old lenses

Chris M. Watson · July 24th, 2010, 11:47 AM

Check out this site. SLR Lens Mount Identification Guide. It should answer your question in terms of what adapter your new lens needs. My guess is that you may be looking at the "pro" version of the adapters. I only use the "consumer grade" and they are just fine. I got them from the Fotodiox Ebay store.

Jeroen Wolf · July 24th, 2010, 01:23 PM

I noticed I bought the Vivitar Series 1 3.5 70-210 FD(!) and just read that Mark von Lanken mentioned the FD mount is the one mount that's hard to adapt. I guess I was too eager. I can return it if it's not the right one... Or is there a way to mount this lens anyway?

Andrew Hardman · July 24th, 2010, 07:31 PM

I recently purchased an old Vivitar 28mm f/2.5 (KIRON) from eBay. A tad rarer than the 2.8 so I paid a little more, but the lens is in fantastic condition. I'm only fairly new to photography so my photo's will probably scream 'newby' but I am loving it for video and it's definitely my go-to lens at the moment.

Plus, I love how badass it looks on my 550D ;)

Jeroen Wolf · July 25th, 2010, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeroen Wolf

I noticed I bought the Vivitar Series 1 3.5 70-210 FD(!) and just read that Mark von Lanken mentioned the FD mount is the one mount that's hard to adapt. I guess I was too eager. I can return it if it's not the right one... Or is there a way to mount this lens anyway?

I read your info on the mount matters, Chris, and got my answer there. (From now on I will read first and then buy...;-)

Chris M. Watson · July 25th, 2010, 03:02 PM

Sorry for not responding sooner. Had a two day shoot and am just now getting back to things. Yeah the Canon FD can be adapted but depending on the adapter you can have a softer picture, difficulty with infinity focus, or loss of light. I think Canon sold an FD>EOS adapter years ago with excellent optics but it was prohibitively expensive.

There's also the option of sending the lens to someone who could convert the lens to the EOS mount by putting the lens elements in a new barrell or something like that. For a rare FD or Minolta this might be worth it but for a pretty common lens like the Vivitar 70-210, it's best (and cheapest) to just get an Olympus or Nikon mount version.

Nigel Barker · July 26th, 2010, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Watson

Sorry for not responding sooner. Had a two day shoot and am just now getting back to things. Yeah the Canon FD can be adapted but depending on the adapter you can have a softer picture, difficulty with infinity focus, or loss of light. I think Canon sold an FD>EOS adapter years ago with excellent optics but it was prohibitively expensive.

The Canon FD>EOS adapter was only for a couple of the longest telephoto FD lenses which at the time were probably prohibitively expensive too.

It is a great shame that Canon declared "Year Zero" when they introduced the EF mount. Last year I bought for next to nothing a beautiful 35-105mm F3.5 telephoto that is absolutely pristine. Sadly with a cheapo FD>EOS adapter from eBay (which is all that is available) the picture is too soft. It's an enormous shame as otherwise the lens is perfect for video use with a lovely wide focus ring & big zoom ring

Clayton Moore · July 26th, 2010, 07:53 AM

I shot this with an old Lens I got off ebay for $100. Super Takumar 50mm 1.4

Just a clip By Clayton Moore On ExposureRoom

Someone posted about this lens here

Organgrinder010: Manual Lenses on EOS Body Part 2 - Super-Takumar 50mm f1.4

Joel Peregrine · July 26th, 2010, 09:31 AM

Hi Mark!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Von Lanken

Hi Joel,

It's good to hear from you. Have you heard what the street price will be?

Samyang's main goal is to make their lenses affordable, so I'd guess it will be in the $250-350 range:

From Interview with Mr. Lee - Director of Sales & Marekting Samyang Optics - Interview with Mr. Lee - Director of Sales & Marekting Samyang Optics - Lenstip.com

"LensTip.com: There are rumors, that the next lens released will be 35mm f/1.2 or 35 mm f/1.4. Could you tell us about it?
Mr. Lee: 35 mm f/1.4 will be released in the second half of 2010."

Joel Peregrine · July 26th, 2010, 09:35 AM

Hi Brett,

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brett Culp

Thanks for the feedback.
My hope was to avoid paying $1k for the current Canon 135mm f2 lense by purchasing a vintage lens I can adapt. It is important that it be 135mm at f2 or faster.
This discussion of old lenses made me wonder if I could save by purchasing something old, but it sounds like vintage may not be the best option for a fast 135mm.
Other ideas are certainly welcome! Thanks!

It took patient and diligent scanning of the used lens websites and ebay but after two months I landed a Porst 135mm f1.8. I've used it at two events and its very sharp and has good contrast and color. Its really heavy, which is fine though because I have it on a tripod or monopod. After shipping from Greece the total was about $250. Very satisfied with the purchase. In the picture the lens is compared to the much smaller Pentax 135mm f2.5.

