The Tamron 46A 70-210 mm f/3.8-4 was the final version of their affordable tele zoom lenses line.The handy zoom range is combined with a minimum focus distance of 90 cm which results in a max magnification of 1:2.9.
How does this cheap zoom perform in the modern age? Read on to find out!
The Minolta Auto Rokkor-PF 55 mm f/2 is a small legacy standard lens from the sixties. Does this lens still deserve a spot in a modern camera bag?
In my search for a compact but good budget telelens I came across the SMC Pentax-M 135mm f3.5 and the Canon newFD 135mm f/3.5. Later, I also found a Panagor PMC auto tele 135mm f/2.8 in Canon FD mount. These lenses are cheap, light, and small, but how do they perform?
Disclaimer: I only tested one sample of the Canon and Panagor, and two samples of the Pentax. Since these lenses are old there might be more sample variation than usual, other samples might perform slightly better or worse. Both Pentax samples displayed similar performance.
| Specifications | Canon newFD 135mm f/3.5 | SMC Pentax-M 135mm f/3.5 | Panagor PMC auto tele 135mm f/2.8 (FD) |
| Diameter | 63 mm | 63 mm | 61 mm |
| Length | 85 mm | 66 mm | 88 mm |
| Filter diameter | 52 mm | 49 mm | 55 mm |
| Weight (ex. Adapter) | 325 g | 270 g | 411 g |
| Aperture | f/3.5-32 | f/3.5-32 | f/2.8-22 |
| Minimal focus distance | 1.3 m | 1.5 m | 1.5 m |
| Elements/groups | 4/4 | 5/5 | 4/4* |
| Aperture blades | 6 | 8 | 6 |
(*Based on the optical design of this lens for other mounts)
Continue reading 135mm legacy Shoot out: SMC Pentax-M f/3.5 vs Canon nFD f/3.5 vs. Panagor f/2.8
The 7Artisans 50mm f/1.1 is a very cheap super fast 50 mm lens that hit the market in 2017. The price of only $370 makes it very attractive for those who want a super fast lens but have a limited budget, but how well does it perform?
Continue reading Review: 7Artisans 50mm f/1.1 – Fast, cheap but also good?
The Pentacon auto 50 mm f/1.8 Multi Coating is a small and very cheap 50 mm lens with an unusually close focus distance of 33 cm. Is this “nifty fifty” worth adapting to a modern full frame camera?
Continue reading Review: Pentacon auto 50 mm f/1.8 Multi Coating