Legendary Lenses

[kiev4a]

I also have the 1.5 Sonnar (1937). I recently discovered it was one of the first coated Sonnars--at that time the coated lenses were going to the military and the process was sort of a German secret. It's a very capable lens--much better than the Jupiter 3 Soviet copies made after the war.

[GeneW]

In keeping with Konica week, I always find the results of the Konica M-Hexanon 50/2 on my Leica M2 to be superb. This lens has a strong following -- it challenges the Leitz Summicrons, which are also legendary.

I've recently acquired a Nikkor 105/2.5 which I'm told is "one of the reasons to own a Nikon". I haven't shot much with it yet.

Gene

[byuphoto]

The Summicron pre-aspherical 35mm f2 and it's matching 50mm. Also my Canon FD 85mm f1.2 L

[sinedyar]

I don’t know if there is any consensus on what might constitute a Konica legendary lens, but my candidates would be the Konica Hexanon: 35mm f/2, original 50mm f/1.7, newer 57mm f/1.2, 85mm f/1.8, 135mm f/3.2, and 200mm f/3.5 lenses.

Denis

[nikonbob]

Some really nice lenses mentioned so far and I would like to add a couple of SLR favourites. I don't know if they are legendary or not. The Nikkor 28/2.8 ais, sharp and focusses close, and the 50-135/3.5 which I find sharp and flexable when paired with a wide. In RF I would think the old Elmar 50/3.5 is worthy of mention for it's size or lack thereof. A good clear example will still take surprisingly good photos.

Bob Hammond

[pentaxgraflex]

The lens legends I was told were the Vivitar Series 1 lenses such as the first gen. 70-210, the Varifocal 35-85 F/2.8, and the 90-180. In medium and large format were the Goerz Dagors, the Kodak Ektars such as the 203mm F/7.7 (which can resolve as much as 85 lp/mm on film)
and the APO Lanthars. My sharpest zoom I have is the 60-120 Tokina AT-X I bought in 1985.
It's a constant F/2.8 and produces some fine Kodachromes. It was only offered for sale for a couple of years, then dropped. And yes, I have a Century Graphic (late production) that came with the 100mm F/3.5 Zeiss Tessar (the re-formulated one) in a Synchro-Compur and it's also very very sharp.

[kiev4a]

I've got the Series 1 Vivitar Varifocal 2.8 zoom and it is an amazing lens--albeit heavy. Same goes for my Tokina 80-200 AT-X f2.8. I wouldn't trade either for Nikkors from the same era.

I don't remember the specifics of the lens but back in the 1960s the newspaper where I worked ad a 2 1/4 x 3 1/4 Speed graphic with a Zeiss WA lens--I think about 60mm. I think it was f2.8. Anyway it produced awesome negs on 120 roll film.

[k38]

Legendary,

I guess the 105mm Nikkor would qualify as would the 50mm 3.5 Elmar. The Elmar is not necessarily a world beater, but it was the back bone of the Leica line until the M series cameras came on the scene. As far as really good lenses I have the 45mm f2.0 Planar on a Contax G1 rangefinder. It is supposed to be one of the sharpest lenses ever made for 35mm. I am also very high on the 50mm f2.0 Summicron R and 35mm f2.8 Elmarit R on my Leicaflex SL. The 35mm is not supposed to be all that incredible, but I have taken some of my best pictures with it.

Dwight

[kiev4a]

Yep, I agree the 105 Nikkor would qualify. I'm not sure the formula has changed since the first model back in the '60s. If it ain't broke, don't fix it--even if you have a computer!

[GeneW]

The writer Mike Johnston singles out the Pentax 50mm f/1.4 Takumars as one of photography's legendary lens series (from Super Takumar to S-M-C Takumar to SMC Takumar). According to MJ they combine terrific resolution with beautiful creamy out-of-focus rendition without being ultracontrasty. Anyone else feel good about these lenses?

Gene