Hidden gems among lenses

Vitaliy_Kiselev

Tokina 28-70mm variations are NOT hidden gems.

aki_hartikainen

@MattRobertson that sounds unusual, because I have been delighted to find that all Tokinas I have used have had good sharpness even at aperture wide open. These include several manual AT-X zoom lenses, as well as RMC 17, 24 and 28 prime lenses. All are good, if not great, aperture wide open but contrast is improved using as tight hood as the angle permits and with reflection absorbing padding on the inside.

Edit: actually, I have to mention a Tokina built Vivitar 35-105 f3.5 close focusing zoom lens that is a bit soft at full aperture. But there are reports on the Internet that the same design branded as Tokina is a newer and improved version with decent sharpness even at aperture wide open. This is a rather heavy lens with internal zoom.

MattRobertson7

I must be crazy but I wasn't that impressed by the 28-70mm. I had it and sold it, definitely not usable at 2.6, and even 4 seemed pretty soft

LPowell

@vicharris There were a number of variants of the Tokina 28-70mm ATX Pro. The one I have looks exactly like the f2.6-2.8 with the screw-on 77mm hood, except that it's labeled f2.8. Here's the best write-up I've found on them:

http://nikonglass.blogspot.com/2009/11/tokina-at-x-pro-28-70mm-f26-28.html

aki_hartikainen

Do you know if that one is the famed Angenieux desing? One of the Tokina 28-70 f2.6-2.8 lenses would be designed by Angenieux. The autofocus lenses tend to be a bit bulkier, so I have so far picked the older manual focus versions, of which AT-X 24-40 f2.8 is a good one. I am hoping that my path will cross with the Angenieux Tokina soon, though.

vicharris

@aki_hartikainen Take a look at the Tokina 28-70 2.6-2.8 Japanese Version. The newer ones are not great but the older one that has that variable iris, seems to be the best. Honestly, I can't see the 2.6-2.8 shift when I zoom and it's an awesome lens. Internal zooming and I got one with a broken autofocus for nikon from Adarama for $150. I mixed it with Rokinon 35mm footage and it's dame close.

aki_hartikainen

Speaking of the hidden gems, is Pentacon 30 mm f3.5 considered as one? I learned from photographers that this is a really desired Meyer Lydith lens design that should pick especially yellow hues well. Very inexpensive and comes in M42 thread connection.

As soon as I get one, I will post how it works for video.

Edit: I highly liked the video above with Tokina 28-85 f4. I suppose this is the RMC series? It was also mentioned the lack of contrast at full aperture, but I recommend testing a really good hood that has no reflective parts inside. This could help.

I have Tokina AT-X 28-85 mm f.3.5-4.5 lenses in several lens mounts and the first one I tested was in Canon FD mount. There is a little bit of ghosting in the image, meaning that the out of focus items in front of the sharp focus area are not nicely blurred. However, further investigation revealed that the Canon FD mount allows a bit of play sideways atleast in this lens/adapter combination. It is possible the lens is not fully centered. The other one I have is in Nikon F mount and will be able to see if the problem goes away in that version. The price is very good for those lenses, so hopefully will be able to recommend it later.

aki_hartikainen

I'd like to second the opinions about Minolta MD 28 f2.8 posted earlier in this thread. It is very sharp and good contrast. The only thing that I do not always like about it is the somewhat harsh bokeh at full aperture. But for this there is inexpensive cure, Minolta MD 45 f2. One full aperture brighter image with similar sharpness and really nice and smooth bokeh. A cinematic lens.

If you wanted a lens that is sharp at wide open aperture, close focus lenses often behave like that. One macro lens was already mentioned in this topic, but I would add Minolta Macro Rokkor 50 mm f3.5, which can focus down to 1:2 ratio. With the supplied adapter goes to 1:1. It is very sharp at full aperture f3.5. These lenses are already a bit harder to come by.

And one more "sleeper" could be the Tokina 17 mm f3.5. It is an old design but the image is nicer and more "organic" than for example Lumix 14 mm. According to Ken Rockwell this lens has low contrast at full aperture, but I have found that using a proper hood helps. The front element is very close to the front edge of the lens and being extra wide gathers a lot of light from wide sector.

