When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Put some new headlights and bumper on the old F450
I like using two lenses in particular to shoot cars and trucks; either with my 180 2.8 AF or Samyang 85 1.4
These are shot with the Samyang. For a budget manual focus lens, the Samyang is a best bang for the buck lens. Top one shot at F2, bottom at F2.8
Some more vintage lens action. This time by my Sakar 135mm 2.8 MC & Nikon 50mm 1.8 Series E.
50mm
135mm
135mm
135mm
I've got to re-shoot this fountain with an ND filter. I'm going back that way again tomorrow. I'll toss a filter in the bag with me and turn it into a soft flowing delight with a long exposure. I'll focus stack the flower and foundation so they're both in focus too.
-
Lens tips!
Fun fact; The Nikon 50mm 1.8 Series E, shares the same lens formula as the Nikkor 50mm 1.8 ai/ais & (screw drive) AF & AFD.
When buying one of these vintage lenses with a mirrorless camera, which cannot take advantage of the screw drive AF w Z to F adapter, save some $ by getting the Series E. They will all manual focus only anyway, and take the same quality photos. I got the E for the DSLR, as I collected the whole set (5 primes/3 zooms) and I enjoy manual focusing vintage lenses anyway.
As for this 135 in my collection of about a dozen, I think this 135mm 2.8 is the same as my Star D 135mm 2.8. They look identical and although I don't have them (and don't plan to get them because of this) too, I believe the Albinar, Hanimex, Vivitar and Rockinon 135mm 2.8's are all this same lens too. There may be some more of this exact lens, under more brand names. Best I can tell, all my other 135's are in some way, different from this. It's a great lens as you can see, under any of the brand names. When looking for one, focus on condition (and the mount you need of course haha!) only, never mind what brand name is stamped on it.
These particular vintage (late 70's/early 80's manual focus) 135 2.8's all look like this. Some of them have chrome, on the upper part of the focus ring. They're all great, so long as you get a good copy of any of them. They all probably have 4 elements in 4 groups (I firmly believe this beats more glass as found in my Nikkor 135mm 2.8) and for sure, 6 blade apertures.
Here it is. Long exposure w/ ND filter and a focus stack to get both fountain and flower in focus. I shot it with my 100mm 2.8 Series E, today. Saw a cool car too. Shot it with the same lens.
I love 70's/80's film era camera lenses! You know what it is, other than just being, super low cost, high quality? They force you to slow down, take your time, study your composition and connect with your subject. I have a few modern lenses with auto focus of course too, but using these old school lenses just brings me so much more joy.
Oh hey, I wonder. A vintage car with a vintage lens. I should have thought of this...............
Yeah, that works too, right? I just took us back in time to when Baby boomers were still babies!
Edit, hey I think that's the Karate kid (1983) car. A hard top version though of course; 1947 Ford Super Deluxe, maybe? Remember the classic, yellow convertible, Mr. Miyagi gives Daniel LaRusso? I didn't go over to look at it. I just got thinking about it latter, where do I know that car from? If I'm over that way again before it sells, I'll stop back in and check it out. 14k seems like a really sweet deal though. It'll probably be gone before I'm back.
Oh. 1948, Close! Here's a crop:
Havasupai Indian Reservation - Shot this one with my Sigma 24mm 1.4 Art lens on my Nikon D610 with Gobe/Urth ND filter. - Dec '23
-
My 24mm 1.4 & 35mm 1.4 art lenses, are my primary Milky Way lenses.
I got a "new" lens. Another old school, vintage gem. This one's another 135mm to add to my collection. A bit faster one too f2.5
Tamron adaptall 135mm 2.5 close focus. Took a few tests shots and it sure seems like a real nice one, but then again, all the vintage 135's seem so nice. Yet to find a bad one. Anyway, here's a couple.
-
Vintage lens learning curve.
I have to do some more research on Tamron adaptall lenses. This is an adaptall-2 lens and I dunno what's going on, but my Nikon AI adapter (that came on my 200mm 3.5) might be the first version. It works, but if I select wide open 2.5 it gets stuck there haha then I can't change the aperture, until I remove the adapter, select F4 (or lower[ higher number])then I can use the the rest of the aperture dial.
I probably need to buy an adaptall-2 Nikion Ai adapter to fix it. It works fine on 200mm 3.5 so I dunno. I'll figure it out. Gotta research this old system more is all. At least I figured out a workaround for now with what I have. It came with an adapter for a different camera, that's why I don't have the adaptall-2 Nikion Ai version. If I'm right and this is all there is too it, they're cheap on ebay, so. As for the 200mm 3.5 it's an old "Tamron-F" series. I've not put that one through it's paces yet, but test shots are not impressive. Dunno if I'll keep that one or not. Got a Sigma 200mm 3.5 I think in the same boat (it might be worse haha).
The Nikkor 200mm F4 is a very, very hard act to follow, so. 135 3rd party lenses may be as impressive as Nikon lenses, but I'm not sure I'll have much luck in the 200mm focal range.......Well, I did find one, holy smokes it is a bit pricey compared to these 135's and low end 200's but there's a Tamron 180mm adaptall that sure looks nice. Well beyond the Nikkor 200mm f4 nice even. The price reflects it of course too though. Anyway, I dunno how many old lenses a guy needs......all of them, what am I saying!
Update; A couple hours latter, I figured it out. I do have the version 2 adapter, it was just sticking, due to not being used all the way for years on the 3.5 lens. Once I took it off, I could see it rotates all the way to 1.4. All good now, once I rotated it a few times all the way open. That was an easy fix. It's my understanding, this adapter will work with all tamron adaptall lenses too, first and second version lenses, which I guess is correct, as I'm pretty sure the lens I just took it off, is a first version lens. Looks like I'm good to explore any adaptall lens I want then. Tamron were ahead of their time.