[Leica] Picking up old lenses

[Frank Filippone]

I bought the M42 early version of the Pentax 300mm lens for travel.  It is pretty light, very sharp, and physically smaller than anything I could buy 
today.  It is F6.3, which allows it to be small. It is one of what I call Cult Lenses.  Good to superb optics, but not modern.  They exist in every 
brand.  Nikon 105, Leica 35 Summicron, Canon FD 135/3.5, Contarex Distagon 25mm, Pentax 18mm F4 semi fisheye to mention a few.  Usually they sell for 
the equivalent of the sales tax on a modern lens.

The genius of the mirrorless bodies is that with an adapter, they are pretty much all usable.....  I have several.  Differing brands.  All great lenses.

And some are dogs.  You find this out AFTER you test out the lens......But usually, and because of the Internet, you can read and avoid the terrible 
lenses.


Frank Filippone
BMWRed735i at Gmail.com
>
> While this lens combo works, many others are very poor, and inevitably I'll probably have to buy Sony E mount lenses.
>
> Douglas
>
>
> On 06/06/2021 22:02, Don Dory via LUG wrote:
>> This isn't about a great lens I found. What I am really questioning is
>> using equipment that is "good enough"  I stumbled on a 40mm Makro Kilfit
>> f3.5 D version at a stupidly cheap price.  Even in Exacta mount that wasn't
>> an obstacle with a mirrorless body.  It is a four element in three group
>> design. Using it I found it quite usable wide open if you kept the main
>> subject in the center third.  Stopped down to 5.6-8 it was quite usable out
>> to the outer third.
>>
>> Even compared to the Leica 60mm Macro it is half the size and weight.  So,
>> what is everybodies feelings about good enough even though modern
>> technology will be far superior?  I know more than several members have
>> transitioned to the Q2 for the size, weight, and simplicity of use.
>>
>> Part of this is that younger photographers need a beginning place.  Most of
>> us started out on used equipment that worked and as our fortunes and
>> interests matured we acquired better tools.  My child didn't really get an
>> income that would support a lot of hobbies until thirty after the PhD.
>> Many folk don't get to that point so the tools need to be more reasonable
>> than a $2000 M body and a $500 foggy Russian lens.
>>
>> Anyway, thoughts?
>>
>
>
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