Old MF lens suggestions?

Super Takumar Radioactive 50mm f1.4.

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Radioactive huh? That's pretty neat. But if a 55mm 1.8 can be had for $25 ill take one in a heartbeat. Its not tremendously hard to get a good copy is it?

They're all over the board...I see them as low as $15 to $80 on completed ebay listing.

I'm not sure how you can get a bad copy... takumar lenses are quite simple and I've taken my copy apart to clean it... most of these lenses will have dust inside. It may not be visible to naked eyes but if you shine a LED flash light into it, you'll see them. Taking the front element off doesn't even require a screw driver...and if you can get the front element off, then you can dust off the interior easily...then again, these specks and dust don't effect the picture quality anyways. As long as glass elements aren't scratched or cracked, I don't see how you can go wrong..

I say this because I picked up 23 Pentax Lenses on a Craiglist deal.. Not a single bad copy... Maybe I was lucky.

since you focus yourself, it's hard to get a bad copy. lol

decentering and focusing past infinity are all you have to worry about thats mostly from the adapter....well coatings rubbed off and sticky aperture blades--from the lens.

Super Takumar, Helios 44 are some. there are others, but a bit over 100 bucks. Like the Nikon Ai-s 105/2.5. generally, lenses that are good people buy up.

Also, unless an FD lens is converted to the EF mount, I'd never use it.

Pentacon has a few neat lenses.

The Takumar 28/3.5 is well regarded, and when used backwards is an awesome macro lens.

You could take a look for a Zuiko 24/2.8, 28/2.8 or 50/1.8.

All are wonderfully sharp lenses (at least by film standards) and should be close to your budget. The 50/1.8 may be a bit long for your T2i... depends on how much coffee you drink. Any of these would need a OM-to-EOS adapter.

Another that might work for you is the Vivitar 17/3.5 (iirc made by Cosina, circa 1984.) Pretty good but does have some moustache distortion and can be provoked into flare. Since colourful flare is this is almost non-existent with modern lenses, it can be a useful artistic device.

I found what seem to be a couple of good ones - see my sig.

A couple of thoughts for you -- my adapter from M42 to EF has EF contacts and a chip that makes the adapter interface like a Canon lens and allows AF confirmation. Not true AF, of course, but I can get focus confirmation if the lens is wide enough open and there's enough light. Also, macro extension tubes for M42 are readily available at low prices on eBay.

I only use manual focus lenses and have not looked back since selling my EF 85 1.8.

Your eos body will take Nikkors, Contax/Yashica (Zeiss), M42 (Takumars and Russian), Pentax K and Olympus mounts without any glass elements in the adapter and allowing for infinite focus.

I have used them all and for me the best value are the Nikkors and a Russian Helios lens.

I have found that Zeiss in a C/Y mount are very good - but perhaps not the least expensive.

I have found that M42 and Nikkor adapters work most securley on my EOS body. With some of the other mounts, especially lenses above 100mm the fit was sometimes suspect and I wondered if the lens would fall out.

This is a decent list for old Nikkors.

http://www.naturfotogr​af.com/lens_surv.html#​top1

My favorite Nikkors are an Nikkor 50 f2, Nikkor 105 2.5 and Nikkor 180 2.8. The 105 2.5 seems to get the most use.

This is a good reference for Takumars.

http://www.pentaxforum​s.com …42-Screwmount-Lenses.html

The least expensive lenses will be in 50mm or 135mm range.

My favorite M42 is currently a Helios 44-2 58mm f2 lens (about $20). While not quite the same build quality as a Nikkor, Takumar or C/Y Zeiss lens, a very nice lens none the less.

Here is a link

http://galactinus.net …o/eos350d_helio​s44-2.html

Here is a link to a set of reviews on some older lenses.

http://galactinus.net/​vilva/retro/#slr

Finally, my preference for macro is enlarging lenses on tubes or bellows.

https://sites.google.c​om …xpensivemacroph​otography/

This is an example with enlarging lenses on a bellows - the bellows and lens were under $100.

Thanks! I'm going to read through all these lists. There are so many options here. I'll look into the 20s, as I don't have a prime there yet. But from the look of it, $100 can be considered a somewhat versatile budget for normal purposes. And I was looking through the adapters on amazon, and a couple have focus confirmation for around ~$20 more. I'll order one. I'm looking through all those lists currently stover, and that's a beautiful shot. Thanks!
I can't wait to pluder eBay.

If the 100 USD are not absolute - or you have much time and luck on your side, search for the Meyer Trioplan 100/2.8 and use it wide open
This lens has a very special bokeh, which can be used for interesting images.
But it is not sharp, its not fast.
OK forget it.

Canon FD lenses are great - but I think they are best if converted to EF mount - and that is much work. I would not suggest the use of adapters with lens.
I have converted some Canon FD L lenses - but these are not 100USD lenses too.
There are ways to build a simple tilt lens for crop cameras out of the FD 50/1.8 50/1.4 or 28/2.8 lenses - see my homepage. This would be "whow"

Regarding adapted lenses without tinkering around and in the 100USD range - others made good reccomendations already.
I would reccomend M42 lenses like a Pentacon 135/2.8, or 50/1.8.

Wow. Just looking at the samples on Flickr of that lens and your own samples, it's bokeh is to die for. Probably worth it simply for originality.
I've looked through your tilt-shift converted FD-lenses, and your results are very good.
Thanks for your suggestions, I'm waiting for a good deal to pop up on ebay.

Und Sie haben eine sehr schone Galerie, jede Bilder von dir sind sehr schon.
Danke!