Best Vintage Lens Set Recommendations

[Dukey]

I was just curious as to what among the best Vintage legacy lenses work well with each other, as a set, so I can cut between a 28mm, 35mm, 50mm, 85mm+ without doing any damage control. I've seen a video where the the popular Helios 44m (55mm) lens was paired with MIR-1 37mm f/2.8 and JUPITER-9 85mm f/2. It looked pretty good.

Any thoughts or experience?

I currently own:
NIKKOR-S Auto 50mm f/1.4
Vivitar 28mm 1:2.5 Auto
helios 44m-4 2/58mm m42
mir 24 35mm f2
I'm looking for a telephoto lens next 85mm-135mm+

I plan on doing a few test but trying to see if I can make these work or if I have to sell and buy a new set.

 

[Hughmac]

At first I thought you were copying my list from somewhere, as I also have the Nikkor-S 50mm, Tokina 28mm and Helios 44-2 58mm. I've just invested in a 12mm for wide angle.

As for tele, I have the very excellent Vivitar 70-150mm f/3.8.

All these lenses are for a Sony NEX 6; what camera are you using?

Cheers

Hugh

 

[The Bad Guy]

Personally, I just don't see the appeal.

 

[Hughmac]

Personally, I just don't see the appeal.

Using legacy glass doesn't make any difference to my skills (or lack of in my case), but it has allowed me to get some very decent lenses for a much smaller outlay.
Focus peaking makes them quite easy to use.

Cheers

Hugh

 

[MacRy]

Personally, I just don't see the appeal.

Move along, nothing for you to see here.

Like Hugh said - it's a great opportunity to get some decent glass for very little money and personally I really enjoy the analogue feel of manual focus and aperture rings.

If you're after a cheap 135mm Dukey then I can recommend the Jupiter 11. It's a great performer and can be picked up for next to nothing. Also the Jupiter 3 and 8 are nice 50mms.

 

[Apple fanboy]

My glass was cheap! (Well mostly).
I've never been a big lover of primes though. I've never used my 24-70 mm 2.8 and thought if only I had 1.8 or I wish it was sharper.
Trouble with primes is you need to carry even more glass than I do now if I want to cover a wider focal range.

 

[kenoh]

Personally, I just don't see the appeal.

Each to their own.

I like my primes. I can go in minimalist or armed to the teeth.

There are some beautiful legacy glass options that draw lovely thanks to varying coatings and designs.

Personally, outside of my obvious glass fetish that you guys know about already...

I can recommend Zeiss Jena DDR lenses such as the 35mm flektogon and the 135mm sonnar. Also the 45mm Tessar in contax mount is a sharp lens.

I like using legacy glass as chosen wisely it gives bags of character as opposed to the dedicated lenses. In my case I like the Sony FE lenses for my camera but they are very clinical so getting an old lens even a £15 holga lomo lens and messing about just gives a nice twist to images.

Now though, as I am shooting rangefinder lenses, i can go out with a camera with a 35 or 50 depending on my mood, then have a 28 and a 90 in my jacket pockets... Travelling light...

But...

Each to their own.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Each to their own.

I like my primes. I can go in minimalist or armed to the teeth.

There are some beautiful legacy glass options that draw lovely thanks to varying coatings and designs.

Personally, outside of my obvious glass fetish that you guys know about already...

I can recommend Zeiss Jena DDR lenses such as the 35mm flektogon and the 135mm sonnar. Also the 45mm Tessar in contax mount is a sharp lens.

I like using legacy glass as chosen wisely it gives bags of character as opposed to the dedicated lenses. In my case I like the Sony FE lenses for my camera but they are very clinical so getting an old lens even a £15 holga lomo lens and messing about just gives a nice twist to images.

Now though, as I am shooting rangefinder lenses, i can go out with a camera with a 35 or 50 depending on my mood, then have a 28 and a 90 in my jacket pockets... Travelling light...

But...

Each to their own.

Excellent post, and I like the way your mind works.

Which 28mm have you (in your jacket pocket)?

