Share ADAPTED lenses images (non AF). Share yours

[acnomad]

I might look into that lens

As you certainly already know, old lenses manufactured in the USSR are both plentiful and inexpensive. I went on a bit of a vintage lens kick a few years ago and bought two versions of the Helios 44, two copies of the Jupiter-8, and the Helios F-92 all for a total of less than US$300. Perhaps is little as US$200.

 

[acnomad]

The Helios 44-2 58mm f/2, which is an earlier version of the excellent 44-7. @gnarlydogOZ has already posted some fine examples using the latter.

Here is a fun shot from the end of a portrait session. Once the money shot was on the card, I dismounted the trusty 70-200 and mounted the 44-2, a.k.a. "the swirly bokeh monster" for a few more frames. I have yet to find a client who will pay for such an image, but I do get some personal enjoyment from them.

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

 

[acnomad]

Personally I am a fan of small/compact lenses and often look at rangefinder ones

Have you tried any of the Nikkor rangefinder lenses? I have really enjoyed using the W-Nikkor 35mm f/2.5 on a Z body. Some examples here:

W-Nikkor 35mm Examples

 

[gnarlydogOZ]

Have you tried any of the Nikkor rangefinder lenses? I have really enjoyed using the W-Nikkor 35mm f/2.5 on a Z body. Some examples here:

W-Nikkor 35mm Examples

I don't own any rangefinder lenses from Nikkor, except the 10.5cm f2.5 and that is no small/light lens
But the one you propose is indeed diminutive, almost as small as some of those I have refitted from fixed-lens rangefinders
Then I had a quick look on evilBay... ouch ?

 

[gnarlydogOZ]

The Helios 44-2 58mm f/2, which is an earlier version of the excellent 44-7. @gnarlydogOZ has already posted some fine examples using the latter.

Here is a fun shot from the end of a portrait session. Once the money shot was on the card, I dismounted the trusty 70-200 and mounted the 44-2, a.k.a. "the swirly bokeh monster" for a few more frames. I have yet to find a client who will pay for such an image, but I do get some personal enjoyment from them.
View attachment 1689163

I am in two minds about the Helios 44-7 vs the 44-2.
One renders a bit sharper but the low-count aperture blades give ugly bokeh balls if stopped down.
While the 44-2 might be less sharp I do like how it renders maybe a bit more for portraits and then there is the round iris when stopped down.
I do like speckled highlights but your sample above is maybe just a tad heavy (distracting) for a portrait.

And what people pay money for is often not exactly an artistic photograph: most folk's taste is rather simple

 

[gnarlydogOZ]

And finally giving the Jupiter-11 13.5cm f4 (Contax/Kiev) a field trip, where travelling light is important (can't take big lenses with me)
Here used wide open.

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

saddle up by gnarlydog, on Flickr

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

golden light trail by gnarlydog, on Flickr

 

[gnarlydogOZ]

In the search for a compact adapted fast "normal" vintage lens I am now on my 3rd try: a Helios-103 53mm f1.8, (from the 80's) that some call the Russian Summicron (Leica)

My goal is to have a travel lens that is light and small (mostly travel by motorcycle where size does matter) and I want to reduce bulk.
I don't want a modern lens (most don't render the bokeh like I want with a 3D pop caused by a bit of swirl, instead of just creamy) so a simple optical design with less glass elements is necessary.
So far the best candidate for sharp images even wide open is the Contax/Kiev mount Helios-103 with its whack mount.
I refitted mine into a Pentax helicoid (broken lens) with MFD down to 40cm.
First test shot gives me the desired bokeh with a hint of cat-eye bubbles in the speckled highlights ?

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

Helios-103_DVZ_1387 by gnarlydog, on Flickr

 

[gnarlydogOZ]

And here testing the speckled highlights with backlighting.
I believe I stopped it down just a bit to f2.8 (bubbles are no longer perfectly round)

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

Bella with Helios-103 by gnarlydog, on Flickr

 

[gnarlydogOZ]

A field trip with the newly refitted Helios-103 53mm f1.8 proved to NOT be the go-to lens I was hoping.
I could not figure out why wide open exposures only the central part remains in focus while the edges are so soft, with subjects mid-field.
Then I examined some images carefully and noticed that it has a dreadful field curvature ?
Stopped down I gain more depth of field but I also loose the subtle bokeh
The search continues...

