Mini and Classic Reviews

Over on EPZ, and copied onto PU when relevant, I have started doing occasional "mini reviews" and "classic reviews" of lenses. It's still experimental and happening as the time and available lenses makes possible, but the objective is to run the optics through Imatest and give them a quick try out.

If anyone has anything interesting in M42 mount, K mount, EOS mount, Nikon F mount or MFT that they wouldn't mind lending me for a couple of weeks, please send me a PM. If you're located around Manchester/the North West that would avoid any shipping costs/risks.

Of particular interest at the moment would be the Helios 58mm f/2.

It would be interesting to see reviews of the older K and M lenses where the tests compare to those used for recent lenses. I might be able to help where I could bring some over when I stay over on your side and perhaps you could bring them back on a visit to this side. They'd all be K mount. See what others can offer though as a local source would be easiest.
What does it entail making an Imatest?
I suspect with older optics some will have had a harder life or been stored badly so results between samples could vary quite a bit.

I too would like to see how the old glass does against the new stuff. Definitely stuff like the Takumars and the K/M versions of common lenses but also stuff like the FA35 vs DA35 (not exactly that comparison but other similar ones).

It can be done, but there's a real cost in time to do so. Imatest is the means by which we prepare our resolution graphs.

Mint lenses are the best option as they have a better chance of being in good condition, but also a real lemon would probably stand out as such and need another sample to make sure.

John K, we could sort something out I'm sure but as you say let's see if something more local turns up first.