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Manual focus lenses

This week I got two manual lenses, from a Dutch auction site. The first one is a Pentax Super Takumar 35/3.5 and the second one is a Carl Zeiss Jena Sonnar 135/3.5.

Both are manual focus, and the modern Canon digital reflexes don't have a suitable viewfinder for manual focusing anymore, so I am eagerly waiting for the ordered adapters with a focus confirm chip! For now I use a simple mechanical adapter, judging sharpness with my eyes only.

I am very impressed with the CZJ Sonnar lens so far, but I didn't have much time to test it yet (hopefully this weekend). The colors and bokeh are beautiful, and the sharpness doesn't seem to be below modern Canon lenses.

Anyone else on Ipernity who enjoys using old style lenses on their modern camera? How are your experiences?

1 comment

Johan said:

Fortunately CA can be easily corrected, if needed. And indeed, after some testing, on both close and far-away subjects, my conclusion is that the Zeiss is very sharp, has nice contrast (but not extraordinary), and very pleasing bokeh characteristics. Besides, manual focus is precise, if you focus wide open and then stop down for metering.
16 years ago