Best Vintage MF lenses

ZoneV wrote in post #16145536
For infinty on EOS EF you need to convert the lens or take a glass adapter.
I made an Minolta MD/MC/PF -Canon EF adapter, but it still needs some lens modification like ne infinity setting.
Or the normal Minolta Rokkor 58mm EOS mount conversion.

That 58mm mod is not needed anymore. You can buy a mount plate to put on.

Mackeral wrote in post #16145582
That 58mm mod is not needed anymore. You can buy a mount plate to put on.

But this is still a mount conversion, not adaption.

ZoneV wrote in post #16145884
But this is still a mount conversion, not adaption.

Not sure what it is you are saying, but that long and ridiculous process and machining is no longer needed. You buy the EOS mounting plate, unscrew the Minolta plate and use three screws to install the EOS plate. Then if you need, you have to shave the metal down on the rear element and adjust for infinity using the adjustment screws but the guy who sells the plate does that for about $50 on top of the $70-80 for the plate. Just saying it's easier and less time-consuming.

Mackeral wrote in post #16145934
..Just saying it's easier and less time-consuming.

Yes, it is easier.
But you still need a screwdriver. Not easy adapter changing like with M42, Contax/Yashica... lenses.
And it only works with crop-cameras, shorter mirrors (shaved) or liveview with infinity.

x0ny wrote in post #16145095
Im researching into the Rokkor 58 1.2 now after discovering it on this thread..It looks amazing for the price and the minor labor involve to convert it to EF. I might just sell my 1.4 and opt for that instead of spending 1K+ on the 50L.

It is a fantastic lens. I will have two for sale soon (w/ adapter) and still have a 3rd one . However, it is not w/o caveat. It will not focus to infity. For up to about 30 feet though (on crop, less on full frame) it is awesome.

Oh please let me know when you're selling one. I have my 50 1.4 for sale locally as of today. Isn't it possible to get farther reach filing down somewhere?

x0ny wrote in post #16148529
Oh please let me know when you're selling one. I have my 50 1.4 for sale locally as of today. Isn't it possible to get farther reach filing down somewhere?

Yes, the rear element is housed in a metal tube that has a protruding rim around the glass. It can be carefully filed down and should allow for full clearance on a full frame once done.

x0ny wrote in post #16148529
Oh please let me know when you're selling one. I have my 50 1.4 for sale locally as of today. Isn't it possible to get farther reach filing down somewhere?

Yes, for EOS 5D and other 24x36mm cameras one need to file down the retaining ring of the last lens. But still there is no gurantee to reach infinity with Minolta Rokkor 58mm f/1.2 - I think it depends sometimes on the courage to file down very much. See pictures on the last third of my Rokkor conversion website.

Here the lens was a bit tilted relative to the sensor - tolerances from filing down the inner ring. Made later a new one on a lathe.
Sometimes I think about using the little tilted ring again - effect is nice for some images

I guess I dont really care too much about INF since I will be using the 50 as my take the camera everywhere lightweight lens instead of the 35.

killwilly wrote in post #16145481
£40 is a decent price, but make sure the aperture blades aren't sticking and the focus ring moves freely. A little dust inside will not be a problem, but also check for fungus.

Just went ahead and picked it up. Glass is nice and clean, despite having no front cap. The aperture is fine from f3.5 to about f8, but pretty temperamental after that. Sometimes it'll go to 22, but sometimes no further than 8. Decided to just get it anyway, as I figured I'd be mostly using it wide open or thereabouts.

From today's bike ride...more shots with the Vivitar Series 1 VMC 70-210/3.5...

The mid-day ride found the deer seeking shade, like me...

x0ny wrote in post #16148529
Oh please let me know when you're selling one. I have my 50 1.4 for sale locally as of today. Isn't it possible to get farther reach filing down somewhere?

I have 1 filed, 1 un-filed. Neither reach infinity on the 5d2 (mirror will hit). At least on my 5d2. Your mileage may vary. I paid roughly $40 to have the one filed down by a guy w/ a router that does routing work. He took it down as far as he could comfortably, but to no avail on mine. The 5d3 is probably better in this regard (or so I've heard) but still unsure. Never touched a 5d3.

They're ready to go for sale any time... I just gotta make the threads and stuff. Been kinda busy. Asking $500 apiece, with adaptor (original mount long gone, but probably not a problem for anyone) including EMS shipping to anywhere in the world, which is probably $50 from here.

oh shi...just noticed youre from tokyo. Are vintage lenses easy to come by around there? Ill be there for 5 months in starting on Oct to work so i figure I might shop around for some deals.

First time in this thread. Starting to get reaquainted with MF, and discovering Yashica for the first time. I have actually owned two of them for at least two years now, but did not care for them on the crop bodies I used to own. I slapped the 1.9 DSB on my new 5D and it sprang to life. I did some research to find out what the best in the Yashica lens lineup was and the results of my efforts arrived today: the Yashica ML 50mm 1.7.

Preliminary tests with my favorite model show that this may be the sharpest lens I have ever owned. CA, in shots so far, is low to none depending on light angles. More tests to come.

Lens unmodified. Zero mirror contact with Fotodiox C/Y to EOS adapter.

I'm painfully aware that the lighting and setting are atrocious, but I wanted to test color reproduction and sharpness. Easy to see sharpness in dog hair. Colors are dead on (camera faithful setting). LR4 standard importing sharpness (standard jpg conversion sharpness for web), auto WB and tone. No other processing aside from jpg conversion.

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/masis2011/93604​09153/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/masis2011/93604​29819/

^Awesome. I love Yashicas... I mean, no, they're horrible lenses, nobody buy them anymore!