Support our Sponsors, they keep FADU free:   AG Photographic   The Imaging Warehouse   Process Supplies   RH Designs   Second-hand Darkroom Supplies  

Notices

Go Back   Film and Darkroom User > Equipment > Equipment miscellaneous

  ***   Click here for the FADU 2015/2014 Yearbooks   ***

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
  #1  
Old 20th May 2011, 09:32 PM
cliveh's Avatar
cliveh cliveh is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: West Coornwall
Posts: 937
Default Lens favourites

I think some lenses have a certain “je ne sais quoi” in terms of image quality, which is unique to their design and construction. My favourites related to 35mm are the Leitz 3.5 Elmar, Leitz 1.4 summilux and the 2” Taylor Hobson. Do others have favourites related to their particular choice of format?
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 20th May 2011, 09:49 PM
Alan Clark Alan Clark is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 1,426
Default

Clive, I think this is a potentially non-productive route to go down. In archery I know that if I concentrate on the arrow when making a shot, I'm very likely to miss. Far better to concentrate on the target. In photography, I like to think about the subject rather than the lens.

Alan
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 20th May 2011, 10:11 PM
cliveh's Avatar
cliveh cliveh is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: West Coornwall
Posts: 937
Default

Alan, how right you are, as when taking photographs we are not concerned about the kit. However, this is a contemplative question about the type of arrow we use prior to release.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 21st May 2011, 06:46 AM
Richard Gould Richard Gould is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Jersey Channel Islands
Posts: 5,433
Default

I would say that my favorite lens is the Ross xpress, I have 4 cameras with it on, all English,
Richard
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 21st May 2011, 06:58 AM
Sandeha Lynch's Avatar
Sandeha Lynch Sandeha Lynch is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Wales (UK)
Posts: 398
Default

Questions and issues that might polarise attitudes, perhaps.

For me personally the light is far more important than the subject, and the lens is a prime factor in generating tonality. So I certainly do have lens preferences among those that I've tried. Discussing cameras recently, a friend of mine was a little shocked to hear that I was using a £600 lens on a £10 camera body.

In 35mm, the 31mm and 77mm Limiteds from Pentax will probably remain weapons of choice for a long time, though the Nitto Kominar 1.9/48 and Meyer Orestor 2.8/100 and were longtime favourites.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 21st May 2011, 09:14 AM
dsallen's Avatar
dsallen dsallen is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Berlin
Posts: 521
Default

I only ever use one lens - I like to 'learn' how it 'sees' so that I can concentrate on image making. For the last ten years it has been the 65mm on the Mamiya 7. I find it suits my needs and delivers quality results.

The only lens I have had that was completely 'different' was the Leitz Noctilux on an M6. I bought it specifically for photographing fine wooden furniture for a client. At wide open it gave the most amazing (due to such limited depth of field) 3D appearance to close-ups of fine french polished wood.

The worst lens I ever owned was a very early 21mm Super Angulon for the M3. Total crap! Got rid of it after two rolls and bit the bullet and bought some Leitz glass - chalk and cheese come to mind.

Perhaps the qualities to which the OP was referring are more akin to the many colleagues of mine doing street photography who have moved to old Leitz lenses (pre super dooper coating) as they have a very particular 'look'.
__________________
David,
d.s.allen, fotograf
dsallenberlin@gmail.com
http://dsallen.carpentier-galerie.de
Reply With Quote
Reply
Support our Sponsors, they keep FADU free:   AG Photographic   The Imaging Warehouse   Process Supplies   RH Designs   Second-hand Darkroom Supplies  

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Camera lens as Enlarger lens kennethcooke Cameras - small format 9 3rd May 2022 08:51 AM
Third party rubber lens hood for the Mamiya 7 series 65mm f/4 lens? Tom Kershaw Cameras - medium format 5 7th July 2011 01:48 PM


All times are GMT. The time now is 07:47 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.