Photography – A New Camera

My new (second hand) Sony A7 MkIII with a 1958 Jupiter 9 85mm f2 vintage lens

I’ve written recently about my interest in vintage lenses and how much I’ve enjoyed using them. It’s very rare that I use my modern Fuji lenses these days. So, having convinced myself that using vintage lenses is not just a passing fad I decided to enhance my use of them by investing in a full frame camera.

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Photography – New Vintage Lens Additions

Canon FD 55mm f1.2 – A photography book Christmas present I was given this year.

Following on from the success and enjoyment I had using my vintage lenses in Marrakesh (blogged here) I decided to invest in a few more old lenses. I’ve spent hours researching on YouTube channels, blogs and Flickr and came up with a short list of lenses that might compliment those I already owned.

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Vintage Lenses – Auto Takumar 50mm F1.4 (8 Element Version)

Auto Takumar 50mm f1.4 – Shot at F5.6 earlier today.

I’ve been shooting on and off with vintage lenses for a couple of years now. I always enjoyed using them but I didn’t really stick with it. I think it’s probably because I was prioritising shooting stock images, which need to be tack sharp. To that end using my modern Fujifilm lenses, with auto focus and coatings that have superb flare and glare control made more sense. There’s more on my drift into using vintage lenses in a previous blog – Vintage lenses and Flickr

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Vintage Lenses – My lenses paired with a Canon 5D MK2

Canon 5D MK2 paired with my Pentacon 135mm F2.8 – Superb when I nailed the focus, trouble was, I didn’t most of the time.

I’ve enjoyed using my vintage lenses with my Fujifilm X-T cameras over the last few weeks. It’s been really good to slow down, using manual focusing, and I like the colour rendering and sharp images my Auto Takamar 35mm F2.3 lens has produced (it’s a 50mm lens on my crop sensor Fuji cameras). The other vintage lens I’ve been using is my Pentacon 135mm F2.8 – known as the bokeh monster, with good reason.

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Vintage Lenses – Auto Takumar 35mm F2.3

My Auto Takumar 35mm F2.3 on my Fujifilm X-T2.

I’ve had this Auto Takumar 35mm F2.3 for a couple of years now but I’ve never really used it that much. Having been out and about and used it all day today that will be changing because its a superb lens.

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Vintage Lenses – Pentacon 135mm F2.8

My Pentacon 135mm F2.8 plus FX Adapter on my Fujifilm X-T2

Back sometime in 2022 I decided I’d try out a few vintage lenses with my Fujifilm camera’s. I’m not sure why. It was probably following something I’d read on the internet but anyway, I decided to give it a go and invested in an K&F M42 to Fujifilm X Adapter. They sell for £16.99 from K&F.

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