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Rob Chisholm Offline Image Upload: On p.1 #1 · Most FUN alternative lenses?? Hello! Hey, I have to say that I really enjoy the alternative forums! Great advice all around! Here is my question: As a Canon shooter (5D2) what are the most "fun" alternative lenses? I ask because I recently bought the Contax 35-70, 85 1.4 and 28 2.8 and LOVE them! I also have an Oly 50 1.5 and a Contax 50 1.7 coming in the mail (fedex and weather permitting!). Just now, I bought a cheap Nikkor 50 1.8 pancake and adapter on Ebay! Oh, and I have an old Leica 50 cron that I use as well. So, are there any lenses out there (that I do not own or will own) that give a unique "look". I mean, that is why we all crave the alt lenses, right? The different "looks" that they deliver to our pics! I am trying to keep the budgeting to a dull roar -- the most expensive lens I purchased was the Contax 85 1.4 and the results are just spectacular. I know that the Contax 21 is a very sought after lens -- but for that $$, I would be better served with the new Nikkor wide zoom, which has been getting rave reviews, I think. Thanks in advance for the advice -- Rob Dec 27, 2008 at 03:51 AM

mh2000 Offline Image Upload: Off p.1 #2 · Most FUN alternative lenses?? when it comes to that "unique look" there is what you see on the web and go OMG!!!!! and those that are more subtle and that you make prints from and after looking at for a while think quietly, "wow." For the former you want something super fast, super long or super wide, for the latter, maybe look at the Summicron-R 90 or Elmarit-R 135 (what do you think of your Summicron 50?). Dec 27, 2008 at 04:11 AM

EltonTeng Offline Image Upload: On p.1 #3 · Most FUN alternative lenses?? I like my $32 SMC Takumar 55/1.8. It gives a less contrasty image with great bokeh. Dec 27, 2008 at 04:14 AM

rico Offline Image Upload: Off p.1 #4 · Most FUN alternative lenses?? Rob Chisholm wrote: As a Canon shooter (5D2) what are the most "fun" alternative lenses? I ask because I recently bought the Contax 35-70, 85 1.4 and 28 2.8 and LOVE them! Nice lenses! The D28, in particular, has a lovely rendition and qualifies as an all-time great. However, the fun lies elsewhere. For myself, the choice is a lens that tilts, and my specimen happens to be a CZ S-Planar 100/4 with its dedicated bellows. The tired cliché is a landscape reduced to "toy" dimensions. The technically-correct application is a flat subject where tilting preserves DOF while you select an off-axis perspective. Aperture was wide open, so the thicker chips are out-of-focus on top! More tricky, but also very useful, is a cut through some 3D subject at nearer distance. This also achieves greater DOF for select portions of the image and, with care, is quite subtle. Aperture was f/11, but DOF is quite limited. Swing and shift movements bring subject front and rear into focus, albeit selectively. Actually, the top of hood and Canon logo are closer to me than the plane of focus, while all other blurred areas are on the infinity side. Are we having fun yet? Dec 27, 2008 at 07:58 AM

trumpet_guy Offline Image Upload: On p.1 #5 · Most FUN alternative lenses?? The Rokkor 58/1.2 has a cult following here, and it's not hard to see why. That would be my first recommendation for a "fun" lens. Someday maybe I'll have one. In the mean time, the Sigma 50/1.4 is not a bad alternative. Your Contax/Zeiss 35-70/3.4 and 28/2.8 should give plenty of fun too. Mine are excellent. I do think you are going to like the Contax/Zeiss 50/1.7, which has very nice microcontrast. Dec 27, 2008 at 08:24 AM

Cableaddict Offline Image Upload: On p.1 #6 · Most FUN alternative lenses?? The Zeiss 16mm fisheye would probably deliver a few giggles. -And a few ghasps of wonder as well. I'm happy enough with my Canon 15mm, but I'd love to have the Zeiss. Edited on Dec 27, 2008 at 07:38 PM · View previous versions Dec 27, 2008 at 09:38 AM

Chrono1081 Offline Image Upload: Off p.1 #7 · Most FUN alternative lenses?? I love my lensbaby composer Now if only my 5D Mark II would ship so I had something to use it on Dec 27, 2008 at 09:55 AM

gasrocks Offline Image Upload: Off p.1 #8 · Most FUN alternative lenses?? Boy, "unique look?" Seems like so many choices out there. Isn't that what makes Alt. interesting? Angenieux, Cooke, Kinoptik, etc. etc. Just got a 83mm Wray but haven't had a chance to use it yet. Edited on Dec 27, 2008 at 12:27 PM · View previous versions Dec 27, 2008 at 12:26 PM

