What is the least favourite lens you own?

M

Mongo Park

Established
Local time
8:36 PM
Joined
Dec 18, 2008
Messages
169
Mine is the Leica R 180 f2.8 Elmarit. At least, I think so. I've had it for about 4 years and only used it for about 5 - 10 exposures. Tried to sell it on flea bay on 3 occassions without success, so I've decided to get some use out of it. Can't remember why I bought it. GAS, perhaps. Will try it with one camera and film I've never used before (Ilford Pan F) on a tripod to see how it goes. I might be surprised. So, what is your least favourite lens? How do you deal with it?
 
Hello there,

This is quite simple for me in terms of M-mount. I do not keep lenses in my "go-to" focal lengths (35-50-75) that I do not like or use very rarely.

Best, Thomas
 
The lens I like the least is the lens I just sold - whatever that might be.
If I don't use something, I sell it.
Two more about to head out the door in the next week, I believe.
 
nikkor 50/1.4 ltm. harsh bokeh wide open and closeup, and the aperture ring turns backwards relative to the meter display. i still like it, though!
 
Industar 61. although it's ok for colour i don't really see it as a viable lens if i decide to shoot FSU and i really only keep it for the day i decide to sell either the Zorki-4k or the FED-2. The Jupiter 8 wins out every time.
 
Nikkor 135/3.5 AIS. Ick. Big (for what it is), heavy, slow, soft wide open (and not soft in a pleasing-to-me way), mediocre bokeh, just long enough that camera shake becomes a real problem, and a FL that's too long but not long enough. Oh, and it doesn't focus close, either. Waste of a pair of lenscaps. At least it has a built-in hood and it's mechanically well-constructed. And Ken Rockwell likes it. 85/1.8, 85/2, 105/2.5, and 180/2.8 are all vastly preferred alternatives.

I should sell it to someone who I don't like.
 
Last edited:
Sigma 20mm f1.8 for Nikon. I mean why? Why so much speed in a retrofocus ultra wide angle design? It doesn't become acceptable unto f2.8, it is HUGE. Scratch on front element doesn't help either.
 
My least favorite lens is the one I realize I really should have had on hand, but which is at home.
 
My least favorite is probably the Nikkor 35/2 D. Not a bad lens, just not a lens I choose to use on an SLR. It also has a tendency to develop oil on the blades, though mine does not.

I have a nice copy, it works well, but I never use it with the 24-70/2.8 in the bag.
 
My least favorite lens *right now* is my broken Tele-Elmarit.
Of the lenses I can use still, the least favorite is the CV 28mm f/1.9.

Phil Forrest
 
Hard to argue it's brilliant IQ. That aside my silver cv3.5/90 is the ugliest and clumbsiest lens I own. That said. It is THE 90 and will stay that way for how often I RF w/ a 90mm lens.
 
I love em all. I have a 5cm f2 collapsible Summitar with aperture stuck at 9. I even love that. I have a Nikkor Ai 80-200mm f/4.5 zoom that's too heavy for what I do but I just took some pics with it on my D40 and they're so crisp I can't bear to sell the thing. I have the apparently execrable Nikkor AF 35-70 f/3.3-5.6D and I'meven reluctan t to sell that (not that anybody'd pay much for it anyway).
It's a disease.
 
Least?

Least?

This is not a RF lens... This is the 150mm F3.5 for my Bronica ETRsi
... Hard to use, I don't like the way the lens tend to force me to frame... It's heavy...

As a cine lens, It would be perfect, tought... I think I will convert it sooner or later!

But I did had an industar 61... Right out of the box, the iris was potatoe shaped... After 2 month of non-use, the lens unscrew itself from it base and implosed... Ok almost ... :angel:... Went right to the garbage...! Damn FSU... But I do have a nice recent Jupiter 8 that do not focus correctly on my M6... Buuuut.... I really like the way it render the bokeh ! :D
 
kdemas said:
My least favorite is probably the Nikkor 35/2 D. Not a bad lens, just not a lens I choose to use on an SLR. It also has a tendency to develop oil on the blades, though mine does not. ...
Click to expand...

The 35mm f/2 AF Nikkor was my favorite lens, especially on a DSLR. It's (moderately) fast, sharp and focuses very close (~1:4). But then one day mine DID develop oil on the blades - right out of the blue too. So much that the aperture would not get to shooting position by the time the shutter opened, and all my shots were over-exposed.

I took it apart to clean it off, and now it's in pieces, and I can't remember how to get it back together! :eek:

So I'm sure it's in my least fave category now.
 
My least favorite lens is a huge Fuji video camera zoom lens that I cannot use because I do not have a video camera nor do I have an adapter that will allow me to use the lens on a still camera.
 
My M-Hexanon 90mm f/2.8. It has the potential to be a great lens (when it's good it's very, very good!), but back-focuses at bit on my M8 at wider apertures. Could probably do something about it, but I don't shoot a 90 all that often.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom