Five Great Vintage Lenses for Mirrorless Cameras

Five vintage lenses reviewed and tested - the Olympus Zuiko 50mm f1.8, the Cosina 28mm f2.8, the Olympus Zuiko 35 - 105mm f3.5, the Jupiter 11 135mm f4 and the Ohnar 300mm mirror lens. Enjoy!
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[@markturner5759]

Couldn't agree more with your comments on the Jupiter 11. Of all my vintage glass, this is the one I use most often. I was very interested in that Ohnar mirror lens though - very unusual - never seen one in real life yet. Another interesting and informative video - many thanks!

[@zenography7923]

The Ohnar is definitely in the left field, a very unusual piece of kit, a very simple design - a whole different take on the focusing device. I'm not sure if it's a lens I'll use very often but it can make some nice images - if you can bear the doughuts! The J11 frankly astonished me with the character of its images, one of the nicest lenses I've used.

[@TL-vt8uk]

Great reviews on these old gems! Cheers!

[@zenography7923]

Many thanks, glad you enjoyed it!

[@kougener]

Great review, thanks for your video

[@zenography7923]

Many thanks, glad you enjoyed it!

[@dieselten01]

I just bought a Jupiter 11 on Ebay based on this video. Awesome! I am using it on my Fuji XT3 mirrorless digital with effective focal length turning out to be about 200mm. I compared it to the factory 16-80 and the first pic from the Jupiter was on F4 and I almost threw this thing in the garbage can. Totally unusable. Then I tested it at tighter aperture settings and everything tighter than F4 was excellent with optimum at F11. The resolution was better than the Fuji 16-80! The colors were not as vibrant but I think modern digital cameras tend to over do the color thing, marketing you know... Anyway, thank you very much for the recommendation. By the way I also just bought 2 Zorki’s and a Kiev. Dang, You created a monster!

[@zenography7923]

You have two choices: 1. Go to rehab immediately, or 2. Buy more cameras. Immediately! :) The J11 is a lovely lens, but as you've found, vintage lenses can take some getting used to! Their quirks are easy to learn though and they make some fantastic images. Enjoy!

[@aparajito1]

Hi, really enjoy your videos. I will like to buy the Cosina. Do you know which adaptor i need for a Olympus E omd 10 mk II

[@zenography7923]

So sorry for the late reply; The Cosina was (I think) made in two mounts - M42 and Pentax K mount, so depending on which mount your lens has, you'll need either an M42 to Micro Four Thirds adaptor, or a Pentax K to Micro Four Thirds adaptor. No need to spend too much; a cheap adaptor will work fine!

[@collinmclaren6608]

Jupiter 11 user here. I didn't luck out very well with my copy, firstly because I didn't realize there was a difference between the SLR and the rangefinder version, and i accidentally got the latter. The aperture ring is also extremely loose, and I regularly have to check to make sure its still wide open and I didn't bump it. The aluminum body needs a little bit of polishing too, but thats more on me for not getting around to doing it. All that aside, its still a nice little medium telephoto that fits perfectly with my silver EOS M6. I actually took it on a video shoot a month ago and came out with some nice looking shots, thought it looks absolutely ridiculous paired up with my video rig.

[@zenography7923]

As with most of the Russian lenses, there were several versions of the J11, various barrels, mounts etc. Stepless aperture rings can be easy to unwittingly alter but they are useful on a video shoot. I've been pleasantly surprised by the J11 and will use it more - although that focusing helix definitely needs a relube first...

[@marcusdekker]

"firstly because I didn't realize there was a difference between the SLR and the rangefinder version"..nor do I. what is the difference then and how can you tell?

[@naidadad9311]

Thsnks a lot!

[@zenography7923]

And thank you!

[@AdamTV]

I would be interested in your experience using All these vintage lenses (NOT just the ones in this video) on a MFT vs. a full frame camera. Just the experience in general. I know the effect on the focal length but how else does it impact the lens?

[@zenography7923]

One major difference is that the mft sensor only 'looks' through the central portion of the lens, so although they don't vignette as much and lose the softer edges, there may be a little more chromatic aberation visible.

[@Chuel]

Hi. Nice video. Thank you I bought a Jupiter 11 for my Fuji X-T10, but I should have missed something because I only get focus at infinite. Any ideas?

[@zenography7923]

If you're using the right adaptor (L39 to Fuji X) your lens should focus fine. Does the focusing helix of the lens turn cleanly? It's possible it might not be turning fully, and causing the problem you describe.

