Any experts on vintage lenses?

[Momas]

I want try out some vintage glass since most of it is extremely cheap. From what I understand pretty much all zooms are terrible. I want something in 100-200mm range (can go lower if it has amazing bokeh). I don't really want an m42 lens since it would require an adapter with glass/plastic in it to get infinite focus.

 

Which lens would give the most decent quality from this list: http://www.skelbiu.lt/skelbimai/nikon-af-ir-mf-objektyvai-14508959.html

If all of the lenses in there are terrible maybe some of these? Though they're quite expensive for older lenses: http://www.skelbiu.lt/skelbimai/objektyvai-nikon-kameroms-15851749.html

 

What should I look for when searching for old/vintage lenses? I know there's some amazing Carl Zeiss lenses, are there any companies that have only made terrible glass?

Thanks for any help!

[ShadowCaptain]

SNIP

 

Would help to know what camera you are using

[Momas]

Would help to know what camera you are using

D3300, it was in my signature

[ShadowCaptain]

D3300, it was in my signature

 

You are mostly limited to old Nikon F mount film lenses, unless you buy expensive adapters with corrective lenses (due to flange distance and crop factors etc) 

[nicon]

@Momas 

 

M42 lenses were designed for SLR. An M42 to Nikon adapter would not have ANY glass or plastic, just a metal mount. They're cheap too.

 

P.S. The 2001 Nikon 28-80 f3.3-5.6 G is freakin' awesome for the price. It has AF and everything you would possibly need and is pin-sharp. I use it on multiple bodies w/adapters and it just might be my favorite all-purpose lens. You can get it on eBay for under $20. I know that's prob. not what you're looking for, but still.

 

I'm quoting Ken Rockwell here:

"It works ridiculously well, especially on my Nikon D3.Incredible means unbelievable. The performance of this lens is so good that no one will believe it possibly can come from a lens this cheap."

[Momas]

@Momas 

 

M42 lenses were designed for SLR. An M42 to Nikon adapter would not have ANY glass or plastic, just a metal mount. They're cheap too.

 

P.S. The 2001 Nikon 28-80 f3.3-5.6 G is freakin' awesome for the price. It has AF and everything you would possibly need and is pin-sharp. I use it on multiple bodies w/adapters and it just might be my favorite all-purpose lens. You can get it on eBay for under $20. I know that's prob. not what you're looking for, but still.

 

I'm quoting Ken Rockwell here:

"It works ridiculously well, especially on my Nikon D3.Incredible means unbelievable. The performance of this lens is so good that no one will believe it possibly can come from a lens this cheap."

 

I know that they're made for SLRs. In most websites I found that I would need to have an adapter with glass in it to get infinity focus on Nikon DSLRs due to flange distance difference (@ShadowCaptain mentioned it too). Did you actually try some M42 lenses on Nikon with adapter without the corrective lens and get infinity focus? If I can get infinity focus without the corrective lens in adapter I will definitely look into some M42 lenses!

 

I really like the lens you recommended and I might consider it for replacing my kit lens (since it goes longer than 55mm and can go wide enough for me, aperture is pretty much as kit though, but look at that price though!) but as far as I know it doesn't have a built-in focusing motor, Nikon D3300 requires a built-in motor in lens to use autofocus (there's no motor for focusing in camera itself) general use lens for me should have autofocus

 

Any recommendations on lenses that are at least 100mm or more?

[ShadowCaptain]

SNIP

 

erm most vintage lenses dont have auto focus so...  not sure how to help you there  heck even plenty of modern lenses are manual only like voightlander and sonys loxia range

[Momas]

erm most vintage lenses dont have auto focus so...  not sure how to help you there  heck even plenty of modern lenses are manual only like voightlander and sonys loxia range

Yeah, I know that that's why I won't be getting vintage glass as replacement for my kit lens

[ShadowCaptain]

Yeah, I know that that's why I won't be getting vintage glass as replacement for my kit lens

 

I use manual most of the time tbh, even on AF lenses

[Momas]

I use manual most of the time tbh, even on AF lenses

I'll probably end up using manual pretty much always too, but it's still nice to have AF on a general purpose lens, some shots can be missed without it (especially since I'm not very experienced with manual focus ). I wouldn't mind having only manual focus on my other lenses though.

[ShadowCaptain]

I'll probably end up using manual pretty much always too, but it's still nice to have AF on a general purpose lens, some shots can be missed without it (especially since I'm not very experienced with manual focus ). I wouldn't mind having only manual focus on my other lenses though.

 

Fair enough, I shoot a lot of video so i quickly learned it - also my camera has focus peaking which is a god send

[nicon]

 Snip

No, I use it on an F5 film slr, and it has it's own motor, so you're out of luck. Unfortunately the manual focus wheel on the lens is god-awful. It moves in and out while focusing and the wheel is super thin.

 

P.S. I used an m42 lens on a Canon DSLR so the flange distance is different.

[Williamchan87]

a Leica R 180mm f2.8 with a mount is always good, but it comes with quite some weight