Bokeh !

Is a well known legacy lens any good on M43 cameras? Let's find out!
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[@awksedgreep]

Accidentally purchased the Nikkor AI 50mm 1.4 that everyone raves about. It’s absolutely warranted. Interesting color rendition and what looks like soft focus at 1.4. Lovely lens. There’s a reason why these are so expensive. I got lucky and it was included in an old body I purchased off eBay.

[@photographyforenjoyment]

Wow Mark, that lens should certainly give you some very creamy background blur wide open! It's not a lens that I have ever owned and I know that it weighs nearly TWICE as much as my Olympus E-M1 body (c.1040g and 574g respectively), so I don't think it would handle well for me! A very good 'accidental' purchase 👍

[@Enrique-the-photographer]

So in other words, it would be safe to say that when it comes to lenses and photography gear in general, this is not your first time at the rodeo😂. Always great to see you Alan, very interesting video, even without any “history channel stuff”. Be well and stay safe.

[@photographyforenjoyment]

Yeah, apologies for the lack of 'history' this week Enrique, and I guess you could say I've been thrown off a good few bronco's over the years 😆

[@alangamble3236]

Hi Alan, great comparison between these lenses the Zenit E was my first SLR back in the early 70s, it malfunctioned so I binned it …..together with the now much sought after Helios lens…..hindsight is wonderful. Have to agree that the K&F mounts are superbly manufactured and worth the higher price that they go for. I’ve had cheaper mounts in the past that haven’t fitted to the MFT body correctly…total waste of money. I did have the Pentacon lens but sold it on recently with the Praktica LTL as I am gradually trying to reduce my collection of cameras and legacy lenses. I hope your leg is improving , keep up the great videos.

[@photographyforenjoyment]

Thank you Alan, I am happy to report that the leg is now functioning correctly! Yes many people started out with Zenith or Praktica cameras, and of course the famous description of the Zenith E was that it "Makes a useful doorstop" when it breaks!

[@acrummey85]

A friend of mine (another m4/3 user) asked me to reverse the front element on a Soviet lens (possibly the Helios) and it did give a far different look. I’m not sure if swirly really describes it.

[@photographyforenjoyment]

Never heard of that 'trick' before Ira and I think the front element on mine is held in for eternity now!

[@duringthemeanwhilst]

very interesting as always Alan. fascinating stuff 🙂 no hate at all, but I did prefer the out of focus area the Helios produces - swirly bokeh or not! I got a load of M42 lenses last year and have enjoyed using them. your video has inspired me to give them another go 🙂 and +1 for the K&F adapters. I've used several over the years and they've all been excellent in both fit and build quality.

[@photographyforenjoyment]

Thank you Nick, personally I couldn't really say I preferred one lens over the other in the blurry backgrounds department. I did prefer the punchier images from the Pentacon though.

[@tonykeltsflorida]

I have a little Canon eos-m camera that I now use Canon FD mount lenses on. I have a Soligor 135mm f/2.8 and a Toyo optics 24mm f/2.8. I have a straight FD to EF-M adapter on the 135. I am waiting for my FD to EF-M speedbooster to arrive for the 24 to get the f/2 shots. The Bokeh should be pretty good.

[@photographyforenjoyment]

Hello Tony. Yes, with the speedbooster on your crop-sensor EOS-M I'm sure you will get some great results and of course make more use of the lenses image circles. Thanks for commenting!

[@camerarover7124]

A really enjoyable video Alan 👏

[@photographyforenjoyment]

Very kind of you to watch and comment! 👍

[@ColinGilera]

OMG, rubbishing the great Zenit TTL, how dare he!!! My first SLR, OK you couldn't give them away a few decades ago :) I understood these Helios to best render foliage backgrounds without specular highlights, you're starting to get it in the gatepost photo but hard to see on a phone, as mentioned best on full frame with the subject close, I find the highlights distracting from the subject but just my opinion. While you have the adapter the Pentax 55mm Super Takumar is another classic lens available at low cost in that mount. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, give them a go and see if you like the results. Honest and interesting video. Cheers Alan.

[@photographyforenjoyment]

Oops! Sorry to upset you over the Zenit TTL Colin 😎. Yes the Super Tak 55mm is a great lens and the f2 really is pretty cheap so I might just keep an eye out for one in the near future.

[@ColinGilera]

Hehe it wasnt a great camera but I had a lot of fun with it, I so wanted a K1000. I've got a 55 f2 Super Takumar (not radioactive!) from the early 60s if you don't want to buy one...

[@c.augustin]

I would rather go for the Jupiter-8 (LTM) on m43. The Pentacon is quite nice on FF. Never found the Helios 44-2 to be that interesting.

[@photographyforenjoyment]

Thanks Christian, looks like the Helios might be losing some fans!

[@TC_Conner]

I know nothing about lenses that have the "swirly bokeh" effect, just ones with normal bokeh. And I haven't noticed the craze going on regarding swirly bokeh, not here anyway. As for your comparison, I could only make out a slight difference between the bokeh of those two lenses. Are there "bokeh nerd" photographers out there? 😂 (I purchased a K&F Concept 3-Way Geared Tripod Head recently. 😎)

[@photographyforenjoyment]

Oh believe me TC, there are obsessives out there in search of 'perfect' bokeh!

[@stevek.456]

Hi Alan, a very interesting lens comparison where I think you debunked some of the myths that are so quickly created these days by social media. My first micro 4/3 camera was a Panasonic G2 I soon learned that I could attach older lenses to it with an adaptor and back in 2012 it was easily possible to pick up old lenses for £5 or £10, in the last couple of years those prices have jumped up mainly due to the influences of various youtube channels. I think though that the legacy lens craze may have passed its peak, only this week I just happened to be in Chester and saw a 4 or 5 of old lens that were on sale in a charity shop, guess what they had started to reduce the prices, knocking as much as 50% off their original asking prices which had been around £30 to £40. Personally I liked your images from the Pentacon lens more but its easy to nitpick when images are side by side, otherwise both images were acceptable, its the skill of photographer that counts. Just a mention of the screw mount adapter, I have one which I haven't used yet, I didn't have a clue why they provided that Allen Key, I even took the thing apart to try and figure it out, anyhow mystery solved, thank you Alan. Take care, Cheers!

[@photographyforenjoyment]

You're very welcome Steve, sometimes it's easy to overlook theses things (allen key). I haven't seen any old lenses in charity shops for ages, they nearly always list them online but maybe the 'bubble' has burst if they can't sell them for silly prices any more.

[@diegoscopia]

I like the Helios for using it with film. But on digital it's just very bland. Honestly, a lot of film era lenses are like this, they become flat and muddy, like they lose all their personality. Even my Jupiter 8 which works wonders with black and white film becomes so generic looking. An interesting video anyway! I can definitely vouch for the KF adapters, I've used one for years and works great.

[@photographyforenjoyment]

To be honest with you Diego, I can never really get my head around the "film look" from old lenses? If you want that look then shoot film, anything else really isn't the same.

[@ericlundquist3466]

I need to try vintage lens. Regardless if there was no swirling Bokah for the price they are awesome. Any idea what lens would give a lomo look?

[@photographyforenjoyment]

I guess I would suggest a triplet type lens like the Domiplan? At least you would get the fall-off at the edges of the frame, and from that point you could then introduce the higher contrast/vignette/grain that typifies lomography