Lotusm50 Offline Image Upload: Off p.1 #9 · Most FUN alternative lenses?? Cableaddict wrote: The Zeiss 16mm fisheye would probably deliver a few giggles. And if you don't have the cash for one of those, a Zenitar 16mm fisheye would probably be just as much fun. Dec 27, 2008 at 12:26 PM

mawz Offline Image Upload: Off p.1 #10 · Most FUN alternative lenses?? For me, the CV 40/2 Ultron and Tamron 17/3.5 win for 'Fun' at a reasonable cost. Dec 27, 2008 at 01:04 PM

pascal03 Offline Image Upload: On p.1 #11 · Most FUN alternative lenses?? OM 16mm f3.5 Fisheye --> Fun little lens Tamron 17mm f3.5 --> Possibly the best wide angle alternative for the $$$'s CY Zeiss 25mm f2.8 --> ungodly sharpness in a small package OM 40mm f2.0 --> compact powerhouse at f2.0 OM 50mm f1.8 --> probably the cheapest and sharpest alternative lens that works on the 5D Rokkor 58mm f1.2 --> Sharp wide open and creamy bookeh OM 90mm f2.0 --> Wicked bleeding sharpness with macro capability Nikon 105mm f1.8 --> Bookeh, bookeh, and more bookeh for around $275 Zeiss Jena 135mm f3.5 --> Nice cheap alternative which can be used for macro work as well OM 250mm f2.0 --> Fastest 250mm lens there is Tamron 300mm f2.8 --> Sharp tele for the $$$'s Tamron 500mm f8.0 --> 500mm in 5 inches and the doughnuts are included for free And the really fun stuff OM 21mm f3.5 macro with bellows - 13x magnification - just be sure you have stands for macro work or are in a semi-comatozed condition so you avoid motion blur due to breathing on the camera/lens combo while shooting Dec 27, 2008 at 04:01 PM

Cableaddict Offline Image Upload: On p.1 #12 · Most FUN alternative lenses?? Lotusm50 wrote: Cableaddict wrote: The Zeiss 16mm fisheye would probably deliver a few giggles. And if you don't have the cash for one of those, a Zenitar 16mm fisheye would probably be just as much fun. Agreed, but look at his list of current lenses! He has the cash. Dec 27, 2008 at 07:34 PM

Anden Offline Image Upload: On p.1 #13 · Most FUN alternative lenses?? My most used alternatives are the Rokkor 58/1.2 (I have two...), the Oly 38/2.8 macro and the Vivitar 90/2.5 macro. I also love the Zeiss 85/2.8. I tend to use my 85L more though. The minolta auto bellows III with tilt and shift is another great alternative piece of gear. A Dec 27, 2008 at 10:26 PM

jamesdak Offline Buy and Sell: On p.1 #14 · Most FUN alternative lenses?? Well, I have a shoot a bunch of different alternative lenses. If you like macro and bokeh let me suggest the Vivitar Series One 90/2.5 macro. The bokeh is out of this world. Dec 27, 2008 at 11:24 PM

davidearls Offline Image Upload: On p.1 #15 · Most FUN alternative lenses?? You want to have FUN taking a photograph, step into this little cockpit: 1. Gitzo 1258 CF tripod. 2. Bogen 410 geared head (separate knobs for each axis). 3. Olympus auto bellows (separate knobs for rear of bellows, front of bellows, and focusing rail). 4. Canon 1DsII/20D to add spice to focal length. 5. Zuiko 135 f4.5 macro lens (135mm tele or as macro all the way down to about 6" focusing with googobs of magnification) - requires cable release on auto bellows for stopping down. 6. Canon 550EX flsh with Joe Demb Flip-It! bouncer/diffuser. Tilt forward, tilt backward, tilt right, tilt left, swivel right, swivel left, set magnification through bellows extension, use focusing rail to achieve fine focus, polish fine focus with lens helicoid if desired. Determine flash power and direction through tilt of flash head and Flip-It!. Manual focus and full "seat of the pants" stop down metering. All compositional elements 100% user-controlled. Trot out those skills, dust 'em off, have a ball. I do. Almost forgot the Wimberley Plamp, also added a shot of the bellows extended - Dec 28, 2008 at 12:37 AM

mh2000 Offline Image Upload: Off p.1 #16 · Most FUN alternative lenses?? T/S lenses are really a blast... and even the Canon TS-E's feel "alternative" both in handling and in rendering properties (very un-Canon). Dec 28, 2008 at 04:15 AM

Anden Offline Image Upload: On p.1 #17 · Most FUN alternative lenses?? David: That looks alot like my macro rig. Thanks for sharing A Dec 28, 2008 at 09:05 PM

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