Vintage lenses & adaptors reviews/impressions/talk/li​nks for EOS.

SkedAddled wrote in post #18734365
Generally true, but one caveat:

Some lens' rear assemblies project further behind the mounting plane than others.
It's typically a non-issue on APS-C cameras due to the smaller sensor and thus,
a smaller mirror.

But due to the larger mirror required for a full-frame camera, the bottom edge
of the mirror has been known to collide with some lenses. This is much more of an
EF vs. EF-S lens issue, although I've read about vintage lenses presenting
the same scenario. Some people have actually ground some of the lower mirror
edge off to accommodate such lenses on FF cameras.
This is commonly called "mirror shaving."

It's a fairly rare scenario, but to the best of my recollection,
it's more likely to occur with the more exotic or uncommon lens mounts,
or altogether different types such as standard lenses for cine(C)-mount or
enlargers, for example.

Years ago I bookmarked a site with info on compatibility of M42 lenses on Canon's "5D "family" (MK I, II, III, 6D) when they are focussed to infinity."
The list get still updated and there are now 361 lenses on the list.

Maybe it's helpful?

https://www.panoramapl​anet.de/comp/index.htm​l#Meyer

Levina de Ruijter wrote in post #18751759
...there are now 361 lenses on the list.

Maybe it's helpful?

Hahaha.

Thank you, Levina.

I'm going to start adding these links to the OP.

twoshadows wrote in post #18750768
I have a Tamron SP 60-300mm on the way. Really excited about this lens' capabilities. A 5x zoom that has a great reputation and does 1:1.55 macro.

If your copy arrives as a good one(clean and unaltered), you'll probably like it a lot.
It's worth mentioning, however, that it's a long and fairly heavy lens.
My copy exhibits lens 'creep' where the zoom mechanism slides of its own accord
due to gravity. Not an issue with a level tripod-mounted scenario,
but certainly one to consider.
It also was apparently not offered with a tripod-mount ring, which may hamper
useage situations. I found it difficult to use at first because of this,
then I reached out to the good folks at this site to find a solution:
http://forum.mflenses.​com …t,%2Btripod+%2B​mount.html

Information for vintage Soligor lenses.
I don't exactly recall how I came upon this chart,
though it was almost certainly from the MFlenses forum
I have mentioned already.
Soligor was an importer, distributor and marketer of fairly high-quality
photographic gear in their day; their demise may have been around the
mid-1980s or 1990s. This chart, in addition to several other confirmed
reports, have placed my 3 Soligor lenses into the realm of
Tokina 1970s manufacture. In particular, my Soligor lenses are all
labeled with a serial number beginning with 1.

SkedAddled wrote in post #18756087
If your copy arrives as a good one(clean and unaltered), you'll probably like it a lot.
It's worth mentioning, however, that it's a long and fairly heavy lens.
My copy exhibits lens 'creep' where the zoom mechanism slides of its own accord
due to gravity. Not an issue with a level tripod-mounted scenario,
but certainly one to consider.
It also was apparently not offered with a tripod-mount ring, which may hamper
useage situations. I found it difficult to use at first because of this,
then I reached out to the good folks at this site to find a solution:
http://forum.mflenses.​com …t,%2Btripod+%2B​mount.html

Wow, Craig, thank you for the info. It appears mine is in good condition both aesthetically and functionally. I have used it once since purchase and was so impressed with it's versatility, it took awhile to realize how good the IQ is - especially for a lens of its time. I'm moving my studio in a few weeks and am looking forward to the extra space so I can use the 60-300 more. Thank you for the recommendation!

SkedAddled wrote in post #18756093
Information for vintage Soligor lenses.
I don't exactly recall how I came upon this chart,
though it was almost certainly from the MFlenses forum
I have mentioned already.
Soligor was an importer, distributor and marketer of fairly high-quality
photographic gear in their day; their demise may have been around the
mid-1980s or 1990s. This chart, in addition to several other confirmed
reports, have placed my 3 Soligor lenses into the realm of
Tokina 1970s manufacture. In particular, my Soligor lenses are all
labeled with a serial number beginning with 1.

Hosted photo: posted by SkedAddled in
./showthread.php?p=187​56093&i=i259603112
forum: Canon Lenses

More great info. I have seen the Soligors for sale but didn't know anything about them.

For a long time I have not been impressed by the adapters for FD to EF that are out there unless you don't care about infinity focus.

At long last I have had the time and inclination to do something about it.

I purchased Canon 1.4x-A, 2x-A and 2x-B FD extenders and have changed the mounts on them.

The 1.4x-A I changed to EF and will fit all Canon EOS cameras but the 2x-A and 2x-B will only fit my APS-C cameras as it protrudes from the mount by about 1 3/4 mm. These modification now have allowed me to have adapters that are a perfect match to my Canon lenses.

I am at long last a happy camper!

I though you might like to see an image taken with one of these adapters I used a Canon T1i to show what you can get with only 15 Megapixels and no cropping. The adapter used was the 1.4x-A and the lens was a 200mm f4 FDn. f stop set at f8 1/60sec ISO400. Would have taken picture outside, but in the middle of a blizzard.

P Taylor wrote in post #18799330
For a long time I have not been impressed by the adapters for FD to EF that are out there unless you don't care about infinity focus.

At long last I have had the time and inclination to do something about it.

