Thursday, September 15, 2011

Why a Bargain Could Push You into the Deep End

Algoma Provider Toronto -- Panny G1 & Kodak 50mm f1.6 cine lens. Click for larger.

Most of us have one or more "lucky" moments in our life time.  The most common is buying something much cheaper than the market value.  Last week, I was browsing in a store than sells second hand stuff, and noticed a lens on the shelf.  It was a Leica M-Mount Voigtlander Nokton 40mm f1.4 MC, with a original hood.  The owner didn't know anything about lenses and consequently, I bought it for a ridiculously low price.  To me, this could mean trouble.

Around 2005, I started using manual focus lenses on my digital SLR.  It all started with a cheap 50mm M42 mount lens.  Then I got hooked, and started to try different mounts and eventually any kind of lenses that can form images.  As of today, I have spent many thousands of dollars on manual focus lenses, not to mention more than a grand on adapters.

Long ago I told myself to steer way from M-mount lenses, because they are usually very costly, albeit very good quality optics.  Getting the Nokton 40mm f1.4 could be the start of another expensive adventure.  I have already gotten the M to NEX adapter, and have started looking at other M-mount lenses.  The short flange of the M-mount means the adapter is relatively thin, which mean M-mount lenses look very good on the NEX body.  I can see the allure of a fast, yet small M-mount lenses on the NEX.

Can't wait to try the Nokton 40/1.4 on my NEX-5.  It should be back tomorrow if all goes well.

I am just hoping I won't go over the cliff.

4 comments:

  1. You WILL be hooked. Guaranteed. I have a NEX with a whole bunch of M and LTM lenses. These lenses are small and the short flange length makes this set up totally pocketable. The CV 15mm is WAY better than the Sony 16mm, the 21mm super sharp, the Nokton 35mm a great standard lens; but the Leica 50mm Summicron will blow your mind. Wish your bank account good luck. It will need it.

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  2. PS; I have written quite a bit about the NEX and M / LTM lenses, and the journey /reasoning I took to buy the camera and lenses. Check out my blog:
    http://snapshotvoyager.blogspot.com/

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  3. @lucindale: Thanks for the "warning". The water is deep in the M-Mount territory! I hope I won't go nuts on these lenses. Need to save money for the NEX-7 :)

    Thanks for the link to your blog. I am sure I will enjoy it when I have the time to browse it.

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  4. won't go over the cliff? How many more can you get?

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