Sunday, January 27, 2013

Latest Gear Acquisition from the Camera Show

Here in Toronto we have a few camera shows each year. Many envy us for the opportunity to get cheap used lenses. This used to be true, but if today is any indication, the days for deals are numbered.

I went today and only stayed an hour. Everyone seemed to be selling over-priced junk. Found no deals today. Bought a whole bunch of projection lenses from a charity table and later found that the lens register of these lenses are way too short to be usable even on the NEX cameras. A write off. Sad, really, because a few are really nice 50mm f1.2 lenses. I did buy another unusual projection lens: Navitar 25mm f2.8. This is one huge and heavy lens. Never seen a projection lens this wide and made like this. I think it would be fun to try it out later.

Found a Meyer-Optik Gorlitz Primagon 35mm f4.5 in very nice condition. Came with a bonus Exakta mount body, which will probably end up as garbage. I am a big fan of Meyer-Optik lenses. especially the Primoplan 58mm f1.9. The Primagon 35mm f4.5 is a bit on the slow side, but the few sample pictures I took already look promising. I bought it mostly because I never even knew this lens existed.

Another purchase, which kind of regretted, is the Canon nFD 50mm f1.2L. It costs more than I wanted to pay, but cheaper than the 55mm f1.2 S.S.C. The test picture I did at f1.2 made me feel much better about the purchase: Very sharp wide open. About the same, if not better than the nFD 50mm f1.2. Now, the only Canon f1.2 standard lens in FL/FD/new FD mount I am missing is the Aspherical version, which is the most expensive of all. More so than the L version.

So, I guess that OM-D EM-5 has to wait a bit longer, and I most likely won't be going to the camera shows until summer.

Downtown Toronto - NEX-6 & Meyer-Optik Primagon 35mm f4.5 @ f8. Click for larger.

The Tree - NEX-6 & Meyer-Optik Primagon 35mm f4.5 @ f8. Click for larger.

8 comments:

  1. Yeah, I didn't see much either. I saw that box of projection lenses too - pity you couldnt make any thing out of them.
    Here's a thought - find an ugly early M43 or NEX3 and cut it down so you can get much closer to the sensor. Not sure how you will be able to make the mount work, but a thought anyway

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hahaha. I won't go that far for some projection lenses.

      Delete
  2. Good thing is that they didn't cost much.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I have good luck using Navitar 50mm f2.8 PC on my Leica Bellow II with the Leica 16598 plate which has 46mm x0.75 thread. The 46mm x0.75 thread is about a few mm recessed. Just remove the leica 16598 name plate having the 3 screws on, then the 46mm x0.75 can be stepped up to 52mm. I think the all Navitar project lenses having the 49mm female thread by removing the guided ring. So with a 52-49mm step down you can connect them together. luckily Navitar 50mm f2.8 PC lenses can be inserted into 46mm hole, and it is a bit retro-focusing design. No problems to get the infinite focusing with my Leica-M NEX adapter. Also about the same set up, I can connect my Navitar 75mm f2.5 and 100mm f2.8 lens. The lens barrels of these 2 lenses are too big to be inserted into the 46mm hole. But with proper length of 52mm extension tubes, it can be connected.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This monster sized projection lens does not have rear threads, but has a 77mm filter size. I will have to think of someway to mount this thing!

      Delete
  4. I should say "all Navitar project lenses having the 49mm male thread".

    ReplyDelete
  5. Can the guide rail tube of the Navitar 25mm f2.8 lens be screwed off? Just curious.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Just tried it and yes it can be removed. Perhaps I will start from there.

      Delete