Vintage Lenses on Micro Four Thirds - a guide

Hi Everyone, in this video I discuss how to source vintage lenses, how to adapt them, as well as some of my thoughts and experiences with adapted vintage lenses
This video was shot on my Lumix G9 and edited in Final Cut ProX
If you like the photos I showed in this video please consider checking out my instagram:
/ elifarnhill_photos
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#lumix #lumixg9 #lumixg9ii #lumixg92 #microfourthirds #m43 #microfournerds #jamespopsys #photography #cameragear #cameraequipment #vintagelenses #vintagelens #filmphotography #sovietlenses #helios442 #adaptinglenses #panasoniclumix #panasonicg9 #panasonicg9 #g9mark2 #g9markii #omsystems #olympus #lightroom

[@ariaLampadaria]

That‘s a very informative Video Eli. I‘m new to photography and just ordered an om d em 10 II. I‘ve been seeing the helios on youtube a lot but i‘ve never realised that it will crop out most of the bocah on a mf (it makes a lot of sense it just never occurred to me) thanks for pointing it out

[@garmit61]

I’ve used a few Jupiter and Fed lenses with m39. I like the Fed N 52mm/F2.8 at F4 in good light. Also another leica m39 is the Industar 69 which is 28mm F2 but This didn’t focus on infinity with a standard Micro 43/m39 mount, so I found out this could be achieved by getting a machinist to grind a few mm off the back of the lens housing so it screws futhrr into. the adaptor. It was a little scary but was worth it because now I have a lovely 52mm equivalent pancake lens and I can also use it on my voigtlander film camera too. Voigtlander made some beautiful glass for m39 thread but they’re fearfully expensive, even used. I’ve also used a few pentax mount lenses, i like the Asahi SMC Pentax M 2.8/28mm. As you say all the old Olympus OM Zuiko mount glass was excellent , especially the 50mm f1.8 and 28mm f2.8. Theres also a lot of really interesting cine C mount kit out there which is worth experimenting with if you have the budget. I try to go for something that will give me about 40-50mm equivallent and no slower than f2.8 because the cropped sensor makes the amount of light used about half that of a full frame camera which means you are not really getting f2.8. When you bear in mind tgat most lenses have a sweet spot when stopped down one or two stops, you’re looking at f4 or 5.6 on a lot of these lenses to get the best colour so you need a steady hand in poor light. But don’t spend hundreds of pounds on these old lenses unless you cam afford it. Much better results can be found on the Panasonic 20mm f1.7, Olympus 17mm f1.8 and 45mm 1.8 and there are lots of really nice used ones about as people shift from micro 43 to Fujifilm, Sony, Canon and Nikon. If your budget can’t stretch to those gems the panasonic 14mm and Olympus 17mm f2.8 lenses are lively petite budget lenses that give great results for street shooting.

[@Elifarnhill]

I must get my hands on one of those Olympus 17mms!

[@Digital_Photog1995]

I would recommend looking at some Konica AR lenses such as the 40mm f1.8 The optics quality of the Konica lens lineup is outstanding in my opinion.

[@keirwatson3570]

I'd love to hear about any vintage lens as I don't know a lot about them. The nearest I have is the TTartisan 35mm f1.4 which is just fab for portraits -- a bit soft in all the right places (compared to their rubbish 50mm f1.2 which is soft everywhere) But, what I'd love someone to review is the Samyang 135mm f2. APSC users rave about it - super sharp, great IQ, but I can't find any user experience for M43 with this lens. Go on! You know you want to!!

[@Elifarnhill]

I'll try and it out! I need a bit of a longer lens anyways!

[@petermcginty3636]

Hi, thanks for your video. I am looking at getting an OM mount converter for my OM-5 and I am looking at some OM mount Olympus look enses; especially a 200mm lens. I was looking at the KEH website. Am I heading in the right direction?

[@smkunder1]

I have 44/ 2 Helios, I have a hard time figuring out aperture, with that clickless feature. Maybe a video on using it. Great videos by the way.

[@Elifarnhill]

I'll film a small video on it tonight! Thank you so much!

[@morex7893]

Hi Eli, what about the lens closest focusing distance? Will this distance be x 2 as well when shooting on MFT?

[@Renegade1127]

No. All the 'magic' happens on the sensor, there is no effect whatsoever on the actual optics.

[@OliverHollingdale]

great video but please can people stop saying the Helios was used in the Batman... people will get the wrong idea and will be very disappointed when they purchase the old vintage lens... hundreds of thousands were spent in rehousing all these old vintage lenses into the modern casing...

[@f1remandg]

Have a look at Russian lenses again Zenography spelt wrong in first comment/ message he covers a lot of vintage lenses, DG

[@artistjoh]

Why no love for old Nikkors? Old AI Nikkors are fabulous lenses, affordable, and adapters and speedboosters for Nikon F are easy to get. The crazy thing is that AI lenses are mostly just as good as the AI-S versions, but half the cost. AI-S vintage lenses are overrated, and AI versions should be first choice. There is good reason old-time pro photographers preferred Nikon. The lenses are superb.

[@Elifarnhill]

Very true, the old nikon glass was excellent, I should have mentioned it!