Clayton Moore · July 26th, 2010, 12:06 PM

Nice telephoto lens. I went to a yard sale a few weeks ago, the lady had a Nikon 35mm film camera with a 135mm tele lens and some other stuff. I got the whole deal for $20. One lens mount adapter later and I was in business.

CM

Chris M. Watson · August 3rd, 2010, 08:34 PM

Why can't I find those yard sales :)? The ones I go to just have old baby stuff and VHS tapes. Anyway, great find there! Just a little jealous :)

Clayton Moore · August 3rd, 2010, 09:19 PM

Also look in your Friday Paper for Estate Sales for the weekend. The people that run those sales don't normally see much value in old film cameras. I've gotten some good odds and ends there, like table top tripods and other things.
Try being a pack rat in reverse.

CM

Slavomir Valko · August 13th, 2010, 04:26 PM

1968 Mamiya Sekor 55 mm 1.4 screw mount lens came of the Mamiya Sekor 1000DTL camera. It is little bit heavy for 55mm lens.
I'm now selling Mamiya Sekor 1000DTL (body only).

July 24th, 2010, 01:23 PM	#92
Jeroen Wolf Major Player Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Amsterdam Posts: 355	I noticed I bought the Vivitar Series 1 3.5 70-210 FD(!) and just read that Mark von Lanken mentioned the FD mount is the one mount that's hard to adapt. I guess I was too eager. I can return it if it's not the right one... Or is there a way to mount this lens anyway? __________________ www.imaginevideo.nl Just published the second of my viral mini-doc series '100' https://youtu.be/ZqHFBrV-oOc

July 24th, 2010, 07:31 PM	#93
Andrew Hardman New Boot Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Brisbane, QLD, Australia Posts: 20	I recently purchased an old Vivitar 28mm f/2.5 (KIRON) from eBay. A tad rarer than the 2.8 so I paid a little more, but the lens is in fantastic condition. I'm only fairly new to photography so my photo's will probably scream 'newby' but I am loving it for video and it's definitely my go-to lens at the moment. Plus, I love how badass it looks on my 550D ;) Attached Thumbnails

July 26th, 2010, 07:53 AM	#97
Clayton Moore Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Sacramento, Ca. Posts: 70	Super Takumar 50mm I shot this with an old Lens I got off ebay for $100. Super Takumar 50mm 1.4 Just a clip By Clayton Moore On ExposureRoom Someone posted about this lens here Organgrinder010: Manual Lenses on EOS Body Part 2 - Super-Takumar 50mm f1.4

August 3rd, 2010, 09:19 PM	#102
Clayton Moore Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Sacramento, Ca. Posts: 70	Chris Also look in your Friday Paper for Estate Sales for the weekend. The people that run those sales don't normally see much value in old film cameras. I've gotten some good odds and ends there, like table top tripods and other things. Try being a pack rat in reverse. CM

August 13th, 2010, 04:26 PM	#103
Slavomir Valko Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Palm Coast, Florida Posts: 59	1968 Mamiya Sekor 55 mm 1.4 screw mount lens came of the Mamiya Sekor 1000DTL camera. It is little bit heavy for 55mm lens. I'm now selling Mamiya Sekor 1000DTL (body only). Vimeo

July 24th, 2010, 11:47 AM	#91
Chris M. Watson Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 104	Check out this site. SLR Lens Mount Identification Guide. It should answer your question in terms of what adapter your new lens needs. My guess is that you may be looking at the "pro" version of the adapters. I only use the "consumer grade" and they are just fine. I got them from the Fotodiox Ebay store.

July 25th, 2010, 03:02 PM	#95
Chris M. Watson Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 104	Sorry for not responding sooner. Had a two day shoot and am just now getting back to things. Yeah the Canon FD can be adapted but depending on the adapter you can have a softer picture, difficulty with infinity focus, or loss of light. I think Canon sold an FD>EOS adapter years ago with excellent optics but it was prohibitively expensive. There's also the option of sending the lens to someone who could convert the lens to the EOS mount by putting the lens elements in a new barrell or something like that. For a rare FD or Minolta this might be worth it but for a pretty common lens like the Vivitar 70-210, it's best (and cheapest) to just get an Olympus or Nikon mount version.

July 26th, 2010, 12:06 PM	#100
Clayton Moore Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Sacramento, Ca. Posts: 70	Nice telephoto lens. I went to a yard sale a few weeks ago, the lady had a Nikon 35mm film camera with a 135mm tele lens and some other stuff. I got the whole deal for $20. One lens mount adapter later and I was in business. CM

August 3rd, 2010, 08:34 PM	#101
Chris M. Watson Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 104	Why can't I find those yard sales :)? The ones I go to just have old baby stuff and VHS tapes. Anyway, great find there! Just a little jealous :)