 

[kenoh]

Excellent post, and I like the way your mind works.

Which 28mm have you (in your jacket pocket)?

Leica Elmarit-M 28mm f2.8

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Leica Elmarit-M 28mm f2.8

Can I express my (barely masked) envy? How do you find it? That is the tiny, elegant, neat, solidly constructed, razor shape one, isn't it?

Ah well, a Leica 28mm lies in my future…….but alas, not just yet.

 

[kenoh]

Can I express my (barely masked) envy? How do you find it? That is the tiny, elegant, neat, solidly constructed, razor shape one, isn't it?

Ah well, a Leica 28mm lies in my future…….but alas, not just yet.

I find it awesome. It is lovely, easily pocketable so no excuse to not have it and an absolute nightmare for tempting me to get a Leica Q...

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I find it awesome. It is lovely, easily pocketable so no excuse to not have it and an absolute nightmare for tempting me to get a Leica Q...

Yes, I had wondered whether that 28mm was one of those small, exceedingly portable lenses that Leica occasionally brings out. Sounds tempting. I might keep an eye out for an excellent used version………(if only to deter myself from splashing out of the new 28mm Summilux the next time I have a position where I am paid suitably silly money).

And, ah, yes, the Leica Q……….can't say I haven't been tempted, too.

 

[TheDrift-]

I was just curious as to what among the best Vintage legacy lenses work well with each other, as a set, so I can cut between a 28mm, 35mm, 50mm, 85mm+ without doing any damage control. I've seen a video where the the popular Helios 44m (55mm) lens was paired with MIR-1 37mm f/2.8 and JUPITER-9 85mm f/2. It looked pretty good.

Any thoughts or experience?

I currently own:
NIKKOR-S Auto 50mm f/1.4
Vivitar 28mm 1:2.5 Auto
helios 44m-4 2/58mm m42
mir 24 35mm f2
I'm looking for a telephoto lens next 85mm-135mm+

I plan on doing a few test but trying to see if I can make these work or if I have to sell and buy a new set.

I would love a Meyer optik trioplan 100 2.8 for that soap bubble bokeh

 

[Dukey]

It's awesome to see such a enthusiastic vintage lenses community. My recent small obsession with vintage glasses started when I was experimenting with my NIKKOR-S Auto 50mm f/1.4 and I fell in love with the creamy Bokeh which led to me to try all the mainstream vintage glass people were using for projects and commercials.

I'm just curious now on building as set that goes well with each other for video so I can cut between a wide shot and a close up and not have a completely different look. From my research people have recommended working with a single brand to keep the look consistent(e.g. getting a legacy Nikon 28,35,50,85) but I already have some legacy glass and I'm trying to mesh it all together and seeing if it works. I'm looking for a set particularly for Video and I'm looking for a Telephoto that will mesh well with what I already have:

I'm currently working with a Canon 5D mkII and 7D with:
NIKKOR-S Auto 50mm f/1.4
Vivitar 28mm 1:2.5 Auto
helios 44m-4 2/58mm m42
mir 24 35mm f2

as well these NON-vintage/legacy
Tokina 11-16mm 2.8
Canon L 24-70mm 2.8
Canon L 70-200mm 2.8

 

[kenoh]

It's awesome to see such a enthusiastic vintage lenses community. My recent small obsession with vintage glasses started when I was experimenting with my NIKKOR-S Auto 50mm f/1.4 and I fell in love with the creamy Bokeh which led to me to try all the mainstream vintage glass people were using for projects and commercials.

I'm just curious now on building as set that goes well with each other for video so I can cut between a wide shot and a close up and not have a completely different look. From my research people have recommended working with a single brand to keep the look consistent(e.g. getting a legacy Nikon 28,35,50,85) but I already have some legacy glass and I'm trying to mesh it all together and seeing if it works. I'm looking for a set particularly for Video and I'm looking for a Telephoto that will mesh well with what I already have:

I'm currently working with a Canon 5D mkII and 7D with:
NIKKOR-S Auto 50mm f/1.4
Vivitar 28mm 1:2.5 Auto
helios 44m-4 2/58mm m42
mir 24 35mm f2

as well these NON-vintage/legacy
Tokina 11-16mm 2.8
Canon L 24-70mm 2.8
Canon L 70-200mm 2.8

Hmm, OK, that is beyond me. I choose based on individual characteristics rather than consistency across the range. Good luck in your search. Maybe consider M mount Zeiss glass?

