Such a great video. I've probably watched this one 4 or 5 times now. I own several of the lenses in this category. there is something special about these radioactive lenses. But as much as I wanted you to choose one of the lenses I own, I have to agree with you, that CZJ Pancolar is just stunning. Both in images it produces and the look of the lens itself. Its just a wonderful looking lens. A bit of art unto itself. One of the reasons why I like to collect these older lenses on top of the images they can produce as well as the tactile feel of using them.
Hi Simon, based on your video I bought a Meyer Optik Görlitz Primotar 50mm f/3.5, which I got repaired by a photo shop in Görlitz, and which came back in fantastic condition. The blades fully retract, giving fantastic round bokeh balls. Really great. thanks for the advice. And amazing what a 67-year-old lens can do.
Quite remarkable video, good Sir. In your brief but delightful descriptions, the venerable Zeiss Jena Pancolar 50mm is incorrectly listed as an f 1.7 lens. I bid thee adieu
Excellent review! I have the super takumar 50mm f1.4 8 element version and the carl zeiss 50mm f1.8 pancolor electric version. Both of these lens produce magical images. As for the bokeh I do also prefer the image coming out of Auto Takumar 35mm f2.3. Although it is a 35mm version every image I take with it is an art 🎨 I would love to see you do a review on it too. Cheers 🍻
I own quite a few of the lenses you reviewed but not the Yashicas, Zenitar, Cosinon or the 8 element version of the Super-Takumar. I have the ‘electric’ version of the Pancolar in m42 which is more clinical than the older version. The one I have holds its own against my Flektogon and Distagon although they’re 35mm so not directly comparable. My Pancolar even outperforms my Carl Zeiss Planar 50/1.8 so I can’t disagree with your conclusion. Once again, thanks for the informative video. I’m working my way through your back catalogue.
Simon, have you ever reviewed the Auto Rikenon 55mm f1.4 lens or lenses. There are a few different ones that were produced over time. Mine is not radioactive, but the earlier ones are reported to be. Mine is all black with a 6 digit SN and M42. I think it was made by TOMIOKA. I just bought one on eBay. Somebody needs to track down the lens history.
No I've not reviewed this lens, but I'd like to own one and see how well it performs. It comes highly recommended. (As does the Tomioka made Mamiya/Sekor 55mm f1.4, which I do own). I have bought a lens for months...but my LBA is still strong! How are you finding your lens?
I feel the safest buying from private parties on eBay who have sold a lot and have good ratings. Also, I generally do a search for a particular f-stop with a Make Offer to it. You can setup your searches like that. I never go near auctions. I think they are fixed by the seller. With a Make Offer it is straight forward. I love to haggle. I will low ball the lens just to see the response. I never look at stores who do not fully describe the optics and smoothness of rings. I will look very closely for fungus. This requires a good set of photos. I don't like to pay high shipping costs either. So I will start out with US sellers first. These days I have 28 vintage lenses covering 24mm to 300mm. I am looking for another f1.2 lens for under $200 with great optics. See, I bought a lens a few years back on Etsy that was glued together. I couldn't do anything with it. So it sits in my lab closet. I only paid $35 for it, but still it was a disappointment. That lens was a FUJINON 55mm f2.2 made of plastic. I pretty quickly found, from a lens trader friend of mine, a all metal version. So I bought that and use it. So I like negotiating a great price, but I have to be careful not to buy junk. It is a little like stream fishing with an ultralight setup. Sometimes I will try to buy a lens just for sport.
Nicely described 😀👍 watched till end and impressed because I also love Bokeh, I have few old Helios , vivitar, soligor, Zeiss , prakticar, Pentax, Minolta lenses , I missed here Minolta lenses ,MD Rokkor-X 50 mm 1.4 has fantastic Bokeh , you must have knew it , am using all those lenses in my canon 600 D body with using cheap adopters , if you get time have a look my facebook wall , I posted there time to time , am not photogrpher but love to click shutter 😀
Thank you for your kind comments. You have a good collection of lenses, and I'm sure you enjoy using them very much. I am aware of the lenses you mention...but need to go back and take a closer look!
That's a very good question, and I keep meaning to do a video on this (but can't find the time to do take more comparative photos). But I can say now that they produce different results. In particular the Pancolar Exakta mount 50mm f2 produces swirly bokeh. Plus different colour tones, as it's not radioactive like my 50mm f1.8.
Thank you for the wonderful analysis. However I wonder if the smc Pentax 50mm f1.2 will out perform the lenses listed. And let's not forget Minolta and Konica 50mm f1.4 lens.
My SMC Takumar 55mm f1.8 isn't radio-active. But yes, the SMC Takumar 50mm f1.4 is. I posted this video before buying a Geiger Muller counter, and relied on internet lists. I was surprised to find out how relatively high the readings are for the SMC Takumar 50mm f1.4. I wish I could re-post some of these videos to correct mistakes/misleading points, but I can't unless I delete the whole video. I may do for some videos.
You mentioned the warm golden cast of the SMC Takumar. I have one question though: will this color survive a digital custom white balance? Thanks in advance.
Interesting question. I've not personally noticed auto white balance seriously impacting the golden cast of lenses, for example with radio-active glass. The only downside is that in less bright light, the colours can appear a bit murky or brown, rather than brighter golden tones, but this can be adjusted in post processing.
Thanks Simon! I asked but you'd probably already had it in the works. Can I please ask what lens the one in the intro with octagonal straight blades and 8 pointed stars is? Searched all through your flickr looking. Thanks!
Do you mean this one? www.flickr.com/photos/95859572@N06/15251688209/in/album-72157647525540667/ It's a Pentax SMC (K) 135mm f2.5. (The same lens/design as the later version M42 Takumar 135/2.5).
Yes, apologies. I've no excuses. Some of my lenses clearly state USSR, and I even visited the USSR (but not Ukraine) around the time some were manufactured. I can't change this and other videos, but won't use Russia as a "shorthand" again.
@@olena_goldmanns What are you talking about woman? Zenit cameras where produced in the KMZ factory (like most Helios 44-2 lenses - the others in Belarus) which is located near Moscow (later by Belomo in Belarus). FYI In the west, the USSR was known mostly as "Soviet Russia".
I think we all get it. Technically, you are correct. But most of the USSR and the seat of their power was the country of Russia. It was always known as Russia, even before the Revolution of 1917 and the formation of the USSR in 1922. Many of the factories that produced a bulk of the lenses and Zenit cameras were in what are now their own countries of Ukraine and Belarus. Though its questionable if Belarus is in fact its own country these days...
![ว้าว!ลุงบีมแบกทองมารับขวัญหลานกันยกบ้าน [cc] แดนแพทตี้ SS2 | EP.49 |](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Osihq1OAs-4/mqdefault.jpg)
As requested by a number of people - here's a higher definition version of the Best Bokeh Lenses - 50mm video I posted before.
Such a great video. I've probably watched this one 4 or 5 times now. I own several of the lenses in this category. there is something special about these radioactive lenses. But as much as I wanted you to choose one of the lenses I own, I have to agree with you, that CZJ Pancolar is just stunning. Both in images it produces and the look of the lens itself. Its just a wonderful looking lens. A bit of art unto itself. One of the reasons why I like to collect these older lenses on top of the images they can produce as well as the tactile feel of using them.
Hi Simon, based on your video I bought a Meyer Optik Görlitz Primotar 50mm f/3.5, which I got repaired by a photo shop in Görlitz, and which came back in fantastic condition. The blades fully retract, giving fantastic round bokeh balls. Really great. thanks for the advice. And amazing what a 67-year-old lens can do.
You're welcome!
Finally, a comprehensive review of these lenses. Excellent work, keep them coming!
Thank you so much for all this knowledge in your videos. It’s really helpful in my lens journey.
Quite remarkable video, good Sir. In your brief but delightful descriptions, the venerable Zeiss Jena Pancolar 50mm is incorrectly listed as an f 1.7 lens. I bid thee adieu
wonderful & informative, thank you!
Excellent review! I have the super takumar 50mm f1.4 8 element version and the carl zeiss 50mm f1.8 pancolor electric version. Both of these lens produce magical images. As for the bokeh I do also prefer the image coming out of Auto Takumar 35mm f2.3. Although it is a 35mm version every image I take with it is an art 🎨 I would love to see you do a review on it too. Cheers 🍻
Great to read your comment. I really must do a video on the Auto Takumar, it's such an extra-ordinary lens!
Excellent channel, thank you Simon !
I use F Zuiko 50mm f1.8
I own quite a few of the lenses you reviewed but not the Yashicas, Zenitar, Cosinon or the 8 element version of the Super-Takumar. I have the ‘electric’ version of the Pancolar in m42 which is more clinical than the older version. The one I have holds its own against my Flektogon and Distagon although they’re 35mm so not directly comparable. My Pancolar even outperforms my Carl Zeiss Planar 50/1.8 so I can’t disagree with your conclusion. Once again, thanks for the informative video. I’m working my way through your back catalogue.
i also have wanted to test the Zeiss Ultron 50/1.8
Simon, have you ever reviewed the Auto Rikenon 55mm f1.4 lens or lenses. There are a few different ones that were produced over time. Mine is not radioactive, but the earlier ones are reported to be. Mine is all black with a 6 digit SN and M42. I think it was made by TOMIOKA. I just bought one on eBay. Somebody needs to track down the lens history.
No I've not reviewed this lens, but I'd like to own one and see how well it performs. It comes highly recommended. (As does the Tomioka made Mamiya/Sekor 55mm f1.4, which I do own). I have bought a lens for months...but my LBA is still strong!
How are you finding your lens?
