Meopta Openar 40 mm 1:1.8 [C-mount]

I recently got an interesting C-mount Czech lens for Meopta Admira 16 A1/A2 electric 16 mm movie camera. Here you can take a look at more pictures of that camera and lenses: [link]

First of all and the most important fact: it covers Micro Four Thirds sensor. There is some vignetting, but I suppose it comes from lens itself rather than from size of the sensor. Image quality doesn't decrease significantly closer to edges. It's a very sharp lens. Although Meopta Admira was an amateur model, its quality was very high

Meopta Openar 40 mm @1.8

Olympus Zuiko MC Auto-S 50 mm 1:1.8 [OM]

Olympus Zuiko 50/1.8 is one my favourite lenses. I used it with Olympus OM-10, then Olympus E-3 and now with Lumix G-2. Every time works great. It's not the fastest of Zuiko 50s , but a very common and useful one. Attached to M4/3 camera gives you a portrait or a close-up lens. During some tests I used it for nature close-ups, because what's most interesting is the bokeh!

Olympus used to manufacture a lot of great 50s. There's of course 50/1.4, but also a nice 55/1.2, which was slightly radioactive. Well, some of them, but those are highly collectible and therefore pricey right now.
However, I like my 50/1.8 and all the effects I can with it.

Taken from the same place, with same settings, but focused at different distance

Vivitar 28 mm 1:2.8 MC Close Focus Wide Angle [OM]

It is a beautiful sunny day today. What's more, I couldn't stand noise in my apartment - my neighbour is having some major repairs done. So I took my Vivitar for a walk in the fields.

I remember I rather gave up on this lens. Well, it's nothing pretty special. Focal length 28 mm and aperture 2.8 doesn't make it unusual in any way. I got it with my Olympus OM-10 and used it with that camera as wide angle lens only. But attached to a Micro Four Thirds it gives you eq. of 56 mm @135 type.
As I checked out some online offers, it turns out it's a rather cheap and common lens. Close-up gives you more opportunities to use it. Take a closer look at snaps below.

Vivitar 28/2.8 is really convincing lens for field photography, close-ups and macro shots.

Vivitar 28 mm 2.8, distance to object ca. 11 cm/4.33 in. - closest I could focus at.

Zykkor MC Auto Zoom 35-70 mm 1:2.8 [OM]

Long, long time ago, when some imagined a mirrorless camera (or something similar) would be a great solution I was looking for perfect, affordable and fast zoom for my Olympus E-3.

One day I've found online a promising Zykkor Auto Zoom 35-70 mm 2.8 lens for Olympus OM system. That time zoom with constant aperture at 2.8 was a really nice thing. It didn't even bother me that I'll have to use (focus) it manually.

It's a classic "pump" zoom with one ring for zoom/focus and second for aperture. Focal length of 35-70 mm on (Micro) 4/3 sensor gives an equivalent of 70-140 mm, which seems to be a perfect portrait lens.

 

Zykkor MC Auto Zoom 35-70 mm 1:2.8 [OM bayonet]

Fujian TV lens GDS-35 35 mm 1:1.7 [C-mount]

Here's one of the most common and cheapest ones... I introduce you Fujian TV lens 35 mm 1.7 with c-mount thread. You probably have heard of it, because internet is full of all kind of tests and descriptions of this particular construction. What's so amazing about it?

1. PRICE! It's about $25 lens on eBay.
2. SIZE! It's so small that you can take it in your pocket next to your smartphone. Really nice!
3. QUALITY! Or lack of quality or... whatever. It's unique! Swirly bokeh, paper thin focus plane. It's impossible to describe it. You just have to see it.
4. SPEED! 1.7 - nice :)

Panasonic Lumix G2 with Fujian TV lens 35 mm 1.7 (c-mount > M4/3 adapter)

Ł.Z.K. Polkinar 120 mm 1:1.8 [Polish cinema projector lens]

Yesterday I got my hands on an interesting Polish lens Ł.Z.K. Polkinar 120 mm 1:1.8 and I just couldn't wait to test it!

The lens was designed to work with AP cinema projector for 35 mm film, which was manufactured in the '50s by Łódzkie Zakłady Kinotechniczne. As far as I know from Uncle Google, it's a common Petzval lens. Nevertheless, the focal length and maximum aperture are truly interesting. You have to admit that!

So first of all, it's a really huge lens. Here you can see it compared to a 4/3 Olympus Zuiko Digital 12-60 mm 1:2.8-4.0. 

 

Ł.Z.K. Polkinar 120/1.8 compared to Olympus ZD 12-60/2.8-4.0

Auto Eyemik Multi-Coated 135 mm 1:1.8 [M42, "Lens made in Japan"]

Auto Eyemik Multi-Coated 135 mm 1:1.8 (M42, "Lens made in Japan")

One of the most outstanding lenses I have. It's 135 mm with incredible aperture of 1.8! When I found this one on-line I immediately contacted seller - I just had to have it ;)

It's rather hard to use on micro four thirds cameras (Lumix G2 in this case) because of the crop factor. Eyemik works as 270 mm for full frame (135 film type) - so rather a tool designed for wildlife and paparazzi. Add a very soft depth to it and you get a truly unusual lens for... whatever you can imagine. Take a look...

All pictures were taken on aperture priority with F1.8, camera Lumix G2.
Mount: M4/3 > 4/3 > M42
Edit: PS CS6 scaling

Auto Beroflex Lens 85 mm 1:1.7 [M42]

Auto Beroflex Lens 85 mm 1:1.7 (M42)

Here it is. One of my favourites: 85 mm and 1.7 aperture. Isn't that too good to be true?

I've found it in 2008 on Polish auction site and bought it immediately. It was a really lucky shot that time, because price was 1/5 of usual price for that kind of lens. I was pretty anxious if quality will work it, but as it turned out... well, you can see.

All pictures were taken on aperture priority with F1.7, camera Lumix G2.

Mount: M4/3 > 4/3 > M42

Edit: PS CS6 scaling (50%)

The most important question: WHY?

Exactly, why to start a blog, when you can find gazillions of samples all over the web.

First of all - it's not that simple. I felt frustrated hundreds of times, when I wanted to buy an unusual lens and couldn't find a single photo, which was made with one. I decided to take some pictures myself and show them to you!

Second - FUN! :)
For last few days I was taking photos with two of my special M42 lenses:

• AUTO BEROFLEX LENS 85 MM 1:1.7 (M42)
• AUTO EYEMIK MULTI-COATED 135 MM 1:1.8 (M42, "LENS MADE IN JAPAN")

I was trying to take best shots. Show the bokeh, depth of field, strong and weak spots of those two. Finally I showed it to my friends and they loved it. Simple as it is.

Finally, I have a huge collection of lenses. I started collecting cameras, but it turned out, that the soul of the picture is not in the shutter. It's 50/50 - lens and film/sensor.

One more important thing. Descriptions of lenses that are going to appear won't be professional lens tests with charts, 100% crops, measuring the aberration, distortion, vignetting, etc. Again, there are many great and flawless tests of newest lenses that show all pros and cons. I just want to show some unusual lenses, present some samples and share my knowledge :) But! in case anyone had a request to test any lens in particular way - don't hesitate and let me know!

That's it. Hope you'll enjoy it and find it useful.

P.

P.S. Sometimes I have some weird ideas to create lens-a-like objects, so I hope I'll let you know about them here!