Here it shows how a wide open image looks like (edited to taste: vignette, but bokeh remains unaltered)

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

harvested by gnarlydog, on Flickr

 

[gryphon1911]

Nikon 35mm f/2.8 Nikkor-S Auto on Nikon Df

1

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

2

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

Nikon 28mm f/2.8 AIS on Nikon Df

1

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

2

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

3

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

Nikon 135mm f/3.5 AIS on Z6

1

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

2

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

3

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

 

[gryphon1911]

Nikon 105mm f/2.5 AIS on Df

1

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

2

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

Nikon 55mm f/3.5 Macro on Df

1

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

2

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

 

[gnarlydogOZ]

A bit of rural roads riding in South East Queensland
Jupiter-9 8.5cm f2 (Contax/Kiev mount)

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

dirt twisties by gnarlydog, on Flickr

 

[gnarlydogOZ]

Z7 with Pentacon 135mm "15 blades" f2.8

View attachment 1689548

Oh wow, what wonderful colors
I have the same lens but mine is nowhere near as sharp as yours.
Mind you, it has seen a lot of action (not from me) and is all battered with some of the coating on the front lens deteriorated. I mainly use it for the peculiar bubble bokeh

 

[gnarlydogOZ]

That's interesting that you get bubble bokeh with yours. Mine does super smooth bokeh. These are with the Pentacon 135mm f2.8 15 blades, and a Fuji XT-2. I apologize for polluting this thread with a Fuji camera, but I haven't used this lens like this on the Z7 yet. The first picture are service berries, the next two are mountain ash.

View attachment 1689579

View attachment 1689580

View attachment 1689581

thank you for bringing these to my attention: I was wrong. ?
Quickly reviewing my images taken with the Pentacon (mind you on Micro 4/3) I indeed see nothing but smooth bokeh, like you show on the Fuji.
I must be mistaken with some other lens ( I have a few )

 

[gnarlydogOZ]

A very hefty lens (by my standards) has find new life on the Nikon Z.
It certainly wasn't worth schlepping around the big chunk of metal and glass from a Russian projector if I mounted it onto a 4/3 sensor, since only the central portion of the image circle was visible, so that lens stayed at home ?

A very different story on a larger sensor where I can see the "wonderful" quirky bokeh of the edges caused by a very curved focus field. Of course, not a lens for general photography but I wonderful tool for creating images that are different (more striking) than with an iPhone ?

Russian cine projector lens 35KP 1,8/120

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

with 35KP-1,8/120 by gnarlydog, on Flickr

 

[gnarlydogOZ]

My friend Bertina, a wild kookaburra that comes to visit me for a morsel of mince meat
Fujinon 55mm f2.2, wide open

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

Bertina with Fujinon 55/2.2 by gnarlydog, on Flickr

 

[gnarlydogOZ]

I think I have finally found a lens that I can use as a "standard" on my Nikon Z for general photography.
After trying a few refitted lenses from fixed-lens rangefinders (Canonet and Konica S) I think the Yashica Electro with its Yashinon-DX 40mm f1.7 comes on top.
The lens is lighter than the other two, much sharper right across the frame (flat field) and with good colors and contrast.

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

Bertina on Yashinon 40mm 1.7 by gnarlydog, on Flickr

I was half eyeing the newly released native Nikkor Z 40mm f2 but I think this Yashinon will be my preferred lens since I like the bokeh more than in the modern lens.
Of course I am not that much into sharpness but more into the quirky OOF areas with a hint of cat-eye speckled highlights that simpler optics give me.
Extracting the lens from the dead body of the Yashica and modifying the shutter (jam it open) was a bit tricky. I did not use the original helicoid but refitted the optical block onto a short aftermarket M42 helicoid (13mm-22mm) that gives me perfect infinity.
On the new helicoid I can focus down to 25cm! ?

EDIT: Image of the Yashinon 40/1.7 refitted onto the Nikon Z

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

Yashi 40_1.7_1 by gnarlydog, on Flickr

 

[gnarlydogOZ]

A little study in bokeh with the refitted Yashinon DX 40mm f1.7 (from rangefinder Yashica Electro 35GX)
On the short M42 helicoid it allows me to focus close to the natural subjects I like.

All shot wide open

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

button bubbles by gnarlydog, on Flickr

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

just leaves by gnarlydog, on Flickr

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

previous life by gnarlydog, on Flickr

 

[acnomad]

I was half eyeing the newly released native Nikkor Z 40mm f2 but I think this Yashinon will be my preferred lens since I like the bokeh more than in the modern lens.

LOL. I preordered the Nikkor Z 40mm f/2 because I specifically don't want any more Frankenlenses. Now if I can just get home to catch up with my UPS deliveries, I can actually use it. Still, I admire your dedication to the task of keeping vintage lenses relevant. Kudos to you!

 

[gnarlydogOZ]

LOL. I preordered the Nikkor Z 40mm f/2 because I specifically don't want any more Frankenlenses. Now if I can just get home to catch up with my UPS deliveries, I can actually use it. Still, I admire your dedication to the task of keeping vintage lenses relevant. Kudos to you!

ha, how different we all are ?
I have a case full of native AF lenses (for Micro 4/3) and then a bunch of adapter or refitted.
Some of the native ones have barely been used, while the favorite vintage one are always with me.
For Nikon Z I decided I don't need any native glass as I am more drawn to the creative part of photography versus convenience/ease of use/ultimate sharpness