Benjamin Marks
Mentor
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.
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
Well-known
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.
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.
My OCD takes me in the opposite direction.
Do a search on "Lenses". Buy them, get adapters...
Do a search on "Lenses". Buy them, get adapters...
Coldkennels
Barnack-toting Brit.
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
Mentor
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...
. I am too afraid to count lenses...
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sojournerphoto
Mentor
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…
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
Pan 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.
Zuiko 21f/2
Carl Zeiss Jena Pancolar 55f/1.4
Quartz-Takumar 85mm f3.5
All very rare lenses to come by.
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wlewisiii
Just another hotel clerk
sojournerphoto
Mentor
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
Mentor
Yeah... that's kind of how I went. ;p
Dogman
Mentor
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.
I guess I already have my dream kit.
Tim Murphy
Well-known
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
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