Vintage lenses buying guide

[hirohhhh]

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I'd like to try some vintage lenses that provides different looks and character to the image. Is there a place that reviews those lenses and provides image samples. Buying random vintage lenses on eBay was always problem to me because I never know what I'm buying. If I'm buying new lens I know exactly what to expect just by knowing the specs, I don't have to see image samples. But since I'm buying vintage only for the specific look, I'd like to see samples. Any good place for this?

[madNbad]

Go to the  Collectors and Historica section of the forum. There are many detailed descriptions and often attached images of just about any lens used on a Leica.

[a.noctilux]

@hirohhhh

I don't have any better advice than what I wrote so often, just do it, take the first one, try then decide, mostly because our use of the lens(es) is different, also our

tastes/subjects/etc. are individual.

 

This approch, in this thread below, independant of choosing lens must be followed:

 

As side note, 'lottery' may be the 'wise-word' for old lenses...

years ago, I was interested by Summarit 1.5/50mm lens.

I was happy to find one ...

testing it, it was kind of crap, so another one came in.

This is better but not up to 'what I hoped for, after reading/hearing about this lens'.

So the third one found, this one is what I waited/hoped for.

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

 

This kind of story repeated itself so many times, so I look at it as 'usual' now.

[adan]

To see many samples (but not organized by lens type - you have to go through them one by one and read the labels provided):

 

[mikemgb]

Ken Rockwell has also reviewed many older lenses, his reviews are all personal opinions so you may want to take them with a grain of salt, but he does have full size images with all the reviews. https://www.kenrockwell.com/leica/lens-reviews.htm

Edited November 7, 2021 by mikemgb
Typos

[a.noctilux]

To be more specific, I'd do this:

- limit to one focal length, 50mm is easier to find than other focal l. in older lenses

- and/or limit to one period, or only one manufacturer

- then go ahead, assuming this would take years of pleasures/deceptions with more or less luck to find it right

- even some less reputation brands can give (or not ! ) satisfaction

Edited November 7, 2021 by a.noctilux

[Pyrogallol]

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Compared to new lens prices older ones are cheap and hold their price if you resell them. I can’t resist buying old lenses. There are heaps of Leica screw lenses by many manufacturers that can be used on M as well as screw bodies, plus adapted to most digital bodies.

[farnz]

3 hours ago, adan said:

To see many samples (but not organized by lens type - you have to go through them one by one and read the labels provided):

 

To add to what Andy has written, if you have an idea of the lens you're looking for then you can search in the box at the top of the page and any hits that have 'The view through older glass' thread in them are likely to have a picture taken with that lens.  Not ideal but a little faster than searching one by one through all 8,000 or so pictures although that approach is likely to find you lenses that you like that you didn't know about. 🙂

Pete.

Edited November 7, 2021 by farnz