Many people collect old lenses as a hobby, or simply have older lenses they're interested in using on modern cameras.
8
votes
4answers
662 views
Why buy an intentionally soft lens?
While reading some reviews of older lenses, I keep reading "It's soft wide open, but that's not always a problem with portraits." Over my rather short time in photography thus far, I've come to ...
8
votes
4answers
1k views
What are the best methods for cleaning really dirty lens elements?
I bought old M42 Pentacon 50mm f1.8 lens from a car boot sale. It works but is pretty dirty and it has also dirt inside (no mould/fungus though).
Opening the lens is not a problem but I would like to ...
5
votes
1answer
483 views
What's the small white plastic dome on old Pentax lenses?
My old Pentax lenses have a small white dome between the aperture ring and the focus ring. See the photo below:
The clear white dome calls to mind the larger white plastic domes used in light ...
4
votes
1answer
206 views
How can I use Pentax lenses on a Lumix FZ18?
I have 3 very nice old Telephoto lenses for an old Pentax K1000 that doesn't work good anymore, color is shot. So my wife has a new Panasonic Lumix FZ18 camera and we thought we would try to get the ...
27
votes
7answers
1k views
Do good lenses really last a lifetime?
I’ve heard people say “a good lens will last a lifetime” many times. Is this actually true of modern lenses? More specifically, will a good lens be usable for a lifetime?
With an inexpensive adapter, ...
12
votes
3answers
1k views
What kind of dose can you expect from a radioactive lens?
I read that lens makers used to use radioactive glass to increase the refractive index property of their lenses.
How radioactive are they?
Here are some example dosages; where would looking through ...
1
vote
1answer
415 views
Why does my DSLR's viewfinder ignore the aperture ring on a legacy lens?
I have a Nikon D3100, and I am borrowing an old Nikkor 50mm SLR lens (http://www.destoutz.ch/lens_50mm_f1.8_1828564.html). I've had a lot of trouble with that lens, in that pictures that appear ...
7
votes
4answers
392 views
Were lenses for film designed to focus different colors at different depths, and what does that mean for digital?
I was reading the book Adobe Photoshop CS5 for Photographers: The Ultimate Workshop by Martin Evening & Jeff Schewe (Focal Press. 2011) and read this paragraph about film lenses and DSLRs:
… ...
4
votes
1answer
227 views
Servicing a Voigtlander Bessa from 1929 - how to open the lens assembly?
I recently acquired a Voigtlander Bessa from 1929. It works but there's a dead insect into the lens assembly (between the glasses) and some fungus/dust. I'm trying to open it to remove the insect and ...
4
votes
4answers
471 views
What creative things can I do with incompatible lenses?
I found an old 28-85mm and a 70-210mm lens my father used on his 35mm Minolta but they are incompatible with my D7000. Keeping in mind I'd rather not take off the current lens to avoid any dust going ...
4
votes
2answers
623 views
Force AF assist light on body / flash to come on with Nikon DSLRs?
I have a Nikon D-40 and D-90 with a wide assortment of prime lenses. I like fast primes for low light photography.
Some of my lenses are sufficiently old that they do not auto focus at all. Others ...