I feel the safest buying from private parties on eBay who have sold a lot and have good ratings. Also, I generally do a search for a particular f-stop with a Make Offer to it. You can setup your searches like that. I never go near auctions. I think they are fixed by the seller. With a Make Offer it is straight forward. I love to haggle. I will low ball the lens just to see the response. I never look at stores who do not fully describe the optics and smoothness of rings. I will look very closely for fungus. This requires a good set of photos. I don't like to pay high shipping costs either. So I will start out with US sellers first. These days I have 28 vintage lenses covering 24mm to 300mm. I am looking for another f1.2 lens for under $200 with great optics. See, I bought a lens a few years back on Etsy that was glued together. I couldn't do anything with it. So it sits in my lab closet. I only paid $35 for it, but still it was a disappointment. That lens was a FUJINON 55mm f2.2 made of plastic. I pretty quickly found, from a lens trader friend of mine, a all metal version. So I bought that and use it. So I like negotiating a great price, but I have to be careful not to buy junk. It is a little like stream fishing with an ultralight setup. Sometimes I will try to buy a lens just for sport.
Nicely described 😀👍 watched till end and impressed because I also love Bokeh, I have few old Helios , vivitar, soligor, Zeiss , prakticar, Pentax, Minolta lenses , I missed here Minolta lenses ,MD Rokkor-X 50 mm 1.4 has fantastic Bokeh , you must have knew it , am using all those lenses in my canon 600 D body with using cheap adopters , if you get time have a look my facebook wall , I posted there time to time , am not photogrpher but love to click shutter 😀
Thank you for your kind comments. You have a good collection of lenses, and I'm sure you enjoy using them very much. I am aware of the lenses you mention...but need to go back and take a closer look!
How does the Pancolar 1.8/50 compare to the 2/50 version?
That's a very good question, and I keep meaning to do a video on this (but can't find the time to do take more comparative photos). But I can say now that they produce different results. In particular the Pancolar Exakta mount 50mm f2 produces swirly bokeh. Plus different colour tones, as it's not radioactive like my 50mm f1.8.
Thank you for the wonderful analysis. However I wonder if the smc Pentax 50mm f1.2 will out perform the lenses listed. And let's not forget Minolta and Konica 50mm f1.4 lens.
thanks again!
You say the takumar smc isn't radio active but in your other video it is the highest in the list of radioactive, I don't understand
My SMC Takumar 55mm f1.8 isn't radio-active. But yes, the SMC Takumar 50mm f1.4 is. I posted this video before buying a Geiger Muller counter, and relied on internet lists. I was surprised to find out how relatively high the readings are for the SMC Takumar 50mm f1.4. I wish I could re-post some of these videos to correct mistakes/misleading points, but I can't unless I delete the whole video. I may do for some videos.
Why would 8 elements be better if in fact the lens is wide open?
You mentioned the warm golden cast of the SMC Takumar. I have one question though: will this color survive a digital custom white balance? Thanks in advance.
Interesting question. I've not personally noticed auto white balance seriously impacting the golden cast of lenses, for example with radio-active glass. The only downside is that in less bright light, the colours can appear a bit murky or brown, rather than brighter golden tones, but this can be adjusted in post processing.
Thanks Simon! I asked but you'd probably already had it in the works. Can I please ask what lens the one in the intro with octagonal straight blades and 8 pointed stars is? Searched all through your flickr looking. Thanks!
Do you mean this one? www.flickr.com/photos/95859572@N06/15251688209/in/album-72157647525540667/ It's a Pentax SMC (K) 135mm f2.5. (The same lens/design as the later version M42 Takumar 135/2.5).
@@Simonsutak yes! Thanks so much. Love Taks and love 135's yet this one hasn't joined my collection yet. Also love straight blades sun stars.
amazing
I love my Mamiya 50mm 1.4
Question: your winner, the Carl Zeis, how does it fair reversed on a bellows, used in a macro set up?
I've never tried it reversed, but the Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 50mm f2.8 is good!
SPOILER ALERT :) fight of the radioactive lenses :)
shoosh! But quite right. Many of the top-of-the-range, or fastest, M42 fast fifties were made with radioactive glass.
My ZENITAR-M 50mm f1.7 is not radioactive.
Pancolar 55/1.4 is even better
I agree. A really beautiful bokeh lens.
Yikes! Good lens but risky with radiation
Helios and Zenitar was made in USSR. 😢. Not russia .
In fact, Zenit camera was made in Kyiv, Ukrainian republic of USSR. Not Russian SSR.
Yes, apologies. I've no excuses. Some of my lenses clearly state USSR, and I even visited the USSR (but not Ukraine) around the time some were manufactured. I can't change this and other videos, but won't use Russia as a "shorthand" again.
@@olena_goldmanns What are you talking about woman? Zenit cameras where produced in the KMZ factory (like most Helios 44-2 lenses - the others in Belarus) which is located near Moscow (later by Belomo in Belarus). FYI In the west, the USSR was known mostly as "Soviet Russia".
I think we all get it. Technically, you are correct. But most of the USSR and the seat of their power was the country of Russia. It was always known as Russia, even before the Revolution of 1917 and the formation of the USSR in 1922. Many of the factories that produced a bulk of the lenses and Zenit cameras were in what are now their own countries of Ukraine and Belarus. Though its questionable if Belarus is in fact its own country these days...