I purchased Canon 1.4x-A, 2x-A and 2x-B FD extenders and have changed the mounts on them.

The 1.4x-A I changed to EF and will fit all Canon EOS cameras but the 2x-A and 2x-B will only fit my APS-C cameras as it protrudes from the mount by about 1 3/4 mm. These modification now have allowed me to have adapters that are a perfect match to my Canon lenses.

I am at long last a happy camper!

Hosted photo: posted by P Taylor in
./showthread.php?p=187​99330&i=i195549507
forum: Canon Lenses

P Taylor wrote in post #18799503
I though you might like to see an image taken with one of these adapters I used a Canon T1i to show what you can get with only 15 Megapixels and no cropping. The adapter used was the 1.4x-A and the lens was a 200mm f4 FDn. f stop set at f8 1/60sec ISO400. Would have taken picture outside, but in the middle of a blizzard.

Hosted photo: posted by P Taylor in
./showthread.php?p=187​99503&i=i168879583
forum: Canon Lenses

Impressive work.

Just ordered an (in excellent condition) Tamron Adaptall SP 300mm f/5.6 for hummingbirds (short MFD ). I'm already impressed with what the SP 60-300 does with hummers @ 300mm, especially considering it's a zoom being used at/near MFD and max FL. Of all of the vintage lenses I have tried/owned the Tamron SPs impress me the most with their IQ, (in some cases extreme) versatility and affordable price.

I've heard that the older SP-series primes at such a FL as 300mm and longer
can be considered rather bulky and heavy, but they are widely recognized
as excellent performers. They also made 300mm and 500mm mirror lenses
(and maybe others) during the same period, which are also considered
to be of a very high grade.

My own favorite aspect of the Adaptall-era SPs is the excellent build quality.
Metal and glass, almost no plastic, durable...
Heck, even the filter thread areas are beefier than many others!

SkedAddled wrote in post #18832582
I've heard that the older SP-series primes at such a FL as 300mm and longer
can be considered rather bulky and heavy, but they are widely recognized
as excellent performers. They also made 300mm and 500mm mirror lenses
(and maybe others) during the same period, which are also considered
to be of a very high grade.

My own favorite aspect of the Adaptall-era SPs is the excellent build quality.
Metal and glass, almost no plastic, durable...
Heck, even the filter thread areas are beefier than many others!

Craig, I've been meaning to reply. The SP 300 mm is a joy! (and it's a flat field design ) It is the same size as the 60 to 300 mm at the zoom's shortest length and significantly lighter (610g vs 870g). I haven't done a proper IQ comparison, but test photos look good. I find the lens is usable even at night - assuming there is a street light or porch lamp - so with the 5DII's iso capability it's a very usable lens. It also has a built in lens hood! Best part for me? 1:3.3 magnification (~4' MFD). A fantastic hummingbird lens!

Very glad you're pleased with it, Julia.

I've seen mention from time to time of Tamron's Adaptall-2 primes at 300mm and longer,
complete with sample photos, and they always impress regardless of camera used
for the capture.
I've often been tempted to bid on them, but reminding myself of actual selling prices
in the past, I've exercised prudent self-control.

On the few occasions I've gone looking for such primes for sale, they've been priced
well above what I'm willing to spend, at least for the time being.
A few of them seem to by valued by the seller as worth more than gold or weapons-grade
plutonium as well.

I also admit to not having much good use for such a long prime other than keeping one
at the ready for visitors to my backyard pond, so the $30 Soligor 400mm and 60-300
Tammy have been fine in that regard, as have the Soligor 500 mirror and Soligor 75-260 zoom
on an occasion or two. I'm not a birder by any stretch of the imagination, so such lenses
are more of an acquisition of novelty for me, simply being able to purchase them
on the cheap.


I may change my thinking and priorities about such long primes if I should ever manage to
acquire an accurate astro tracking rig, but I have a couple of lenses which should already
be fit for that purpose in an amateur capacity, from wide to long.

So, I thought I'd resurrect this thread by mentioning that the (Pentax) SMC
(Super-MultiCoated) Takumar lenses are widely considered to be excellent
lenses in most cases, as well as their MC(MultiCoated) lenses, and even a few
of their uncoated lenses.

While I don't own any of these lenses, I frequently find mention of their
excellent color rendition, resolution, flare control, and other characteristics
to be of high praise by many users of them, as well as images captured
through them to demonstrate. Image samples cover the gamut from
Canon, Sony, Pentax, Leica, Samsung, Nikon and other digital cameras,
with most presenting excellent-quality results.

Their asking prices tend to remain high due to their reputations,
so eBay can be a crap-shoot, but looking for local estate sales
can occasionally turn up a gem on the cheap.

I had three of the Pentax SMC Takumar lenses. Still have the 135/2.5 and the 200/4. I gave away the 55/1.8, which I really liked, after picking up a Nikkor 55/1.2. Of all the lenses I own, the SMC Takumars are at the top of my list for overall IQ. (I have yet to use the 24mm TS-e... ) Their build and functioning are about as good as you can get. They lack the light weight and especially the versatility of the Tamron Adaptall lenses. And while my Nikkors don't seem to be first in any particular category they get used an awful lot.

I am awaiting the delivery of an Vivitar 55/2.8 macro. Looking forward to reporting back on that one.