon 5D3 bodies, I've not really used a Canon EF lens more than a couple times since 2009. I have embellished the Oly OM lineup with a couple of Canon FDn lenses permanently adapted to the EF mount so as to use them on the 5D3 bodies, namely the fine 135mm f/2.0 and the interesting 400mm f/4.5.

Along the way, a Canon FL 55mm f/1.2 also came to me and has likewise been permanently adapted to the EF mount. It's big & heavy relative to the OM 55mm f/1.2, but it is interesting in it's own right. The OM 55mm f/1.2, for all it's flaws is carried 99% of the time.

I don't always walk out the door with the OM kit, but when I do It most often is the 28mm and 55mm on the cameras with the 21mm and either the diminutive 85mm or the bigger & heavier FDn 135 in a compact shoulder bag or fanny back. Spare batteries have filled space once used for rolls of film.

With the above lenses, I have come to appreciate the Cult of Maitani. Most often the lenses are used wide open which facilitates accurate focussing which has become my standard practice whether using my Leicas or Nikons. I have come to appreciate a limited depth of field can isolate a subject making the image more easily and quickly read, plus there often is the desirable byproduct of strong and interesting Bokeh.

I have a long time association with Nikon, both AF and once again MF, my preferred glass especially on the Df. I've been a dyed in the wool Leica rangefinder practitioner since 1968 and cherish my M6 classic bodies with the very practical Abrahamson Rapid Winders (R i P Tom, you'll always be missed) and my M9-P bodies are my everyday cameras.

For me, what once was old is new again. RFF once had an active participation of Oly OM lenses connesieurs, where has it gone?

One of my favorite pastimes illustrated with the OM 21mm f/2.0, except the last one done with the OM 28mm f/2.0, aperture settings not recorded but likely WFO.

View attachment 4840986View attachment 4840987View attachment 4840988View attachment 4840989View attachment 4840990

I am now so very thirsty....



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