Energy80s

Probably not that rare, but I bought a Tokina constant f4 28 - 85mm zoom from Ebay recently for £21. Nice (if heavy) lens that is parfocal with internal zoom - so the lens doesn't gain in length as you zoom in on a subject. Quite soft/milky wide open (f4) but close it down beyond f5.6 and it's fine. I de-clicked it so have a smooth free running iris and the focusing ring is very smooth. Images will "milk" out if pointed towards a large bright light source (like the sky!!) but I'm currently trying to see if a large lens hood will help here. Some footage shot in a local National Trust garden here ...

... this is ungraded straight out of the GH2 with a standard 6000k white balance and CP-L filter.

nomad

I can't find any of these with 1:3.5 here in Europe, while a very similar looking 1:4 is readily available (the 1:4.5 is completely different, being a one-touch). Does anybody know if they are comparable in quality and handling?

LPowell

@vicharris The Hexanon's zoom ring is smooth and well-damped, though the internal lens movement is a little scratchy. The focus ring is super smooth, but it extends and rotates the front filter threads along with it. What's really unusual about this lens is that the zoom mechanism is completely internal, and does not change the length of the lens. So gear up the zoom ring to your follow focus, it's that good!

peternap

@vicharris where are you finding these deals? All I've been seeing on ebay are in the $75.00 up range. (Buy it now)

vicharris

@LPowell NICE! Just what I've been looking for. Is the zoom ring hard to turn or does it require some motivation? I see one for $30 right now. Looks like a deal to me.

LPowell

@vicharris @vapourtrail

Here's a demonstration of the Hexanon 80-200mm zooming across its range at f3.5. Sorry it's a little overexposed, I wanted to demonstrate its parfocal ability to hold focus while zooming at its narrowest DOF.

brianluce

Here's my GH2 with a vintage Angie and Red Rock. Parafocal, beautiful.

Vitaliy_Kiselev

@johnnym

And most interesting is that Tokina and Vivitar are completely different lenses (while both are 28-200mm F3.5-5.3).

johnnym

I have the Tokina SZ-X 28-200mm F3.5-5.3. The contrast is unlike any other lens i've ever used. Quite high. Dirt cheap lens.

LPowell

@vapourtrail

Perhaps I got a bad one. For $20 US worth a try.

Ya think? Yes, in this case, I'm afraid you've only shortchanged yourself. I tested my well-preserved copy of the Hexanon 80-200mm f3.5 using the AF100's focus peaking feature. Even at f3.5, the red fringes shimmered persistently throughout the full range of the lens' focal lengths. And it doesn't breathe much either.

vapourtrail

@lpowell @vicharris - Just used my newly purchased konica AR 80-200 f3.5 on a shoot today.

Parfocal? The focus was all over the place when zooming? Perhaps I'm not understanding but this lens doesn't seem to be parfocal. On the other hand the constant aperture does hold true.

Perhaps I got a bad one. For $20 US worth a try.

vicharris

@LPowell Do you have any examples of stuff shot on this lens? I see a few deals right now for it. I've been looking for a parfocul constant zoom for a bit now.

mee

I would add the Takumar 200mm f5.6 to this list. After reading some reviews many prefer this over the faster f4 version claiming better color. I haven't tried th F4 version, but my 50 year old F5.6 looks pretty nice in my humble opinion.

imaitland

I'd Recommend Angenieux Mega Zoom Lenses, they're Parfocal, Infinity focus, de-clicked and cost $10,000 + when they were new...

inqb8tr

Robotar 35mm f2.8 m42 thread, 55mm filter size Very nice sharp japanese lens. Paid 30 eur for it few years ago. I'll post some pics of it, and taken by it.

It is definitely hidden, not sure if it is a gem, at least because of the name.

http://m42.org.ua/487

Vitaliy_Kiselev

@nomad

Tamron 90mm 1:2.5 SP Macro

This is not really hidden gem.

nomad

OK, here we go: Tamron 90mm 1:2.5 SP Macro – one of the finest macro lenses with beautiful Bokeh. Very sharp even wide open, good for any distance, not only macro. Still under 100 €/$ on Ebay.

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