Best use

Following on from the topic Old Glass and trying to stretch the topic a little more. I have a number of manual focal lenses and wonderd if some of the members might point out the best use of the lens or may be a use genurly not thought of that may have worked out well. I agree by the way these lenses offer very good value so pleased I chose Pentax. It would be good if also members could post the odd photo taken with any of the lenses listed below if possible.

135mm 50mm 35mm and a 28mm all old manual focus look forward to any feed back.

Regards Ian

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135

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135

I'm not sure it's a question of best use, after all a 50mm lens is still a 50mm lens regardless of whether it's old or new. If we want to we can even manually focus our AF lenses.

I would see it more a matter of satisfaction. Maybe in the old traditional manufacturing techniques, something reassuringly heavy, all metal and glass. Maybe the chance to try out new focal lengths at a low price, thus opening up options that we might not afford new.

There is also the possibility of the joy of experimentation. Old lenses can give results that look different and as we're involved in image making that has to be interesting. A poor telephoto lens 40 years old might be fantastic for making flattering portraits. A huge unwieldy 18mm lens might be superb optically. Anything is possible.

In the case of macro lenses, often manual focus is preferable to AF, so a manual focus macro is fine. Optically superb anyway and no incovenience, coupled with an affordable price.

Basically it can be a whole lot of fun to try things out, and why not.

Yes I must say every time I stick a new lens on the camera some times it feels like your taking a new camera out. I bought my 28mm as a landscape lens but from what you mention John Im going to try out some portrait work with it and see what turns up.
Regards Ian

As John says, the use would be the same as with modern glass. But characteristics will differ.

Most people don't consider 28mm on APSc wide enough for landscape But it is a wonderful focal length for a walk around lens.

I don't have old glass below 50mm And as you don't specify the exact lens, some samples taken with my old glass

Vivitar 55/2.8 macro (M42) at f/4



Pentax M50/1.7 (aperture unknown)



Pentax M120/2.8 (aperture unknown)

A few from an evening stroll along the Grand Union Canal last summer, all taken using the Pentax-A 28mm f/2.8 manual focus prime on a K-r:










Philip

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35mm2.8 Pentax M.

Regards Ian

[IMG]http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/philstaff/IMGP8560.jpg[/IMG]

28mm, 2.8

Regards Ian

[IMG]http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/philstaff/IMGP8558.jpg[/IMG]

50mm 1.7.

Regards Ian

A 50mm f1.7

[IMG]http://i393.photobucket.com/albums/pp15/chriseast/081.jpg[/IMG]

90MM Tamron SP f2.8 72B on a K30

I imagine the 35mm to be very useful... My FA35mm f2 is my most used lens by far...

50mm lenses tend to be used for portraits on crop-sensor cameras, generally how I use mine...

28mm is generally the widest lens in my bag (I only carry the kit-18-55WR if I'm expecting 'weather' and can rarely be bothered with my Vivitar 19mm 3.... If I use it at all I end up taking a few images and stitching... Unfortunately I suck at landscape so it doesn't happen much...

135mm is a tough one for me... I had one but rarely used it... Was a bit of an odd focal length for me - so I flogged it...

Great picture whatever it was taken with!