[@Chuel]

Zenography thank you for your quick and kind answer Yes, I have the right adapter than works perfectly with my other lenses Industar 69 and Jupiter 8... I’ll recheck the lens again. Thank you

[@HansBaier]

For the 50mm 1.8 Zuiko. There are more recent versions with a plastic aperture ring ("Japan" MC version). Though the image quality may be good, quality wise, build quality is not. I got one with a bit of fungus on the back on the front element. Contrary to the older full metal versions, the front group is glues together and thus unserviceable. It looks like Olympus has been compromising on build quality later on probably for the consumer line of cameras.

[@zenography7923]

Perhaps older is better with these - at least as far as servicing goes...

[@FotodioxInc]

Nice video!

[@zenography7923]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it!

[@luftballonproducciones3067]

great video! Have you ever tried the Zeiss Jena Tessar 135 f4,5? I stumbled upon a seller and found nothing online. It looks almost the same as the Jupiter. Thanks!

[@zenography7923]

I haven't heard of that one - I think the Jupiter was a clone of a Zeiss design so they may well be related!

[@luftballonproducciones3067]

@@zenography7923 Thank you! Will tell you if I get to test it!

[@saseendranvk9339]

Can I use z6 2.camara ?

[@fxprocc]

I have 1952 jupiter 11 that is astonishing how sharp it is. I use it on lumix s1 and it's just buttery bokeh

[@zenography7923]

The J11 is a lovely lens, and rather overlooked - sshhh!

[@waynesouth7129]

which lvintage lens is the sharpest lens for video ?

[@zenography7923]

There are so many! I find the Zuiko lenses to be sharp, but most lenses from the major manufacturers will work fine. Thanks for watching!

[@marcusdekker]

@9:23 did you say motor oil? Can you elaborate? Wouldn't one use something like sewingmachine oil?

[@zenography7923]

On parts that were originally greased, like a focussing helix, a small drop or so of motor oil is ideal to rejuvinate old dry grease. Only very thin oil, sparingly used, for camera working parts of course!

[@martindietrich2011]

Die sou Test the oid Minolta Rokkor Lenses?

[@zenography7923]

I'll be testing a couple of Minoltas soon... stay tuned!

[@nobody1841]

Hows that Zuinco on a crop sensor, vinietting? What camera are you using?

[@zenography7923]

Hi there, not sure what the Zuikos are like on a crop sensor as I've only shot them on a Sony a7 (and OM SLRs) - however I would imagine they'd be pretty nice. I've shot plenty of Russian lenses on micro four thirds with very good results, although on that format the focal length of a lens designed for 35mm film is effectively doubled. Vignetting is much less of a problem using vintage lenses on crop sensors as the outer part of the projected image isn't used.

[@josecasasferrer]

The jupiter 11, could be performance well on a crop sensor like fuji XT1? or would be difficult to focus?

[@zenography7923]

The J11 would work very nicely in the X-T1, or any crop sensor camera - focus peaking is needed for easy focussing though.

[@josecasasferrer]

Zenography thanks a lot!

[@luisd7632]

I love this guy’s video for photography insight, but this guy needs to do voiceovers for everything. He could sell Jaguars and everything.

[@zenography7923]

Thanks for the vote of confidence!

[@alan-sk7ky]

Hi Zeno ;-)

[@zenography7923]

Hey Al!

[@miki_marker]

4:33 Zuiko 35 - 105mm f3.5

[@jackodon74]

I picked the 35-105 up for £20. It works well colours like the primes. It’s a bit soft until f5.6 but at f8 it’s very sharp right across the frame. As good as the Sony 28-70 infact better contrast as well.

[@Tbonyandsteak]

the Olympus Zuiko 35 - 105mm looks exactly like The Nikon 35 - 105mm vintage lense

[@zenography7923]

There's a certain amount of similarity, it's true!

[@sbcwinn]

Believe me, I have asked Olympus brand ambassadors, it is pronounced z00-ko NOT zwee-ko. The "i" is SILENT!!!

[@Magnetron692]

Hi Nigel, thanks a lot, very well made review! If you stumble across an Olympus OM Zuiko 4.0/35-70mm, that is also a very nice lens. A bit plasticy compared to the other Zuikos, but it delivers also very crisp images with vivid colors on all focal lengths. Cheers, Ralf

[@zenography7923]

I used to have this lens, it was really nice and rather exceeded my expectations of it!