 

[phrehdd]

I thank you folks for reminding me of my better days in film based photography.

Typical to the mix for more modern yet vintage lenses - Vivitar Series 1 70-210, 90mm Macro 1:2 come to mind as being excellent choices. Nikon had a couple of "E" lenses that were cheap then yet very sharp.

I thought for fun I would post this little item as it is a modern take on truly classic design. I believe they still have a little movie with it showing off the lens --

http://photorumors.com/2016/04/06/new-lomography-daguerreotype-achromat-2-964-art-lens/

 

[The Bad Guy]

Each to their own.

I like my primes. I can go in minimalist or armed to the teeth.

**SNIP**

But...

Each to their own.

But...my 85mm is my favourite lens.

 

[bhtwo]

Yes... mine is my Nikkor 28mm 3.5.

I just don't use it often enough.

 

[kenoh]

But...my 85mm is my favourite lens.

Yeah and you know exactly what you want to photograph with it, and you are very good at it.

Meanwhile I have to keep my options open as I haven't worked out my niche yet.

 

[ChrisA]

...
I'm just curious now on building as set that goes well with each other for video so I can cut between a wide shot and a close up and not have a completely different look. From my research people have recommended working with a single brand to keep the look consistent(e.g. getting a legacy Nikon 28,35,50,85)....

Ok so now we know you are doing video. Yes you will be cutting between lenses and yes those folks who said to stick with one brand were right. But if you are doing color grading in post then sticking with one brand matters less. What gives the brand it's "look", I think is the coating on the glass

If you want great quality and low prices pick Minolta MC or MD glass. They made a rectilinear 17mm "full frame" lens and all the way up to 500mm (although that is a mirror lens)

If you are doing professional work and you want "vintage" then Nikon Af/AiS F-mount the way to go the build quality is slightly above Minolta but the prices are at least double.

I own both systems, mostly bought new over the last few decades.

One more thing. Be sure and pick up a film SLR body to go with the lenses. Even if you mostly do video, keep the body loaded with try-X or whatever. It costs almost nothing for an old SRT-101 body.

 

[Dukey]

Ok so now we know you are doing video. Yes you will be cutting between lenses and yes those folks who said to stick with one brand were right. But if you are doing color grading in post then sticking with one brand matters less. What gives the brand it's "look", I think is the coating on the glass

If you want great quality and low prices pick Minolta MC or MD glass. They made a rectilinear 17mm "full frame" lens and all the way up to 500mm (although that is a mirror lens)
One more thing. Be sure and pick up a film SLR body to go with the lenses. Even if you mostly do video, keep the body loaded with try-X or whatever. It costs almost nothing for an old SRT-101 body.

Thanks for the great advise. Will will look into it. I'm actually kind of surprise that more people don't own a set of vintage lenses for video as everyone shoot with Dslrs or mirrorless now a days for everyday projects.

I do agree with the "look" being on the coating and you can definitely cheat around looks when cutting in between lenses especially with modern day glass as it's much more sharper and a bit more saturated in its own way with color grading which I definitely always do(even if it's basic grade) shooting in neutral helps too.

I'll look into what combination fits best with each other with my ear to the ground since I'm kinda just new to vintage lenses but have been shooting video for quite some time now. I've seen people combine my russian glass set together so I'll start testing those first.

I have also been really attracted to the Minolta Rokkor glass, something about it makes the images really do look beautiful IMO, I read on people using it on commercials as well, we'll see. More research, research research and test I guess.

 

[WigWag Workshop]

Great post, enjoying all the responses.